Michigan Secretary of State Notarization and Apostille Services 518-956-5673

Self-Service Guide for Notarization and Authentication by the Michigan Secretary of State

The Secretary of State offers two types of authentication: Apostille and Certificate of Authentication. Apostille, also known as "Hague Authentication," is only valid within member countries of the Hague Convention. Since Chinese consulates are currently not part of the "Hague Convention member states," documents submitted to Chinese consulates in the United States must use the "Certificate of Authentication."

If you do not have time to handle the process yourself, you can contact CHV for代办 services. Call our customer service at: 518-956-5673 (US). We provide notarization and authentication services for personal or corporate documents across all 50 U.S. states, including consulate three-level authentication or Hague Authentication. Expedited processing is available, with completion in as fast as 3 business days.

In-Person Office Locations:
Richard H. Austin Building, 1st Floor, 430 W. Allegan Street, Lansing
Cadillac Place Building, 3046 West Grand Boulevard, Suite L650, Detroit
Centerpoint Mall 6-B, 3665 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids
17176 Farmington Road, Livonia

Fee: $1 per Hague Authentication. (Payable to the "Secretary of State")
Processing Time: Same-day for counter service or 14 days for mail-in orders.
Website: www.michigan.gov/sos/

Mail-In Processing:

Michigan Department of State
Office of the Great Seal
7064 Crowner Drive
Lansing, MI 48918

Reminders for Michigan Notarization and Authentication

To obtain Hague Authentication from the Office of the Great Seal under Secretary of State Ruth Johnson in Lansing for documents signed by notaries, county clerks, deputy clerks, registrars from Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, and the current state registrar, please follow these guidelines: Signatures by Glenn Copeland are eligible for Hague Authentication.

Notes on Vital Records: Vital records, such as birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates, must be recent, preferably certified copies issued within the last 36 months, and must be signed by the current state registrar Glenn Copeland and county clerk Lawrence Kesternbaum.

If you need a new copy of a certificate, contact the Vital Records Office via: https://www.vitalchek.com/michigan

Regarding Notarized Documents: The signature and identity of the person on the document must be verified by a reputable Michigan notary public, who will then sign, date, and affix their seal.

School records, transcripts, and diplomas from institutions such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University must be notarized by the school's registrar.

To obtain copies of court documents, please contact the respective county clerk: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Wexford.