MI Notary Michigan Notary Fees and Compensation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum fee a Michigan notary may charge for a single notarial act?
- $5
- $10 (Correct answer)
- $15
- $20
Correct answer: $10
Michigan law caps the notary fee at $10 per notarial act.
Question 2: May a Michigan notary charge for travel expenses in addition to the notarial fee?
- No, fees are strictly limited to the per-act cap
- Yes, travel fees may be negotiated separately with the signer (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only mileage at the IRS rate
- Only if the travel exceeds 50 miles
Correct answer: Yes, travel fees may be negotiated separately with the signer
Michigan notaries may charge a separate, agreed-upon travel fee in addition to the statutory per-act fee.
Question 3: Is a Michigan notary required to charge a fee for every notarial act?
- Yes, charging is mandatory
- No, the notary may choose to waive or reduce fees (Correct answer)
- Only fees for acknowledgments are mandatory
- Fees are required for loans but optional otherwise
Correct answer: No, the notary may choose to waive or reduce fees
Michigan notaries are not required to charge a fee and may waive or reduce fees at their discretion.
Question 4: What must a Michigan notary do before charging a travel fee?
- File the travel schedule with the county clerk
- Obtain prior agreement from the person requesting the notarization (Correct answer)
- Get approval from the Secretary of State
- Post the travel fee schedule publicly
Correct answer: Obtain prior agreement from the person requesting the notarization
A notary must reach a prior agreement with the requesting party before charging any travel fee.
Question 5: Can an employer prohibit a notary-employee from charging fees for notarizations performed during work hours?
- No, the notary has a statutory right to charge fees
- Yes, an employer may restrict fee collection during work time (Correct answer)
- Only if the employer is a government agency
- Only if the notary is compensated separately for notarial work
Correct answer: Yes, an employer may restrict fee collection during work time
An employer may legitimately restrict an employee-notary from charging personal fees for notarizations performed on company time.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a Michigan notary's fee for performing a jurat?
- Free of charge by law
- Up to $10 per jurat (Correct answer)
- A flat $5 rate set by the state
- No limit applies to jurats
Correct answer: Up to $10 per jurat
The maximum statutory fee for any single notarial act, including a jurat, is $10 in Michigan.
MI Notary Michigan Notary Fees and Compensation 1
What is the maximum fee a Michigan notary may charge for a single notarial act?