Notary Public
Michigan
Notary Public Commission Requirements
6 to 7 years (ending on notary's birthday)
Commission Term
before renewal
No
Education Required
no course needed
No
Exam Required
no exam needed
$10,000
Bond Required
surety bond
Application Process
VerifiedRead the Michigan Notary Public Act thoroughly
Obtain a $10,000 surety bond from an insurance agency or bonding company (attorneys exempt)
Complete the notary public application form
Take the bond and application to the county clerk in your county of residence
Pay the $10 county filing fee and take the oath of office at the county clerk's office
The county clerk forwards the application to the Department of State with $10 state fee
Wait for commission approval from the Secretary of State
Optionally purchase a notary seal/stamp (strongly recommended)
Begin performing notarial acts
Basic Requirements
Minimum Age
18 years old
Residency
Must be a Michigan resident or maintain a place of business in Michigan
Citizenship
Must be a U.S. citizen or have proof of legal presence
Background Check
Not required
Education & Exam Requirements
Education
Not RequiredMichigan does NOT require a training course or education to become a notary public. Applicants must self-certify that they have carefully read the Michigan Notary Public Act before signing the declaration on the application.
Exam
Not RequiredMichigan does NOT require an exam to become a notary public.
Bond, Insurance & Seal
Surety Bond
Required$10,000
Must obtain a $10,000 surety bond from an insurance agency or bonding company. Bond must be filed with the county clerk along with the application. Attorneys who are members in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan are exempt from the bond requirement (but must still file oath and pay fees).
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Not RequiredE&O insurance is not required by Michigan law but is recommended.
Seal / Stamp
Not RequiredSeal/stamp is NOT mandatory for traditional notarizations but is strongly recommended. However, for electronic notarizations, maintaining a journal is required. If a seal is used, it should include notary name, 'Notary Public,' 'State of Michigan,' county of commission, and commission expiration date.
Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $10 (county clerk) + $10 (Department of State) = $20 total |
Bond Premium Premium cost for $10,000 surety bond covering commission term of 6-7 years. Purchased from private insurance/bonding companies. | $50-$100 |
Stamp / Seal Seal is not legally required. If purchased, costs approximately $30 from private vendors. | $0-$30 |
Total Estimated Cost Includes surety bond ($50), county filing/oath ($10-$20), state application fee ($10). One of the most affordable states to become a notary. | $70-$80 |
Commission Term & Renewal
Commission Term
6 to 7 years (ending on notary's birthday)
Renewal Process
Submit new application and bond before commission expires. Same process as initial application - no additional education or exam required.
Renewal Fee
$10 (county) + $10 (state) = $20 total
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Michigan has permitted Remote Online Notarization since September 26, 2018. Michigan was one of the early adopters of RON legislation. Notaries may register to perform remote online notarizations through the Secretary of State.
Additional Requirements
Must register with the Secretary of State for RON authorization. Must use approved audio-video communication technology with identity verification. Must maintain electronic journal for electronic notarizations. Standard notary bond applies.
Important Notes
What Makes Michigan Unique
Michigan has one of the most minimal notary requirements in the nation: no education, no exam, no background check, and the seal is optional. The 6-7 year commission term (always ending on the notary's birthday) is the longest among major states. Despite minimal entry requirements, Michigan was an early adopter of RON in 2018. The two-tier fee structure ($10 county + $10 state) reflects the dual filing process where the county clerk receives and forwards applications to the Secretary of State.
Michigan has one of the simplest notary application processes: no education, no exam, no background check.
Commission term of 6-7 years is the longest among the 10 most populous states.
Commission always ends on the notary's birthday, creating the variable 6-7 year term.
Seal/stamp is not legally required for traditional notarizations (unusual among states).
Attorneys admitted to the Michigan State Bar are exempt from the surety bond requirement.
Michigan was an early RON adopter (September 2018).
Maximum notarization fee is $10.
Cannot notarize for direct relatives or when conflicts of interest exist.
Application is filed at the county clerk level, who then forwards to the Secretary of State.
⚠ Data Conflicts Found
The following fields have conflicting information across sources.
bond_cost
Some sources report the county filing fee as 'usually $10' while others suggest it can vary by county and may be higher. The $10 state fee is consistent across sources.
Listed county fee as $10 with note that some counties may charge more.