When you have important documents that need notarization, you must locate a commissioned notary public to carry out the transaction. While in the past, this meant scheduling time in advance with a traditional notary, Remote Online Notarization (RON) has made it easier than ever to notarize your documents from the convenience of your own home.
In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about using a remote online notary in Michigan to start notarizing your documents online immediately using PandaDoc Notary.
When you require notarization, online notarization services make capturing your signatures as easy as possible without the hassle and fees associated with traditional notarization services.
PandaDoc Notary offers the convenience of a secure and easy-to-use RON platform that allows you to create, edit, eSign, and notarize documents at your own convenience. The all-in-one platform makes it easier than ever to sign and notarize documents without the extra time and money spent enlisting walk-in services or mobile notaries.
With the ease, security, and flexibility that online notarization offers over walk-in and mobile notary services, RON is the clear choice when you need to notarize and store your essential documents.
To learn more about how PandaDoc Notary can help you and try it out for yourself, request a demo today.
To take advantage of a remote online notary in Michigan, there are a few requirements you must adhere to to ensure your notarization is valid and complete.
RON transactions are carried out entirely online by allowing signers and state commissioned notaries to meet using audio-visual technology and electronic forms. This is different from traditional notarization services, where document signers appear in person before a notary to complete a signature. At the time of the meeting, the signer’s identities will need to be verified using a knowledge-based authentication system and analysis, which helps to prevent fraud.
One of the most appealing things about online notarization is that it allows both the notary and the signers to complete a notarization within minutes without requiring the signers to be in the same room.
In addition to verifying the signer’s identity, the entire notarization process will be recorded and stored. In Michigan, this record must be securely stored and accessible to all parties for a minimum of ten years. This detailed record ensures that if any disputes arise down the road, every bit of information will be available for review.
Finally, the digital seal and certificate provided by the Michigan remote online notary ensure that the signed document is sealed with a tamper-proof code. This code identifies and tracks any unauthorized changes made to the document so any disputes can be quickly resolved.
An online notary in Michigan can charge no more than $10 per notarial act, according to the Michigan Secretary Of State. This fee is the same regardless of the notarization method and applies to traditional notarization methods.
Michigan notary law allows notaries to provide traditional “wet-ink” signature notarization, electronic notarization, and Remote Online Notarization services. To provide RON services, the notary must let the Michigan Secretary Of State know that they intend to provide online notarization services in addition to contracting with a state-approved RON service provider.
Yes. If you notarize a document in Michigan, it will be legally recognized in all 50 states. This is true for traditional and RON services alike. Documents that have been notarized with RON will also be recognized in states that have not yet adopted permanent or temporary RON law.
While the specifics may vary depending on the other state’s requirements, established precedents have set forth that notarial acts carried out within compliance with the applicable state RON law can be recognized as valid across state lines.
You can conveniently access any of PandaDoc Notary’s tools and features from wherever you happen to be located. This means that the document’s signers do not need to be physically located within the boundaries of the state of Michigan at the time of notarization.
PandaDoc Notary quickly connects you to a nationwide network of notaries who are legally commissioned to notarize in the states where they practice, including Michigan. This means they are familiar with and in compliance with the local rules and regulations that apply to their notarization, ensuring your documents are valid each time.
Michigan remote online notarization requirements are similar to those for traditional notarization services, with the notable difference that the online notary must have submitted the appropriate paperwork to the Michigan Secretary of State and signed up to use a state-approved RON vendor.
The document signers will be required to provide a valid proof of identity before eSigning and notarizing the document, as they would with a traditional wet-ink notarization.
These forms of ID can include:
To notarize a document in Michigan, the document signers must appear before a state-commissioned notary public to complete the notarial act. Michigan allows for the use of both traditional notarization methods (such as walk-in and mobile notaries) and Remote Online Notarization (RON).
With traditional notarization services, you would schedule a time in advance to meet with a notary in person to complete the transaction. Once the signer’s identities have been confirmed, they apply a “wet-ink” written signature or eSignature to a document. The notary will apply their signature and unique seal at this time, rendering the document legally binding.
Alternatively, with RON, signers can appear from multiple locations before a state-commissioned notary public using a secure, two-way connection online to review a document and apply their eSignatures.
Notaries who are approved to practice RON in Michigan can carry out all the same notarial acts that a traditional notary is authorized to execute.
Yes. Notaries who are commissioned to practice online can perform Remote Online Notarization (RON) services in Michigan.
In Michigan, Remote Online Notarization (RON) law existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, though its access and use was limited. In April of 2020, Michigan’s Governor issued a series of emergency executive orders in response to the pandemic, which, among other things, expanded access to online notarization services.
These orders were determined to violate the state’s Constitution by Michigan’s Supreme Court and were terminated in October of the same year. Almost immediately, House Bills 6294, 6295, 6296, and 6297 were introduced and passed into law, permanently allowing remote notarization in the state.
A Michigan remote online notary must hold an active traditional notary commission, as well as purchase and utilize a state-approved electronic notarization system.
In Michigan, remote notaries are authorized to perform the following types of notarial acts:
The Michigan Law on Notarial Acts requires the Department of State to approve vendors authorized to perform electronic/remote notarial acts. Only approved vendor systems can be used to perform an electronic/remote notarization.
The approvals are effective immediately and Notaries can contract with their selected vendor. Their use is optional, and no action is needed to continue performing traditional pen and paper notarizations. All questions related to system capabilities, cost, training, etc, must be directed to the vendors below:
| PandaDoc Notary | |
| Nationwide Title Clearing, LLC | |
| E-Mortgage Law | |
| Nexsys | |
| Pavaso | |
| NotaryCam | |
| CSCGlobal, Inc | |
| Signix | |
| Digital Delivery, Inc | |
| Qualia Labs, Inc | |
| Cyberize It, LLC | |
| SimplySecureSign | |
| Stavvy, Inc. | |
| Docusign | |
| DocVerify | |
| eNotaryLog | |
| Notarize | |
| Secured Signing | |
| Simplifile |
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