The Michigan Department of State commissions about 1,300 notaries public each month. The total number of notaries public currently commissioned in the State of Michigan is more than 113,000. A notary public is an officer appointed by the Michigan Secretary of State to attest to the authenticity of a person's signature, to administer oaths, and to witness acknowledgements. Notarization on a document certifies that the person named on it appeared before the notary, displayed valid identification, and was in the presence of the notary at the time of execution.
A notary public is an officer commissioned by the Michigan Secretary of State to serve as an unbiased and impartial witness on business, public and other documents. The most common function of the notary is to prevent fraud by attesting to the identity of a person signing a document. A notarization on a document certifies that the person whose signature is entered on the document personally appeared before the notary, established his or her identity, and personally signed the document in the presence of the notary.
To meet the qualifications of a Michigan Notary Public, all the following must be met by the applicant.
The application process is a joint process between the Michigan Department of State and the County Clerk's Office.
You have two options for filling out your application.
Note: We encourage you to apply online. Online applications are given priority each day. While it may take up to 4 to 6 weeks to process an application received by mail, online applications often are processed within days of being received.
a. If you would like to fill out the application online, please go to Online Services.
b. If you would like to fill out the Application by paper, please fill out this Application completely and legibly.
Notaries public are required to obtain a $10,000.00 surety bond and file it at the office of the county clerk in the county where the notary will be appointed. The cost of a surety bond will vary--generally between $50.00 to $100.00. A surety must be licensed to do business in this state. You can search for licensed agencies at www.michigan.gov/difs. More information on the Surety Bond can be found on our website.
Present the surety bond and the completed application to the County Clerk's office.
Swear an Oath of Office with the County Clerk: The oath of office is an oral or written statement taken at your County Clerk's office when you file your bond. (If you are a Michigan resident, this must be your county of residence.) The oath is a pledge that you will uphold the constitution and perform your duties with reasonable care. After an oath is administered, a verification is completed by the clerk (or clerk designee) attesting that you swore to the statement.
An Attorney in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan is not required to obtain and file a surety bond with the County Clerk's office. An Attorney is required to go to the County Clerk's office in their county of residence to take the Constitutional Oath and obtain the County Seal and Certification. Example Oath Wording: “Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this State, and that you will discharge the duties of the office of Notary Public in and for said County to the best of your ability?”
Submit a filing fee payment to the County Clerk: To complete the County Clerk process, the County Clerk will collect a fee. The fee is usually $10.00, but some counties can charge more. Submit the completed application and an additional $10.00 fee to the Department of State.
Once you have fulfilled the filing requirements at the county level you will need to submit your application by one of the following methods:
1. If application was done on e-Services, you may upload the completed application and pay the $10.00 non-refundable processing fee online.
2. As an alternative to uploading the completed application and paying the non-refundable processing fee online, you may mail-in the completed application with the $10.00 non-refundable processing fee (check or money order payable to the "State of Michigan") to the following address.
Michigan Department of State
Office of the Great Seal
7064 Crowner Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48918
Each notary public commission is for a 6 to 7-year period ending on the notary's birthday. The term is not less than 6 or more than 7 years from the date of appointment.
If your commission date is before your birthday in that calendar year the term will be 6 years from your birthday.
If your commission date is after your birthday in that calendar year the term will be 7 years from your birthday.
Note: The Secretary of State issues the official commission expiration date as shown on your Notary Public commission card and certificate as well as your official commissioned name and county of commission. Please do not use the commission expiration date shown on the surety bond, as it is not the official State issued expiration date. It is recommended that supplies such as stamps are not purchased until you have confirmed the issued by this office.
Online Services
To renew a commission with no gap in the commission dates, the application process must be completed within 60 days of the current expiration date. Since there is no automatic renewal process a commission will simply expire if it is not actively renewed.
To report changes, use the Request for Notice of Change form. This form is used to report changes to one's name, residence and/or business address. There is no need to reapply and there is no charge to correct our records.
