Michigan Notary Public Requirements
Michigan doesn’t require a course or exam to become a notary — just a $10,000 bond, a modest filing fee, and a commission that runs 6 to 7 years, ending on your birthday.
- Quick facts
- Steps to get commissioned
- Remote and electronic notarization
- Renewal
- FAQ
Quick facts
| Regulator | Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | At least 18; Michigan resident (or maintains a place of business in Michigan) and resident of the county of appointment; U.S. citizen or proof of legal presence; able to read and write English; no felony conviction in the past 10 years; not currently incarcerated |
| Education or exam | None required — an optional training video is offered, but there’s no mandatory pre-commission course or test |
| Bond | $10,000 surety bond, filed with the county clerk before the state application (bond itself typically costs $50–$100 to purchase); Michigan-licensed attorneys in good standing are exempt from the bond |
| Fees | $10.00 state processing fee (nonrefundable) plus a county clerk filing fee, usually $10.00 but some counties charge more |
| Commission term | 6 to 7 years, ending on the notary’s birthday |
| Fee cap per notarial act | Notaries may charge up to $10.00 per notarial act |
Steps to get commissioned
- Confirm your eligibility. At least 18, a resident of Michigan and of the county where you’re applying, able to read and write English, and free of a felony conviction in the past 10 years.
- Purchase your $10,000 surety bond and file it with your county clerk (skip this step if you’re a Michigan-licensed attorney in good standing).
- Apply through the Department of State — online via Michigan’s Online Services (often processed the same day) or by mail with Form 98 (typically 4–6 weeks).
- Pay the fees — a $10 state processing fee plus your county’s filing fee (usually $10, but check with your specific county clerk).
- Take your oath and receive your commission, valid for 6 to 7 years until it expires on your birthday.
Unlike states such as Illinois or Pennsylvania, Michigan has no state-mandated education course or exam for new notaries — the process is closer to a background-and-bond check than a competency test. The Department of State does offer an optional training video for applicants who want it.
Remote and electronic notarization
Michigan allows three ways to notarize a document: traditional in-person pen-and-paper notarization, e-notarization (the signer is physically present but the document and signature are digital), and full remote online notarization, or RON (the signer appears via live audio-video and isn’t physically present, using a state-approved vendor platform). The same $10,000 bond covers all three methods — Michigan doesn’t require a separate or higher bond for RON the way some other states do. RON does come with extra recordkeeping duties: notaries performing remote notarizations must keep a journal and retain the audio-video recording of the session for 10 years, which isn’t required for in-person or e-notarization.
Renewal
Michigan notary commissions don’t renew automatically. When your 6-to-7-year term is ending, you go through essentially the same process as a first-time applicant — a new bond, a new oath, and the same fees — and you’re expected to do it within 60 days before your current commission expires to avoid a gap in your ability to notarize.
Do I need to take a class to become a Michigan notary?
No. Michigan doesn’t require any pre-commission education course or exam. The Department of State offers an optional training video, but eligibility, the $10,000 bond, and the application fees are the only real requirements.
How long does a Michigan notary commission last?
Between 6 and 7 years, ending on your birthday — not a flat term like the 4-year commissions common in many other states. There’s no automatic renewal, so you need to reapply before your commission’s expiration date to keep notarizing without a gap.
Does remote online notarization require a bigger bond in Michigan?
No. The standard $10,000 surety bond covers in-person notarization, e-notarization, and full remote online notarization (RON) alike. RON does add extra recordkeeping requirements — a journal plus a 10-year retained audio-video recording of each session — but not a separate or larger bond.