Online Notary

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Michigan

Last updated October 31, 2023

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Ingvill Walmann Byrknes
Ingvill Walmann Byrknes, BA
Ingvill Walmann Byrknes

Ingvill Walmann Byrknes is a professional content writer and editor. After getting a Diploma in Library and Information Sciences from OsloMet University, Ingvill left Norway behind and moved to Canada, where she received her Bachelor of Arts from MacEwan University in 2021. In addition to her two years of communications experience, Ingvill has practiced her writing craft through freelance work and personal projects. She is passionate about language and communications, and she aims to write content that is concise, accessible, and creative. Ingvill joined the LawDepot team as a Marketing Writer in 2023, where she continues to pursue her goals of creating high-quality content with a purpose.

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Jeseth De Vera
Jeseth De Vera, BA, LLB
Jeseth De Vera

Jeseth De Vera is a Legal Writer for LawDepot and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2023. Jeseth was born and raised in the Philippines, where she earned her Communication Arts degree - cum laude at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila City. Having realized her passion for law, Jeseth then pursued her Bachelor of Laws degree from the same university. Jeseth was called to the Philippine Bar in 2017 and worked as a Court Attorney at the Court of Appeals before moving to Canada. Before joining the Legal team in 2022, Jeseth was part of the Marketing department of LawDepot as a Product Specialist, a role that helped her better understand the needs of individuals when accessing or creating legal documents. Jeseth’s experience as a Product Specialist, coupled with her legal education and research and writing skills, helps ensure that LawDepot’s legal templates are legally sound, high-quality, and user-friendly.

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Kyle Adam is a seasoned content creator, editor, and SEO specialist with over four years of experience. Presently, he serves as Senior Marketing Writer and Editor at LawDepot. Holding a Bachelor of Communication Studies from MacEwan University, he further honed his skills with an Associate’s Certificate in Graphic Design from British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Kyle seamlessly blends his love for arts and writing to craft compelling content. He’s enthusiastic about explaining complex topics by using simple, accessible language and effective visuals.

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Online Notary in Michigan

Online Notary is a way to get documents notarized remotely in Michigan and anywhere else in the United States. Also known as Remote Online Notary (RON), online notaries can verify identities and signatures without the inconvenience of travel.

LawDepot’s Online Notary service is secure, convenient, and affordable. By connecting with a notary public using your electronic device’s camera and microphone, you can have your documents digitally notarized from the comfort of your home.

Online Notary is also known as:

  • Digital notarization
  • Remote notarization
  • Virtual notarization

Yes, Online Notary is legal in Michigan and has been since 2018. Michigan was the 9th state to legalize online notarization.

Online Notary laws in Michigan

Online notaries in Michigan are governed by the Michigan Law on Notarial Acts (MiLONA), paragraphs 55.285 to 55.287. According to the legislation, a Michigan online notary has the same authority and duties as traditional ones. 

Michigan recognizes online notarizations from all other states, according to Michigan Compiled Laws 55.285. Thanks to the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the US Constitution, the same is true for every state in the United States of America. This means that a document notarized online is valid in every state.

The United States Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act recognizes digital signatures as legally valid, meaning that an electronic signature is as binding as a traditional one.

Record keeping of Online Notaries in Michigan

While Michigan notaries do not have to keep a record of traditional in-person notarization, they must keep a journal of remote online notarizations. Michigan online notaries must keep the journal entries for at least ten years and make note of the following:

  • Date, time, and nature of notarial act
  • Description of the record
  • Full name and address of each individual requiring the notarial act
  • Methods used to identify the individuals requiring the notarial act
  • Fee charged 
  • Reference to any audial or visual recording of the notarization

Michigan notaries must also keep an audio or video recording of the notarial act for at least ten years.

How much does Online Notary cost in Michigan?

LawDepot’s Online Notary is $25 for the first seal and $10 for each additional act. The fees cover an acknowledgment or a jurat.

  • An acknowledgment means that the parties state their willingness to sign the document.
  • A jurat means that the parties swear that the contents of the documents are truthful.

LawDepot’s Online Notary does not offer copy certification, also known as certified copies.

While Michigan notary guidelines state that notaries public can charge up to $10 per notarial act, LawDepot’s Online Notary is a convenient and easy way to get documents notarized, and you won’t even have to leave your home.

What documents can I notarize online in Michigan?

In Michigan, online notaries can notarize the same documents as traditional ones. However, state law varies, and depending on what type of document you are getting notarized and what state the document is for, you should check with local authorities to ensure you follow local guidelines. 

LawDepot’s Online Notary can notarize:

To learn more about the online notarization process, visit the Online Notary main page.

What documents cannot be notarized online in Michigan?

Documents that are known as vital records can’t be notarized. These are documents that include important information about a person’s life events, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates. Vital records can only be issued by a government agency such as Michigan Vital Records.

LawDepot’s Online Notary can’t notarize the following:

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