INTRODUCTION
Michigan's Law on Notarial Acts (MiLONA), P.A. 238 of 2003, as amended, is an act to provide for the qualification, appointment, and regulation of Notaries Public (Notaries) by the Secretary of State. As such, a Notary is a public servant. The MiLONA prescribes powers and duties of state agencies and local officers and provides for remedies and penalties. The MiLONA provides for the protection of citizens against fraud by requiring that a commissioned Notary verify and attest to the signing of documents. The MiLONA further provides for the admissibility of evidence and establishes the recognition of acknowledgments and other notarial acts performed outside of this state.
The intent of this manual is to provide a comprehensive review of the MiLONA and provide guidance to the community of Michigan's Notaries Public as they carry out the duties as prescribed by the MiLONA.
As public servants, Notaries must act responsibly and exercise reasonable care in the performance of their official duties. If a Notary fails to do so, they may be subject to a civil suit to recover financial damages caused by the Notary's error or omission. Complying with all pertinent laws is the first rule of reasonable care for a Notary.
It is the Notary's legal responsibility under the MiLONA to read the MiLONA in its entirety before performing a notarial act.
Refusal of service
Notaries should honor all lawful and reasonable requests to notarize. A person's race, age, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, lifestyle or political viewpoint is never a legitimate cause or reason for refusing to perform a notarial act. However, a Notary may and should refuse to perform a notarial act when a document is blatantly fraudulent, or the Notary determines that the signer is under duress or not acting of their own volition. A Notary should never submit or agree to perform an improper notarization.
Notary Commission
A Notary Public commission is a statewide appointment. Although commissioned in a specific county, once commissioned, a Notary may notarize anywhere within the State of Michigan.
A commissioned Notary is authorized to perform three (3) types of notarizations.
More detailed information on the types of notarizations and the process of notarizing a document can be found later in this manual.
Notary signing agents
Notary signing agents are employed by private companies and are not certified or qualified by the State of Michigan beyond the normal Notary application process. A Notary signing agent has no special powers and must adhere to MiLONA in all transactions. It is illegal for a Notary or a Notary signing agent to give legal advice, explain legal documents or aid client(s) in completing legal or immigration forms. This is considered unauthorized/unlawful practice of law.
Jurisdiction
Michigan Notaries are commissioned to perform notarial acts throughout the entire State of Michigan, but not beyond the State's borders. All of the requirements for notarization must be met in the State and at the time of the notarization. A Notary must reside (Michigan resident) or be employed in the county in which they have been commissioned.
If notarization takes place in a county other than the one that the Notary is commissioned, the phrase "Acting in the County of _______" must be added as an element to the notarization certificate. This is required to establish the jurisdiction where the document was executed in the event the document is used or challenged in a court of law. This ensures any court filings are made with the appropriate court and jurisdiction.
Michigan Notaries may notarize documents originating in another state or nation if the requested notarial act complies with Michigan law.
Non-Michigan Resident
A non-Michigan resident may be commissioned as a Michigan Notary when they demonstrate that their business activity requires them to perform notarial acts in Michigan and they maintain/work at a principal place of business in the county where they are requesting to be commissioned.
A Non-Michigan resident must submit the following documentations when submitting their notary public application:
1, Copy of Out of State Driver License
2. A signed employer letter on company letter head containing:
• Employee name
• Company business address in Michigan
• Nature of job assignment warranting use of a Michigan Notary public commission
• Approximate length of time the applicant will be working in Michigan.
Notarization Methods
Michigan's Law allows for three (3) methods of notarizations. The Notary is free to choose one of more of these notarization methods. It is important to note that the requirements of the notarization do not change based on the method being used. The Notary's obligations and legal requirements to complete the notarization are not affected or diminished by the method.
Traditional Pen and Paper - Applies to all commissioned Notaries
A traditional/pen and paper notarization is conducted without the aid of electronic or remote notarization software. This is the way all notarizations took place prior to the implementation of electronic and remote notarization methods. The requirements for performing traditional/pen and paper notarizations have not changed. All commissioned notaries are authorized to perform this method of notarization immediately upon commission.
Electronic Notarizations (e-Notarization)
An e-notarization is like a traditional/pen and paper notarization inasmuch as the signer appears physically before the Notary, but in an electronic notarization the document being notarized is digital and the parties use electronic signatures. An example of this is signing and initialing at the bank or doctor's office using a stylus and pad. Only State-approved electronic vendor systems can be used to perform electronic notarizations in Michigan.
