Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order (EO) 2020-74 encourages government agencies to use electronic notarization through June 30, 2020. To do so, notaries and the parties must use two-way, real-time audiovisual technology.
Ashlei Campbell, with the Oakland County Friend of the Court, has been handling remote notarization for her office. When a party calls the office requesting notary services, staff answering the phones schedule a specific time for everyone to appear via Zoom. Staff ask the party for a phone number, docket number, and a good e-mail address to send the Zoom invite.
At the beginning of the Zoom meeting, Ashlei explains what will happen during the meeting. She also ensures the parties have sufficient identification documents (ID) on hand and that they are physically in Michigan. Ashlei checks to see if the picture on the ID matches the person appearing for the meeting. She then asks the parties to point the camera toward the paper as they sign and date it and compares the signature on the document to the signature on the ID. Before ending the call, she asks if there are any questions.
Ashlei recommends setting up an e-mail address for parties to send in the document they need notarized. Once the parties e-mail the document to her, Ashlei prints it off, notarizes it, scans it, and e-mails it back to the parties so they have a copy.
For more information on electronic notarization, please see SCAO’s “Remote Notarization” Memorandum, which includes links to instructions from the Michigan Secretary of State and guidance from the State Bar of Michigan.
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