Michigan does not give a state notary exam, but you still need to know the rules before you sign your first notarial certificate. This page has free MI Notary practice sets on notary law, fees, seals, signer identification and record-keeping. It also gives a plain summary of how the Michigan Department of State handles applications, the $10 processing fee, the $10 county clerk filing fee and how long a commission lasts.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $10 nonrefundable state processing fee[1] | Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Office of the Great Seal · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Exam fee (County clerk filing fee) | $10 county clerk filing fee for bond and oath[2] | legislature.mi.gov · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Validity | 6 to 7 years, ending on the notary's birthday[3] | Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Office of the Great Seal · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Renewal | No renewal; apply for a new commission no more than 60 days before expiration[3] | Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Office of the Great Seal · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Delivery | Apply online (often same day) or by mail (up to 6 weeks); no state exam[1] | Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Office of the Great Seal · Oct 29, 2026 |
According to Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Office of the Great Seal, “Note: We encourage you to apply online. Online applications are given priority and often are processed the same day they are received. Applications received by mail may take up to six weeks to process.”[1]
A Michigan notary public commission lets you perform notarial acts such as taking acknowledgments and administering oaths. Commissions are issued by the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) through the Office of the Great Seal. There is no state exam. You do not sit a test or receive a score. You apply, and the state reviews your application. The practice sets on this page are a way to learn the law and procedures you will be responsible for once you are commissioned.
How you apply: The state encourages online applications. These get priority and are often processed the same day they arrive. Mailed applications can take up to 6 weeks. Online, you upload your final application and pay a $10 nonrefundable processing fee by credit or debit card (extra fees apply) or by e-check.
County clerk step: After you are appointed, you file your oath, and a bond if one applies to you, with a county clerk. The clerk charges a $10 filing fee.
Commission length and renewal: A commission lasts 6 to 7 years and ends on your birthday. Michigan has no renewal process. To keep notarizing, you apply for a new commission each time, no more than 60 days before your current one expires.
This page does not list age, residency or other eligibility rules because they are not among the facts we have verified. Check them, along with any recent changes, on the Michigan Department of State notary application page before you apply.
Prepare for the MI Notary - Michigan Notary Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What must a Michigan notary do if their name changes during their commission?
Answer: B. Notify the Secretary of State and re-file the bond under the new name
Explanation:
Correct: B. A commission and its supporting filings are tied to your legal name. If your name changes, the state's records should match it, so you notify the Secretary of State and re-file under the new name.
Rule to remember: keep your official records in line with your current legal name. Confirm the exact steps in the Office of the Great Seal notary FAQ.
Question: What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public in Michigan?
Answer: B. 18
Explanation:
Correct: B, 18. In our question set, 18 is the minimum age to be appointed as a Michigan notary public. It matches the general age of legal adulthood, when a person can take an oath and be held responsible for official acts.
Rule to remember: eligibility rules are set by state law, and age is only one of them. Before you apply, read the full requirements on the Michigan Department of State notary application page.
Question: A notarial act is performed in Michigan but the seal impression is smudged and illegible. What is the best course of action?
Answer: B. The notary should re-stamp to produce a clear impression
Explanation:
Correct: B. A stamp impression exists so that anyone who reads the document can identify the notary. If the impression is smudged and unreadable, it does not do that job, so the practical fix is to make a clear impression.
Rule to remember: everything on a notarial certificate must be clear and legible. Check current Michigan guidance on stamp and seal use with the Office of the Great Seal.
Read the official material before you practise. Go through the Michigan Department of State notary application page and the Office of the Great Seal notary FAQ. Note the parts that affect you directly: the fees, the county clerk filing step, commission length and the rule that there is no renewal.
Then work by topic. Start with Appointment and Qualifications and Laws and Statutes, since the other topics build on them. Next, do Notarial Acts and Procedures, Signer Identification and Seal and Signature Requirements. Finish with Fees, Record-keeping, Electronic and Remote Notarization, Ethics and Liability.
Treat every miss as a lookup. When you get a question wrong, find the matching rule in the official material. Our questions are study aids, not statements of law.
Check yourself at the end. Take the mixed practice test. Then look up anything that still feels unclear before you file your application and oath.
No. Michigan does not give a state notary exam, so there is no test to sit and no score to reach. You apply to the Michigan Department of State, which reviews your application. The practice sets on this page are study aids. They help you learn the rules on fees, seals, records and signer identification that you are responsible for once you are commissioned.
The state charges a $10 nonrefundable processing fee when you apply. You can pay online by credit or debit card (additional fees apply) or by e-check. After you are appointed, you pay the county clerk a $10 filing fee when you file your oath and, if it applies to you, a bond. Check the Michigan Department of State notary application page for any other costs before you apply.
Online applications get priority and are often processed the same day they are received. Mailed applications may take up to 6 weeks. The Michigan Department of State encourages applicants to apply online, so that is the faster route if you need your commission soon.
A Michigan notary commission runs for 6 to 7 years and ends on the notary's birthday. Write down the expiration date shown on your commission so you can plan ahead. Michigan does not renew commissions, so keeping track of that date is how you avoid a gap between your current commission and the next one.
You cannot renew it. Michigan has no renewal process, so you apply for a new commission each time. The Office of the Great Seal says it is your responsibility to apply for a new appointment no more than 60 days before your current commission expires. You apply the same way you did the first time, through the Michigan Department of State notary application page.
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