Remote Notarizations
A remote notarization is an electronic notarization conducted through audio and visual equipment, so the signer is not in the physical presence of the Notary. The notarization itself is considered an e-notarization as the document being notarized is digital and the Notary uses electronic signatures. A platform such as a webcam is used to simulate the clients appearing in the presence of the Notary. Only State-approved remote vendor platforms can be used to perform remote notarizations in Michigan.
Approved Vendors
Find more on electronic and remote notarizations: Electronic and Remote Notarial Acts - General Information Guide
Notary Public requirements before Notarizing
When performing a notarial act, a Notary must:
1. Identify the individual either from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence. Regardless of personal knowledge, it is recommended that the signer be asked to provide a pictured State or Federal identification.
2. Have the individual sign the document in your presence. (To witness, attest or take an oath, the signer must sign in the presence of the Notary.)
3. Administer an oath if required.
4. Complete the notarial certificate. This must include all the required elements.
Note: The county of notarization/venue is essential as it determines the legal jurisdiction in the event the notarization is challenged in a court of law. This is the Acting in the County of statement. If this statement is not completed, then the venue is the County of Commission.
The MiLONA does not require Notaries to use an embossed seal or rubber stamp on a document. However, the use of a stamp provides for a more consistent and complete notarization. It is much more difficult to ensure that all the required elements are included when relying solely on memory or hand copying the elements. The Department of State/Office of the Great Seal does not provide these tools or supplies. They can be purchased through most companies or stores that supply printing services.
While the MiLONA does not require the use of an embossed seal, documents for use outside of the State of Michigan may require an embossed Notary seal.
A Notary may sign the name of a person whose physical characteristics limit their capacity to sign or make a mark on a document presented for notarization if all the following circumstances exist:
The Notary is orally, verbally, or through electronic or mechanical means provided by the person directed to do so by that person;
The person is in the physical presence of the Notary;
The Notary adds under the signature: signature affixed pursuant to section 33 of the Michigan Law on Notarial Acts
As discussed in a previous section, a commissioned Notary is authorized to perform three (3) types of notarizations.
Note: A Notary should not decide what type of notarial act a document requires. The client must know and tell the Notary or the document itself must clearly indicate what is needed. For example, if the jurat indicates that the document was "sworn to before me," then an oath must be administered.
An acknowledgment confirms the identity of the signer who acknowledges that they have signed the record. An acknowledgment does not require that a record be signed in the Notary's presence.
In executing an acknowledgement, a Notary guarantees that the signer:
The acknowledgment notarization is not part of the document and it does not affect its validity. Typically, they are executed on deeds and other documents that will be publicly recorded by a county official.
An example of an "acknowledgment" is as follows:
Acknowledged by _________________ before me on the _________________ day of _________________ , _________
Signature______________________________________________
Printed name___________________________________________
Notary public, State of Michigan, County of_________________
My commission expires___________________________________
Acting in the County of_________________ (Included when performing a notarial act outside of the Notary's county of commission)
When the notarization is being performed using an approved electronic or remote vendor system, an indication of the electronic or remote notarization must be included as well.
Jurat notarizations are required for transactions where the signer must attest to the content of the document, such as all affidavits and pleadings in court. It is a certification on an affidavit declaring when, where and before whom it was sworn. However, jurat notarizations do not prove a document is true, legal, valid or enforceable.
In executing a jurat, a Notary guarantees that the signer:
When administering oaths, parties should raise their right hands. The left hand may be used in cases of disability. Following the oath, the signer must answer affirmatively i.e.: I do or Yes.
If no other wording is prescribed, a Notary may use the following or similar language for an affidavit or deposition:
An example of a jurat is as follows:
Subscribed and sworn to by _________________ before me on the _________________ day of _________________ , _______.
Signature______________________________________________
Printed name___________________________________________
Notary public, State of Michigan, County of _________________
My commission expires___________________________________
Acting in the County of_________________ (Included when performing a notarial act outside of the Notary's county of commission)
When the notarization is being performed using an approved electronic or remote vendor system, an indication of the electronic or remote notarization must be included as well.
