Michigan (MI)
Automated Lookup
Operational
Research Michigan notary commissions. NotaVeri can automatically cross-reference Michigan notary details against the official state database.
Visit Michigan Official Notary Database
How to Research a Michigan Notary
1. Go to https://www.michigan.gov/sos/notary-services
2. Click 'Search for a notary online' to open the TAP portal.
3. Click 'Michigan Notary Public Search' on the TAP home page.
4. Enter the notary's first and/or last name and click Search.
5. Verify the notary's name, county of appointment, and expiration date.
6. If the online search is unavailable, contact the Office of the Great Seal at (888) 767-6424 (888-SOS-MICH) or email MDOS-OGS@michigan.gov to verify commission status.
7. Alternatively, contact the county clerk in the notary's county of appointment, as the notary's surety bond is filed there.
2. Click 'Search for a notary online' to open the TAP portal.
3. Click 'Michigan Notary Public Search' on the TAP home page.
4. Enter the notary's first and/or last name and click Search.
5. Verify the notary's name, county of appointment, and expiration date.
6. If the online search is unavailable, contact the Office of the Great Seal at (888) 767-6424 (888-SOS-MICH) or email MDOS-OGS@michigan.gov to verify commission status.
7. Alternatively, contact the county clerk in the notary's county of appointment, as the notary's surety bond is filed there.
How to Verify a Michigan Notary's Signature
Michigan notaries file their application and oath with the Secretary of State (Office of the Great Seal) and their surety bond with the county clerk in their county of appointment.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, to confirm the notary's commission status and commissioned name.
2. Contact the county clerk in the notary's county of appointment -- the county clerk maintains the surety bond and may have the notary's signature on file.
3. Compare the signature to the notary's name as it appears on their commission certificate.
Contact: Office of the Great Seal -- (888) 767-6424 (888-SOS-MICH)
Email: MDOS-OGS@michigan.gov
Address: 7064 Crowner Blvd, Lansing, MI 48918
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, to confirm the notary's commission status and commissioned name.
2. Contact the county clerk in the notary's county of appointment -- the county clerk maintains the surety bond and may have the notary's signature on file.
3. Compare the signature to the notary's name as it appears on their commission certificate.
Contact: Office of the Great Seal -- (888) 767-6424 (888-SOS-MICH)
Email: MDOS-OGS@michigan.gov
Address: 7064 Crowner Blvd, Lansing, MI 48918
Verifying Older Michigan Documents
The Michigan SOS online search includes both active and expired commissions.
1. Use the TAP portal search at https://dsvsesvc.sos.state.mi.us/TAP/_/ and select 'Active and Expired Notaries' status filter.
2. If not found, contact the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, at (888) 767-6424 for historical commission records.
3. The Office of the Great Seal functions as the State's official repository for public records and can confirm past commissions.
4. You may also contact the county clerk in the notary's county of appointment for bond records.
5. Provide the notary's name, county, and approximate date of notarization.
Email: MDOS-OGS@michigan.gov
Address: 7064 Crowner Blvd, Lansing, MI 48918
Commission term: 6-7 years (expires on the notary's birthday, not less than 6 or more than 7 years from the date of appointment).
1. Use the TAP portal search at https://dsvsesvc.sos.state.mi.us/TAP/_/ and select 'Active and Expired Notaries' status filter.
2. If not found, contact the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, at (888) 767-6424 for historical commission records.
3. The Office of the Great Seal functions as the State's official repository for public records and can confirm past commissions.
4. You may also contact the county clerk in the notary's county of appointment for bond records.
5. Provide the notary's name, county, and approximate date of notarization.
Email: MDOS-OGS@michigan.gov
Address: 7064 Crowner Blvd, Lansing, MI 48918
Commission term: 6-7 years (expires on the notary's birthday, not less than 6 or more than 7 years from the date of appointment).
Michigan Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Michigan does not require notaries to use a rubber stamp or embossed seal. However, when a stamp or seal is used, it must contain specific information. Documents intended for use outside Michigan may require an embossed seal.
