Who requires it
Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal / county clerks
License & permit · Michigan
Michigan Notary Public Bond
Most Michigan notary applicants must file a $10,000 surety bond with the county clerk of their residence or expected appointment, then take the constitutional oath. The bond reimburses persons, financing agencies, or governmental agencies for monetary loss from official misconduct after a court judgment. Licensed attorneys who are members in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan are exempt from the surety but still file the oath.
Common bond amount
$10,000
Fixed statutory amount under MCL 55.273. Licensed State Bar of Michigan attorneys in good standing are exempt from the surety but still file an oath with the county clerk.
How you file
File with the county clerk of residence or expected appointment
Renewal
Maintain for commission term; 60-day cancellation notice to notary, SOS, and county clerk
Who requires it
Applicants for a Michigan notary public appointment under the Michigan Law on Notarial Acts, except attorneys exempt under SOS guidance when they are State Bar members in good standing.
How much is required
MCL 55.273(2) fixes the bond at $10,000 with a surety licensed to do business in Michigan. The county clerk may not accept personal assets as security.
How to get and file it
Purchase a $10,000 notary surety from a Michigan-licensed insurer or bonding company, take the bond and application to the county clerk, pay the county filing fee, and take the oath. Complete the SOS notary application (online or paper) and pay the state processing fee as the Office of the Great Seal instructs. File the bond within ninety days before filing the appointment application. The surety may cancel sixty days after notifying the notary, the secretary, and the county clerk; the surety is not liable for breaches after the cancellation effective date. Keep coverage in force for the commission; the Secretary of State may require a replacement bond if claims deplete the original.
Cost note
Ten thousand dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $10,000 (MCL 55.273(2))
- Where to file
- County clerk of residence or expected appointment
- Attorney exemption
- State Bar of Michigan members in good standing are exempt from the bond; oath and county filing still required
- Cancellation
- Surety notifies notary, secretary, and county clerk; cancellation effective 60 days later
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Do Michigan attorneys need a notary bond?
SOS notary guidance says attorneys who are members in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan are not required to file the surety after April 1, 2007, but they must still file the oath and pay the county filing fee.
Is the county filing fee always $10?
MCL 55.273 sets a $10 county filing fee, but a charter county with a population over 2,000,000 may set a different fee by ordinance. Confirm with your county clerk.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Michigan application
Michigan will be preselected. Choose your bond type in the application—we confirm the correct product against your agency form before anything is issued.
Last verified 2026-08-10. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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