A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In Michigan, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the Michigan Secretary of State to serve as an unbiased witness to the signing of important legal documents. To become a notary in Michigan, an applicant must meet certain eligibility criteria, which typically include being at least 18 years old, a resident of Michigan or maintaining a place of business in the state, and being a U.S. citizen or possessing proof of legal presence. Applicants must also complete a notary training course, pass a state-administered notary exam, and obtain a surety bond. The bond protects the public from any potential misconduct by the notary. Once commissioned, a notary public in Michigan is authorized to perform a variety of notarial acts, including administering oaths, taking acknowledgments, and witnessing signatures on documents such as affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. It's important to note that notaries must follow Michigan's notary laws and maintain a record of their notarial acts in a journal.