Michigan Notary Public oddities and issues
Notary Bond
A prospective Michigan Notary must have a $10,000 bond. But, the odd part is that they must purchase and file this bond within 90 days prior to submitting their Michigan Notary commission application paperwork. This bond must be filed with their local county clerk and an oath of office must be administered as part of the procedure. There is a $10 fee to record the new Michigan Notary’s Oath.
Birthday
The Michigan Notary’s term of office ends on their birthday. Their term is between six and seven years. It begins upon the date specified by the state, and ends on the Notary’s birthday roughly six and a half years later.
Here is the Michigan Notary code: A Notary public may reside in, move to, and perform notarial acts anywhere in this state from the date of appointment until the date of the Notary’s birthday occuring not less than six years and not more than seven years after the date of his or her appointment unless the appointment is cancelled.
Unique Forms
Michigan Notaries can use specialized forms for Notary acts that most other states don’t have. There is an acknowledgment for copartnership. There is another acknowledgment for limited partnership. There is also a corporate acknowledgment to notarize the president of a corporation. There is an acknowledgment for a limited liability company, an acknowledgment for a public officer, and an acknowledgment for a trustee, personal representative, corporation (for any agent or officer), partnership, or attorney in fact; public officer, trustee, or personal representative.
Maintenance of Records
A person, or the personal representative of a person who is deceased, who performed a notarial act, while commissioned as a Notary Public under this act shall maintain all the records of that notarial act for at least five years after the date of that notarial act.
Remote Places
Michigan notaries on the upper peninsula will find that there are only a handful of mobile notaries in this territory which spans hundreds of miles. Notaries in U.P. might be asked to travel more than one hundred miles on a regular basis. Lets hope you get paid for mileage.
You might also like:
Identification requirements for being notarized
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=4299
Information about various notary procedures
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2268
How to complain about a notary public
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2179
I live in the up. It amazes me when a quote of $150 for a three hour, each way, drive is considered too much. That extra fee only pays for gas, not the extra 6 hours of driving. I had one woman who wanted to deduct for 30 miles of driving each way since that would be my local area. I told her that I make my fees, she doesn’t. Let me know if you need the work done. Of course, I’m sure your borrowers won’t mind traveling 5 hours to Marquette to get the documents notarized since that’s the closest place that i know of who will od a curtesy closing. But, they don’t print docs. Good luck.
I am lucky though. I have alot of great clients and they know how much more I do for them and how little I get paid extra for the drive.
Comment by Joan Havens — August 3, 2012 @ 4:31 pm