Notary Application and Commission
What this domain tests
The application and commission domain tests eligibility, the appointment process, bonding and filing, the term of office, and the limits of a commission. Expect numbers: age, fee, bond amount, term length, and filing location.
Core rules and concepts
- An applicant must be at least 18 years old and must be a Michigan resident or have a principal place of business in Michigan. The application goes to the Secretary of State with the required fee.
- Michigan notary commissions run for a six-year term. A commission is personal and cannot be transferred or used by another person.
- Before performing notarial acts, the newly appointed notary must take the oath and file a surety bond with the county clerk. The bond amount is $10,000. Filing the bond is not optional paperwork; it is part of becoming authorized.
- The commission is issued for a county, and the seal shows that county, but the notary's authority is statewide.
- A notary should track the expiration date and renew before it lapses. After expiration, the notary must not perform notarial acts or use the seal.
- The Secretary of State may deny, suspend, or revoke a commission for misconduct, including false certificates, failure to keep required records, or using a commission improperly.
Worked example
An applicant receives a commission certificate from the Secretary of State and immediately notarizes a neighbor's document, planning to file the bond next week. That act is premature. The oath and bond must be filed with the county clerk before the notary performs notarial acts. The neighbor should use a notary whose authority is active and properly filed.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing the application fee with the bond amount; thinking the commission is valid on the day the application is mailed; assuming authority is limited to the county on the seal; forgetting the six-year term; and notarizing after expiration while waiting for renewal.