|
Please read this first We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
Michigan commissions notaries through the Secretary of State after you file a $10,000 bond and take the oath with your county clerk. Remote notarization is an electronic notarization by audio-visual equipment using only a state-approved remote vendor. Notify the Department of State of the approved system before the first remote act. There is no separate RON commission.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the Department of State’s current instructions if anything here differs from the official site.
For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be commissioned as a Michigan notary public, you must meet all of the following:
|
|
|
Start Here: County Clerk, Then Great Seal
Complete the application, buy the bond, qualify at the county clerk, then upload or mail the packet with the $10 SOS fee. Add remote authorization by notifying the office of your approved vendor.
|
1
|
Read the official notary pages Open Notary services and Notary application. |
|
2
|
Apply online if you can Online applications are given priority and are often processed the same day. Mail can take 4 to 6 weeks. |
|
3
|
If you already hold a Michigan commission, notify the Great Seal of your remote vendor before the first remote act Use Electronic & Remote Notary Request for Change (Form 99) (no fee) or the vendor fields on a new/renewal application. |
Part 1: Traditional Michigan Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired Michigan notary public commission. You still must have an approved remote vendor on file before remote acts.
Checklist
|
1
|
Review the official how-to Notary application and Notary services. You may notarize anywhere in Michigan, not outside the state. |
|
2
|
Complete traditional notary education Not listed on the official application page as a required pre-commission SOS course or exam. You must declare that you have read the Michigan Notary Public Act. |
|
3
|
Obtain a $10,000 surety bond Purchase from a Michigan-licensed surety, then file it with the county clerk. Bond cost is generally described as about $50–$100. The county filing fee is usually $10 (some counties charge more). |
|
4
|
Submit the traditional application After the county clerk completes the oath and bond filing, upload the application and pay the $10 nonrefundable SOS processing fee, or mail it payable to the State of Michigan. |
|
5
|
Receive your commission Retrieve the certificate through your secured online account as the office instructs. Include name, county of appointment, and expiration on each act. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
Contract only with a vendor on the SOS authorized list. Remote notarization uses audio-visual equipment so the signer is not physically present; the record is electronic. Notify the Office of the Great Seal of the approved system before the first remote act. Form 99 lists no fee.
Have these ready
|
|
|
|
Checklist
|
1
|
Read the official online-notary instructions Notary services (electronic and remote notarizations) and Vendors Authorized to Perform Electronic and Remote Notarizations. |
|
2
|
Complete online notary education Not listed on the official SOS notary pages as a required SOS RON course. Complete any training your approved vendor requires. |
|
3
|
Start the online commission application Existing notaries mail Electronic & Remote Notary Request for Change (Form 99) identifying the approved system. New or renewing applicants can name the system on the notary application. |
|
4
|
Sign with a digital certificate Onboard with the approved vendor so the system is the one you report to the Great Seal. |
|
5
|
Upload your electronic seal Michigan does not run a separate SOS seal-upload portal for RON. Complete seal setup with the vendor; the change form is mailed. |
|
6
|
Pay and submit Form 99 states no fee for the electronic/remote information change. Do not perform remote acts until the approved vendor is on file. |
After You Are Commissioned
|
|
Remote authorization is not a separate commission. It depends on remaining a commissioned Michigan notary public with an approved vendor on file.
Fees Listed by Michigan
SOS and typical county amounts are from Notary application and Notary services. Confirm the county clerk’s exact fee. Bond premiums and vendor fees are extra. Card payments may include additional processing fees.
| Item | Listed amount |
|---|---|
| Traditional notary education | Not listed on the official application page as a required SOS course |
| Remote vendor training | Paid to the approved vendor (not listed as an SOS course fee) |
| SOS processing fee | $10 (nonrefundable) |
| County clerk filing / oath | Usually $10 (some counties charge more) |
| Electronic / remote vendor notice (Form 99) | No fee |
| Surety bond | $10,000 coverage (attorneys in good standing exempt from the bond) |
Official Michigan Links
| Resource | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Notary services | michigan.gov/sos/notary-services |
| Notary application | michigan.gov/sos/all-services/notary-application |
| Approved electronic/remote vendors | michigan.gov/.../List_of_Vendors.pdf |
| Office of the Great Seal | 7064 Crowner Drive, Lansing, MI 48918 |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: No. Become a commissioned Michigan notary first. Then notify the Office of the Great Seal of an approved remote vendor before the first remote act.
Q: Does Michigan approve a list of RON platforms?
A: Yes. Only state-approved remote vendor platforms may be used. The Department of State publishes the authorized-vendor list and does not handle vendor pricing or training.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Use Notary services and Notary application.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
