How to Become a Notary in Michigan Form

In case of wanting to become a Notary Public in the State of Michigan, you have to follow the required instructions. The following form has instructions regarding the process that can be used as a reference. 

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Surety Bond Information 	
Notaries public are required to obtain a 
$10,000 surety bond and file it at the office 
of the county clerk in the county where the 
notary will be commissioned. The company 
from which you receive the surety bond 
must be licensed to do  business in Michigan. 
A link to licensed surety bond companies in 
Michigan is available on our Web site at 
www.Michigan.gov/sos	
.  The cost of surety 
bonds varies — generally between $50 and 
$100.  See our Web site for information on 
obtaining a surety bond. 
A surety bond protects the public from a 
no tary
’s misc onduct	

 or negligence. A surety 
bond does not  protect the notary. “Liability” 
or “errors and omissions” insurance may be 
purchased to protect an individual notary.   	
Oath of Office 	
The oath of office is an oral or written 
statement taken at your county clerk’s office 
when you file your bond. For Michigan 
residents, this must be in your county of 
residence.  Out-of-state applicants appear in 
the county of their principal place of 
business.  After the oath is administered, the 
clerk will attest that you swore to the 
statement. 	
 
Length of Appointment 	
Notary public commissions expire six (6) 
years from your next birthday at the time of 
commission issuance. 
  	
Renewing Your Commission 	
There is no automatic renewal process. You 
must apply for a new commission when your 
current commission expires. It is your 
responsibility to apply for a new commission 
no more than 60 days prior to the expiration 
date of your present commission.  If you are 
a licensed attorney in Michigan, you will 
receive a reappointment application form 
approximately 90 days prior to your 
commission expiration. 	
Further Information 	
For further information about the Michigan 
notary public program, please visit our Web 
site at:  www.Michigan.gov/sos	
. 	
Contact Us 	
Office of the Great Seal 
Michigan Department of State 
 
Walk-in: Richard H. Austin Building  First Floor, Lansing, MI 
Mail: 70	

64 Cr	

owner Drive 
Lansing, MI  48918 
(888) SOS-MICH (767-6424) 
Facsimile: (517) 241-1820  
 	
 	
 
Becoming a  Michigan   Notary Public 	
 	
 
 	
Office of the Great Seal 
Michigan Department of State 	
 	
www.Michigan.gov/sos 
www.Michigan.gov/sos
www.Michigan.gov/sos

The Role of the  
Michigan Notary Public 	
A notary public is an officer commissioned by 
the Secretary of State to  serve as an unbiased 
and impartial witness. The most common 
function of the notary is to prevent fraud by 
attesting to the identity of a person signing a 
document. Notarization on a document 
certifies that the person whose signature is 
entered on the document appeared before the 
notary, established his or her identity, and 
personally signed the document. 	
Notary Responsibilities 	
Every citizen appointed as a notary public has a 
duty to learn and understand the notary laws. 
Michigan notaries are required to conform to 
the Michigan Notary Public Act (2003 PA 238), 
as amended.  The current law, with the latest 
amendments effective April 1, 2007, is available 
at the Michigan Legislature’s Web site, 	www.legislature.mi.gov
.  
 	
Qualifications 	
To become commissioned as a Michigan notary 
public you must: 
 
•  Be at least 18 years old; 
•   Be a Michigan  resident or m	
 aintain a 
place of business in Michigan; 
•   Be a U.S. citize n or 	 possess proof of 
legal presence; 
•   Be able to read and write in the 
English language; 
 
   
•
  Be a resident  in the county 	

in which you 
request appointment (or maintain a 
principal place of business if you are an 
out-of-state applicant); 
•   Be free of any felony  convictions,	  
misdemeanor convictions, or violations, as 
specified by law; 
•   Have filed with the ap pro	 priate county 
clerk a $10,000 surety bond and taken the 
oath of office as prescribed by the State 
Constitution (licensed attorneys in 
Michigan are not required to file a surety 
bond);  
•   Sign a declaration that all the informatio n	  
on your application is correct, that you 
have read and understand the laws, and 
that you will perform all notarial acts 
faithfully; and 
•   Not be imprisoned in any state, county or 
federal correcti onal facility. 
 	
How to Apply   	
1.  Complete an Application for Michigan 
Notary Public Commission.  This form is 
available from the Michigan Department 
of State Web site,  www.Michigan.gov/sos	
, 	
or from the county clerk.  It is important 
that you print and sign the application 
exactly	
 as your name will appear on the 
documents you notarize. 
2.   Obtain and file a $10,000 surety bond with 
your county  clerk (bonds are 	

available 
through insurance agencies or bonding 
companies).   
The nonrefundable fee for this filing at the 
county level is $10.00 (with the exception 
of charter co unties with a populatio	

n of 
2,000,000 or more, where the fee may be 
higher). 
At the time of filing, the county clerk will 
also administer the oath o f	
 office, and 
verify that you have  completed all the 
requirements.  
3.   Forward your complet e	
 d application (along 
with a $10.00 nonrefundable application 
processing fee) to the following address:  
Michigan Department of State  Office of the Great Seal 7064 Crowner Drive Lansing, MI  48918   
Send a check or money order payable to 
the “State of  Michigan.” Do  not send cash. 
 
4.   If approved, your notary  commission
 
certificate	  (a blue, wallet-sized card) will be 
mailed directly to your residence address as 
indicated on the application form.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	SOS-425 (Rev. 08/11 )
 
(500 @ $0.15692 per copy; tot
 al $78.46) 	
www.Michigan.gov/sos 
www.Michigan.gov/sos 
www.Michigan.gov/sos