Livingston County Michigan County Clerk Notary Public Information and Applications

Notary Public Notarization of Document(s)

Ask the person for identification. Driver licenses, Michigan identification cards, passports and identification cards issued by employers are all acceptable. Any type of document used for this purpose should include the person’s photograph and signature.

If a presented piece of identification appears questionable, ask for a second. Satisfactory evidence of identification may also include personal knowledge of the individual by the notary, or as affirmed by a credible witness who is personally known by the notary.

Review the document to be notarized and make sure there are no blank spaces – blanks encourage fraud and render a document "incomplete". Be sure that the person understands the nature of the document and the notarization process.

Have the person sign the document in your presence. If an oath is required, administer the oath. There is no exception to the requirement of a personal appearance before the notary.

A notary public may take the acknowledgment of a person who cannot sign his or her own name. Such a person should sign the instrument by marking an "X" in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom may be a notary public.

A notary may also sign the name of a person whose physical characteristics limit his or her capacity to sign or make a mark on a document presented for notarization if all of the following circumstances exist:

	The notary public is orally, verbally, or through electronic or mechanical means provided by the person directed to do so by that person;
	The person is in the physical presence of the notary public;
	The notary public inscribes beneath the signature: signature affixed pursuant to section 33 of the Michigan notary public act.

Complete the notarial certificate. This must include all of the following: the county and date of notarization as well as your name, date of expiration and the county of appointment of the notary public. Always sign your name exactly as it appears on your commission, including middle initial(s) if any.

The venue (county of notarization) is essential as it determines the legal jurisdiction in the event the notarization is challenged in a court of law. This is not the notary’s county of residence or commission, although it may be the same. If so, the wording "in and for the county of ____" may be used.

Each time you notarize a document it is recommended (but not required) that you record the signer’s name, identification presented, date, and other pertinent information in a journal.

A notarized document must have at least two original signatures on it: the person authorized to sign the document, and the notary’s original signature.

Michigan law does not require notaries to use an embossed seal or rubber stamp on a document. However, documents sent out of state may require an embossed notary seal.

Your notary commission is a statewide appointment. Once appointed, you may notarize anywhere within the State of Michigan. When notarization takes place in a county other than your original county of commission, write "Acting in _____ County" on the document after your acknowledgement statement. This applies for commissioned out-of-state residents so long as their principal place of business remains in the county where they received their appointment.

A notary public may act as a witness to and notarize the same instrument.

Notary Public Notarization of Document(s)

Vital Records, Marriage Licenses, Notary Applications, CCWs, Genealogy and DD214s Phone 517.546.0500 FAX 517.546.4354 Email: countyclerk@co.livingston.mi.us

Vital Records, Marriage Licenses, Notary Applications, CCWs, Genealogy and DD214s
Phone 517.546.0500 FAX 517.546.4354 Email: countyclerk@co.livingston.mi.us