Can a notary charge more than $10 per notarial act in Michigan?

For the notarial act itself, no — Michigan caps it at $10 per notarial act. A mobile notary may add a separate travel/convenience fee, which is not the notarial fee and must be disclosed and agreed to in advance. Always ask for it itemized.

Will my bank notarize for free in Michigan?

Often, yes — many banks and credit unions notarize documents free for their account holders during branch hours. Call ahead: not every branch has a notary on duty, and some won't handle every document type.

What ID do I need to get something notarized in Michigan?

A current, government-issued photo ID is the standard requirement; the exact list of acceptable IDs is set by Michigan. Check Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 55.285 (Michigan Notary Public Act, Act 238 of 2003) before your appointment for the authoritative list.

Notary cost · Michigan

How much does a notary cost in Michigan?

Most "notary cost" pages are run by an online-notarization platform or a notary supplier — each answering with its own product. This one isn't. Here's what it actually costs in Michigan, all your options compared fairly — including the one where your bank does it for free.

$10

per notarial act — that's the notarial stamp, capped by Michigan. Getting a notary to you (the trip) is a separate, market-set charge. A Michigan notary may charge no more than $10 per notarial act (MCL 55.285(7)); the statute sets no separate remote online notarization cap, so the same $10-per-act ceiling applies to RON.

The two prices, separated

1 · The notarial fee

$10 per notarial act

State-capped. This is the official act — verifying you, witnessing the signature, applying the stamp. It's the same amount whether you drive to the notary or they drive to you.

2 · The travel / convenience fee

disclosure-required

Travel fees are not capped but are only permitted by prior agreement: MCL 55.285(7) provides that 'before the notary public commences to travel in order to perform a notarial act, the notary public and client may agree concerning a separate travel fee.' It must be agreed before the notary travels; the $10 act fee is separate from any agreed travel fee. It only applies when a notary comes to you — a bank or walk-in counter doesn't charge it.

Your options, compared honestly

Option	What you pay	When it's the right call
Bank / credit union	Often free for account holders	Simple documents, during branch hours, when you can get there. Call first — not every branch has a notary.
Walk-in (UPS-type)	Up to $10 per notarial act + the store's own convenience fee	You're already out, no account at a bank, need it now. You travel to them.
Mobile notary	$10 per notarial act act fee + a travel fee (a base rate plus mileage, set by the notary)	Hospital, homebound, after-hours, real-estate or multi-signer signings — when the trip is worth paying for. Ask for the travel fee itemized upfront.
Online / RON RON · Live in-state	n/a in-state	You can notarize by video without leaving home. Confirm the receiving party accepts a remote notarization.

Michigan specifics

Fee schedule: A Michigan notary may charge no more than $10 per notarial act (MCL 55.285(7)); the statute sets no separate remote online notarization cap, so the same $10-per-act ceiling applies to RON.

Travel fees: Travel fees are not capped but are only permitted by prior agreement: MCL 55.285(7) provides that 'before the notary public commences to travel in order to perform a notarial act, the notary public and client may agree concerning a separate travel fee.' It must be agreed before the notary travels; the $10 act fee is separate from any agreed travel fee.

Fee disclosure required: under MCL 55.285(7) a notary must either conspicuously display a sign OR expressly advise the individual of the fee before performing the act.

The $10 maximum is per individual transaction / notarial act — there is no first-plus-additional-signature schedule; each act caps at $10.

A separate travel fee is allowed ONLY if the notary and client agree to it before the notary begins traveling (MCL 55.285(7)).

County clerks may collect a $10 processing fee to certify a notarial act (MCL 55.285(10)) — distinct from the notary's own act fee.

When notarizing outside the county of commission, Michigan notaries must add 'Acting in the County of ___' to the certificate.

The earlier notary-audience guide (michigan-notary-guide.html) incorrectly states 'Michigan does not cap the fees notaries can charge' — the statute in fact caps every notarial act at $10; this signer-facing page should not repeat the no-cap claim.

Remote online notarization: RON · Live in-state — Remote online notarization is authorized and operational in Michigan under the Michigan Law on Notarial Acts (Act 238 of 2003), amended by 2018 PA 246 to permit electronic and remote electronic notarization (MCL 55.265/55.291). RON has been live in-state since 2019. No separate statutory RON fee cap exists, so the $10-per-act ceiling of MCL 55.285(7) governs RON acts. Michigan recognizes notarial acts validly performed under another state's law.

Official source: Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 55.285 (Michigan Notary Public Act, Act 238 of 2003) →

Before you pay

Ask to confirm the notary's commission is current (a mobile notary should be happy to show it).
Get the total quoted upfront and itemized — the $10 per notarial act notarial fee separate from any travel/convenience fee.
Ask for a receipt.
For online/remote notarization, confirm the party receiving your document accepts it.

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Notary costs in every state Compare all 50 states + how notary pricing actually works Michigan notary guide Curious what notaries here can charge — or thinking of becoming one? How online (remote) notarization works What RON is, where you can use it, and what your document must accept

Figures on this page are sourced to Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 55.285 (Michigan Notary Public Act, Act 238 of 2003) (Mich. Comp. Laws § 55.285(7) (Michigan Notary Public Act, Act 238 of 2003, as amended by 2018 PA 330)), verified 2026-07-14. This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specifics with the official authority.