The act of witnessing or attesting a signature is like a jurat, except that it does not require the signer to take an oath or affirmation. It is used when establishing the signing date is of major importance.
In witnessing or attesting to a signature, a Notary guarantees that the signer:
Signed or attested before me by _________________ on the _________________ day of _________________ , _______.
Signature______________________________________________
Printed name___________________________________________
Notary public, State of Michigan, County of _________________
My commission expires___________________________________
Acting in the County of_________________ (Included when performing a notarial act outside of the Notary's county of commission)
When the notarization is being performed using an approved electronic or remote vendor system, an indication of the electronic or remote notarization must be included as well.
A Notary public may not be a signature witness and notarize the same document.
The MiLONA provides that a Notary may charge up to $10.00 for performing each notarial act. Additional fees for travel may be negotiated between the Notary and the client prior to the commencement of the travel. The total of all fees including multiple notarizations and travel should be disclosed and agreed to before performing any notarization transaction.
- Spouse (current)
- Grand and Great Grandparents
- Parents
- Children
- Grand and Great Grandchildren
- Stepchildren
- Siblings
- Half-Siblings
- In-Laws (Current)
Note: A Notary public may perform notarizations for Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, former spouses and former in-laws.
The MiLONA contains several sections that carry penalties for violations including civil infractions, misdemeanor convictions and felony convictions. For a full list of potential penalties, review the MiLONA.
Of special note, a violation of the Michigan Notary Public Act is a felony when a person knowingly violates this act when notarizing any document relating to an interest in real property or a mortgage transaction. Upon conviction, a person can be fined up to $5,000.00 and/or be imprisoned for up to four years.
A Notary and the sureties on the Notary's surety bond are liable for damages sustained by a person who is injured by the Notary's official misconduct. "Official misconduct" is defined as:
A Notary public's employer is also liable if the Notary was acting within the actual or apparent scope of their employment and the employer had knowledge of and consented to or permitted the official misconduct.
A Notary public is not liable for the truth, form or contents of a record that they notarize.
Notaries are not prohibited legally from notarizing a document written in a foreign language. However, there are numerous potential problems, including the fact that the term Notary public, when translated into other languages, can refer to a markedly different office, with far greater authority than in the United States. A Notary should not notarize any document with which they are not comfortable doing so. The Notary may recommend using a Notary public familiar with the language in which the document is written.
The MiLONA does not require that Notary public keep a journal, ledger, list or other record for pen and paper notarizations and electronic notarizations. But many notaries find it beneficial to keep records. For those that choose to keep records, the following elements are recommended:
(a) The date, time, and nature of the notarial act.
(b) A description of the record, if any.
(c) The full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
(d) The identification method:
(e) The fee charged, if any, by the Notary public.
If records are created for traditional pen and paper notarizations or electronic notarizations, the MiLONA requires a Notary to maintain all records of a notarial act for at least 10 years. A Notary is required to provide copies of those records upon the request of the Secretary of State.
The MiLONA requires the Notary to create and retain a journal with specific elements for remote notarizations. The journal MUST be created as the notarizations occur and the details are fresh in the memory of the Notary. A Notary must maintain only a single journal and must keep the journal as either a tangible, permanent bound register or in a tamper-evident, permanent electronic format. The journal must contain:
(a) The date, time, and nature of the notarial act.
(b) A description of the record, if any.
(c) The full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
(d) The identification method:
(e) The fee charged, if any, by the Notary public.
(f) A reference only to any audio or visual recording of the remote notarial act.
The journal must be kept for at least 10 years after the date of the last act recorded in it. The Secretary of State must be notified of the location of the journal once a Notary public is no longer commissioned. In addition, a Notary public must retain an audio or visual recording of a notarial act for at least 10 years after the performance of the notarial act. More information can be found in Section 26b of the MiLONA.
To resign or cancel a commission, the Notary must contact the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal.
If a Notary should die, the Notary's personal representative should notify the Department of State. The notification should include the Notary's name and address as well as any additional pertinent information. If the deceased Notary has a seal of office or a stamp used to affix information on certificates, this should be destroyed or defaced to prevent fraudulent use. If the Notary maintained a journal or other record the personal representative should retain the records for the required duration. Read the Record Keeping section.
