The Michigan Office of the Great Seal is a division of the Department of State that handles two services most residents actually need: commissioning notaries public and authenticating Michigan documents for use in other countries. It operates out of Lansing and processes requests by mail or, for notary applications, through the Secretary of State’s online portal.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Manual 2007-2008 – The Executive Branch
Becoming a Notary Public in Michigan
You have to clear a few baseline requirements before you apply. You must be a United States citizen or show proof of legal presence, and you must disclose any felony or misdemeanor convictions from the previous ten years. Michigan residents are commissioned in their county of residence.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 55.275 – Application for Appointment as Notary Public
You also need a $10,000 surety bond from an insurance agency or bonding company licensed in Michigan. The bond protects the public against financial loss caused by a notary’s official misconduct, but the surety only pays after a court judgment. The bonding company can cancel the bond with 60 days’ notice to you, the Secretary of State, and the county clerk.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 55.273 – Surety Bond
How to Apply
The application runs through two offices, your county clerk and the Office of the Great Seal. You can fill out the form online through the Secretary of State’s e-Services portal or download the paper version from the Department of State website.
The in-person step at the county clerk is unavoidable either way. You bring your completed application and surety bond, take an oath of office, and pay a filing fee that is usually $10, though some counties charge more.4Michigan Secretary of State. Notary Services
After the clerk signs off, you submit the application to the Office of the Great Seal with a $10 nonrefundable processing fee. Online applicants upload the completed form and pay by credit card, debit card, or e-check. Mail applicants send a check or money order payable to the State of Michigan to:
Michigan Department of State
Office of the Great Seal
7064 Crowner Blvd.
Lansing, MI 489185Michigan Department of State. Notary Application
The method matters for timing. Online applications often process within a single day. Mailed applications can take four to six weeks. If you need the commission quickly, apply online.5Michigan Department of State. Notary Application
Term Length and Renewal
A Michigan notary commission runs for six to seven years and always expires on your birthday. If the Secretary of State issues the commission before your birthday in a given calendar year, the term is six years from your birthday. Issued after your birthday, the term stretches to seven years.
There is no automatic renewal. If you let the commission lapse, it simply expires. To avoid a gap, complete the full application process again within 60 days of your expiration date. Renewal is identical to the first application: new bond, new oath at the county clerk, new submission to the Office of the Great Seal.4Michigan Secretary of State. Notary Services
Remote Online Notarization
Michigan notaries can perform remote online notarization using two-way, real-time audiovisual technology, so the signer does not have to be physically present. The rules are stricter than for in-person work. The notary must use a state-approved remote electronic notarization platform, the session must be recorded, and both the journal entry and the audio-visual recording must be kept for at least ten years. In-person identity verification standards still apply, and the notary must confirm the document on screen matches the one the signer presented.6Michigan Legislature. Michigan Law on Notarial Acts – Act 238 of 2003
Apostilles and Certificates of Authority
When you need a Michigan document recognized by a foreign government, the Office of the Great Seal provides the authentication. The form depends on the destination. Countries that participate in the 1961 Hague Convention accept an apostille, a standardized certificate attached to your document. Countries outside the Convention require a certificate of authority instead.7U.S. Department of State. Preparing a Document for an Apostille Certificate The office handles both the same way on your end.
Not every document qualifies as submitted. Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must be certified copies from the state registrar or a county clerk. Notarized private documents like powers of attorney need original signatures from a Michigan notary, legibly signed, with the notary’s full name, commission expiration date, county of commission, and the county where the notarization took place if different.8Michigan Secretary of State. Document Authentication (Apostille and Certificate of Authority) Stamped, photocopied, or faxed signatures are rejected. Documents in a foreign language must include a written English translation.
Submitting an Authentication Request
You mail documents to the Office of the Great Seal at the Lansing address above. Include with your package:
- A cover letter stating the country where the document will be used
- A check or money order for $1 per document, payable to the State of Michigan; no cash
- A self-addressed, stamped envelope, or a prepaid courier air bill with your address listed as both sender and receiver
The office will not pay for return postage. If you use FedEx or UPS, fill out the return air bill completely, account number included. One detail worth knowing: USPS Express Mail and Priority Mail do not arrive at this office any faster than regular mail.8Michigan Secretary of State. Document Authentication (Apostille and Certificate of Authority)
The $1 fee is per document, not per page.9Michigan Department of State. Office of the Great Seal – Authentication Request Form Processing times vary. The authentication request form says to allow four to six weeks after the office receives your package; the department’s FAQ page suggests closer to one to two weeks for standard mail submissions.8Michigan Secretary of State. Document Authentication (Apostille and Certificate of Authority) Expedited service is not available, so plan well ahead of any international deadline.