Notary bond in Michigan: amount and cost
Michigan requires a $10,000 notary bond, and its Department of State publishes the price: generally $50 to $100.
Notary bond premium in Michigan
$50 to $100
once, for the whole 6-year commission
| Bond the law requires | $10,000 |
| Rule | MCL 55.273 |
| How it is priced | flat, not rated on credit |
Price range published by the state (www.michigan.gov). Amount read on the official page, October 22, 2026.
Compiled by Radif Partners · Method and sources · rule read October 22, 2026
A Michigan notary public must file a $10,000 bond with good and sufficient surety by a surety licensed in the state, under section 55.273 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, before the commission takes effect. Michigan is one of the rare states that publishes what the bond costs: the Department of State's notary FAQ says the cost of the surety bond will vary, generally between $50 and $100. That price covers the whole commission, which in Michigan runs six to seven years, ending on the notary's birthday, longer than the four years most states use. The bond is filed with the county clerk of the county of residence before the application goes to the state. Attorneys in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan are exempt from the bond. The bond protects people harmed by a notarization; the surety recovers from the notary any amount it pays. Rule read on October 22, 2026.
The rule and the price the state publishes
MCL 55.273 sets the bond "in the sum of $10,000.00 with good and sufficient surety by a surety licensed to do business in this state". The Department of State goes one step further than most states and gives the price: "The cost of the surety bond will vary, generally between $50 to $100" (Michigan notary FAQ). This site uses that range for Michigan instead of its own estimate.
The price covers the full commission. Because Michigan commissions run six to seven years, to the notary's birthday after the sixth anniversary, the bond also runs that long, which makes the yearly cost lower than in most states.
The order of steps
Michigan puts the county first. The applicant buys the bond, then files it with the county clerk of the county of residence, where the clerk records it and signs the application. Only then does the application go to the Department of State, which issues the commission. A bond bought with a typo in the name, or filed in the wrong county, sends the applicant back to the start, so check both before paying.
Michigan next to other states
Notary bond premium in Illinois
$20 to $50
| Bond the law requires | $5,000 |
| Rule | 5 ILCS 312/2-105 |
| How it is priced | flat, not rated on credit |
Exemptions and moves
Attorneys licensed and in good standing in Michigan do not need to file the bond, though they still apply for the commission. Nonresidents who work in Michigan can be commissioned too, and file the bond in the county where they work. A notary who moves to another county during the term notifies the state; the bond remains in force. The notary bond overview shows that only a few states publish a price as Michigan does, and the Indiana page covers another long commission.
Michigan's published range is useful beyond the state: it confirms that notary bonds, even for long terms, sell for tens of dollars rather than hundreds. A Michigan quote far above $100 for the bond alone is likely a package.
The Michigan rule as read
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bond amount | $10,000 |
| Term | 6 years |
| Rule | MCL 55.273 |
| Line read | “the bond shall be in the sum of $10,000.00 with good and sufficient surety by a surety licensed to do business in this state” |
| Page | www.legislature.mi.gov |
| Read on | October 22, 2026 |