Stamp/seal requirements if used (MiLONA, MCL 55.287):
- Type: Rubber stamp or embossed seal (neither is mandatory for Michigan-only documents)
- Must include: Notary's name exactly as it appears on the commission application
- Must include: "Notary Public, State of Michigan, County of ___" (the county of commission)
- Must include: "My Commission Expires ___" (the commission expiration date)
- If acting in a county other than the county of commission, must add: "Acting in the County of ___"
- Even without a stamp, the notary must print, type, or stamp all of the above information near their signature on every notarized document
- Michigan notaries have statewide jurisdiction regardless of their county of commission
Stamp/seal requirements if used (MiLONA, MCL 55.287):
- Type: Rubber stamp or embossed seal (neither is mandatory for Michigan-only documents)
- Must include: Notary's name exactly as it appears on the commission application
- Must include: "Notary Public, State of Michigan, County of ___" (the county of commission)
- Must include: "My Commission Expires ___" (the commission expiration date)
- If acting in a county other than the county of commission, must add: "Acting in the County of ___"
- Even without a stamp, the notary must print, type, or stamp all of the above information near their signature on every notarized document
- Michigan notaries have statewide jurisdiction regardless of their county of commission
Contacting a Michigan Notary
The following is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
We make no warranty regarding its accuracy or completeness.
Consult a qualified attorney before taking action.
Michigan — Contacting the Notary for Verification
Michigan does not require traditional notaries public to maintain a journal of notarial acts. However, notaries performing notarial acts using a remote electronic notarization platform must maintain a journal that records each of those notarial acts (MCL 55.286b(7)).
Right to inspect:
- Because Michigan law does not mandate a notary journal for traditional notarizations, there is no statutory right to inspect a journal that may not exist.
- If an audio or visual recording is requested by the Secretary of State, a notary must comply within 15 days by providing a copy or permitting inspection of the specified records, but only if such records are kept by that notary (MCL 55.295).
- If the notary refuses voluntary access, a subpoena or court order may be necessary to compel production.
What can be requested:
- For remote electronic notarization journals, the entry must include at a minimum: date, time, and nature of the notarial act; method of identification (if based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect; if based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented, including date of issuance and expiration); and the fee charged, if any (MCL 55.286b(8)).
- Thumbprint: Michigan does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
Key considerations:
- Since journal-keeping is optional for traditional notarizations, many Michigan notaries may not maintain journals at all.
- Notaries must retain journals for at least 10 years after the performance of the last notarial act recorded in it (MCL 55.286b(7)).
- If a notary is not reappointed or their commission is revoked, the former notary must inform the Secretary of State where the journal is kept or, if directed, forward it to the Secretary or a designated repository (MCL 55.286b(7)).
- If seeking verification of a notarization, it may be more productive to request an affidavit or sworn statement from the notary regarding their recollection of the notarial act, or to subpoena the notary for deposition.
- Contact: Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal — (517) 241-1832
Relevant statutes: MCL 55.286b; MCL 55.295
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.
Michigan does not require traditional notaries public to maintain a journal of notarial acts. However, notaries performing notarial acts using a remote electronic notarization platform must maintain a journal that records each of those notarial acts (MCL 55.286b(7)).
Right to inspect:
- Because Michigan law does not mandate a notary journal for traditional notarizations, there is no statutory right to inspect a journal that may not exist.
- If an audio or visual recording is requested by the Secretary of State, a notary must comply within 15 days by providing a copy or permitting inspection of the specified records, but only if such records are kept by that notary (MCL 55.295).
- If the notary refuses voluntary access, a subpoena or court order may be necessary to compel production.
What can be requested:
- For remote electronic notarization journals, the entry must include at a minimum: date, time, and nature of the notarial act; method of identification (if based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect; if based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented, including date of issuance and expiration); and the fee charged, if any (MCL 55.286b(8)).
- Thumbprint: Michigan does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
Key considerations:
- Since journal-keeping is optional for traditional notarizations, many Michigan notaries may not maintain journals at all.
- Notaries must retain journals for at least 10 years after the performance of the last notarial act recorded in it (MCL 55.286b(7)).
- If a notary is not reappointed or their commission is revoked, the former notary must inform the Secretary of State where the journal is kept or, if directed, forward it to the Secretary or a designated repository (MCL 55.286b(7)).
- If seeking verification of a notarization, it may be more productive to request an affidavit or sworn statement from the notary regarding their recollection of the notarial act, or to subpoena the notary for deposition.
- Contact: Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal — (517) 241-1832
Relevant statutes: MCL 55.286b; MCL 55.295
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.