To notarize a document in Michigan, bring the completed but unsigned paperwork and a current government-issued photo ID to a commissioned notary public, who will confirm your identity, watch you sign, and complete the notarial certificate. The fee is capped at $10 per notarial act, and the appointment itself usually takes only a few minutes once you arrive prepared.
What to Bring
Fill in every blank, name, date, and dollar figure on your document before the appointment, but do not sign it yet. The notary has to watch you sign. If your signature is already on the page when you walk in, you’ll typically need to start over with a fresh copy.
You also need to prove who you are. Michigan law recognizes three ways to verify identity for an in-person notarization: a current government-issued ID showing both your photo and signature (a Michigan driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify); the notary’s personal knowledge of you; or a credible witness who personally knows both you and the notary and vouches for your identity under oath.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 55.285 – Michigan Law on Notarial Acts Expired ID is not accepted. If yours has lapsed, renew it or plan to bring a credible witness.
The notarization itself doesn’t require witnesses under Michigan law, but the underlying document might. Some out-of-state deeds, trust documents, and contracts governed by another state’s rules ask for one or two witnesses. Read the signing instructions on the document, or ask the person who requested the notarization, and bring witnesses if they’re required.
Where to Find a Notary
Banks and credit unions are usually the simplest option, and many notarize free for their own account holders. UPS Store and FedEx Office locations generally have a notary on staff for a fee. Law offices and real estate offices routinely handle notarizations tied to their work.
Mobile notaries will come to a home, office, or hospital room. The $10 statutory cap still applies to the notarial act itself, but a mobile notary can charge a separate travel fee, which should be agreed on before they head your way.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 55.285 – Michigan Law on Notarial Acts Call ahead either way. Not every branch keeps a notary on duty every day.
Acknowledgment or Jurat
The wording of the notarial certificate at the bottom of your document tells the notary which type of act to perform.
An acknowledgment is the more common form. You confirm to the notary that you are the person named in the document and that you signed it voluntarily. No oath is involved, and you can even sign the document before the appointment as long as you personally appear and confirm the signature is yours. Deeds, powers of attorney, and other documents recorded with a county office typically call for an acknowledgment.2State of Michigan. Acknowledgement vs Jurat
A jurat is different. The notary administers an oath or affirmation, you swear the contents of the document are true, and you sign in the notary’s presence. If the certificate reads “sworn to before me,” a jurat is required. Affidavits and court filings almost always fall in this category.2State of Michigan. Acknowledgement vs Jurat
Neither act proves that a document is true, valid, or enforceable. The notary is confirming your identity and willingness to sign, nothing more. Michigan law bars notaries from reviewing the document for accuracy or giving legal advice.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Law on Notarial Acts – Act 238 of 2003
What Happens at the Appointment
The notary will ask for your ID, examine it, and check that the name and photo match the person in front of them. For an acknowledgment, they’ll ask you to confirm the signature is yours and that you signed willingly. For a jurat, they’ll administer the oath or affirmation before you sign.
Once you sign, the notary completes the notarial certificate. That includes their printed name as it appears on their commission, the phrase “Notary public, State of Michigan, County of ___,” their commission expiration date, and the date of the act. If the notary is working in a county other than the one where they’re commissioned, that’s noted too. The notary then signs and applies their stamp or seal. Embossed-only seals that can’t be photocopied aren’t allowed in Michigan; the stamp has to be reproducible.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Law on Notarial Acts – Act 238 of 2003
Look over the certificate before you leave. Check the spelling of your name, the date, and the notary’s information. Catching a mistake at the desk is much easier than sorting one out afterward.
Fees
Michigan caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act, and that ceiling covers every form of notarization, including remote online sessions.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 55.285 – Michigan Law on Notarial Acts A document that needs several notarial acts can be charged $10 for each one. The notary must either post a sign showing their fee or tell you the amount before performing the act.
Mobile notaries can add a travel fee on top of the $10, but the amount has to be agreed on in advance. Many banks waive the notary fee entirely for account holders, so start there if cost matters.
Who Cannot Notarize Your Document
Two disqualifications catch people off guard. First, a notary can’t have a direct financial interest in the transaction beyond the fee itself. If the notary is named as a buyer, seller, lender, beneficiary, or party in any capacity, they’re out.4Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 55.291 – Michigan Law on Notarial Acts
Second, a notary can’t notarize for a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, or sibling. The restriction extends to in-laws, stepfamily, and half-relatives.4Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 55.291 – Michigan Law on Notarial Acts A notarization by a disqualified notary can be challenged and potentially thrown out, so don’t hand your paperwork to a relative who happens to hold a commission.
There is a narrow exception for professionals. A notary who is an employee, agent, or attorney for one of the parties may still notarize the document as long as they personally have no financial stake. A bank employee notarizing a loan document for the bank’s customer is a common example.
Remote Online Notarization
Michigan allows notarization by live video through an approved remote electronic notarization platform. You don’t have to be in the same room as the notary or even in the same state. The platform handles identity proofing, which involves presenting a government-issued ID on camera and going through digital credential analysis.5Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 55.286b – Michigan Law on Notarial Acts
The $10 fee cap still applies. The notary must use a platform approved by the Michigan Secretary of State and the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. If the notary intends to record the session, they must tell you and get your consent beforehand; you can decline, but the notary can then refuse to perform the act.5Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 55.286b – Michigan Law on Notarial Acts Remote sessions are logged in the notary’s journal and any recording is retained for at least ten years.6State of Michigan. Notary
Apostilles for International Use
If your notarized document will be used in a country that participates in the Hague Apostille Convention, you’ll need an apostille from the Michigan Secretary of State. The apostille confirms that the notary’s commission is valid, so the document is recognized abroad.
The fee is $1 per document. Requests can be sent by mail through the Office of the Great Seal or made in person at select Secretary of State offices in Lansing by appointment only. In-person appointments run Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mail requests take one to two weeks.7State of Michigan. Document Authentication and Apostille
To request one, submit a completed Authentication Request Form, the notarized document, and payment by check or money order made out to the State of Michigan. Mail requests also need a cover letter naming the destination country and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Documents in a foreign language must include a written English translation. The notarial certificate has to show the notary’s full name, signature, commission expiration date, county of commission, and the date of notarization.7State of Michigan. Document Authentication and Apostille