City guide · Grand Rapids, Michigan · Details last checked Nov 1, 2026

Grand Rapids, Michigan document errands: printing, fax, notary, passports and certified copies (2026)

Where to print, notarize, apply for a passport and get certified copies in Grand Rapids, Michigan, using only official and provider pages. Each fact links to its source. Some facts are statewide or national rather than local. We label those.

Printing, copying, scanning and fax

Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL)

• Printing: free at all library locations, up to 50 pages a week for library cardholders. Double-sided printing counts as two pages, and extra pages are 15 cents each. Black-and-white and color printing are both available ^[1].
• Mobile printing: cardholders can send print jobs from anywhere and pick them up at any GRPL location by entering their card number at the kiosk next to the printer. Extra pages cost $0.15 each, paper is 8.5 x 11 only, and jobs stay in the queue for 24 hours ^[2].
• Fax, copying and scanning: speak with a staff member ^[1]. Limits (pages differ): the questions section of the library's mobile printing page says faxing and scanning are free, and printing and copying are limited to 50 pages a week for cardholders ^[2]. Another answer in the same section says faxing, copying and scanning are free and limited to 50 pages a week ^[2]. Ask staff if you have a large fax or scan job.
• Library card or guest pass: you need one for these services. Guest passes are for visitors outside the library's service area, people visiting from out of town and people who can't get a library card ^[1].
• Where: the Grand Rapids Public Library is at 111 Library St NE; (616) 988-5400 ^[1].

• The UPS Store: it lists 4 locations with Grand Rapids addresses: 5557 28th Street, Ste B; 2100 E Beltline Ave NE; 3450 Alpine Ave NW; and 2500 East Beltline SE, Ste G. Its city page says its stores offer packing, shipping, printing, shredding, notarizing, faxing and mailbox services ^[8]. We didn't find prices; The UPS Store's site says products, services, prices and hours may vary by location ^[9]. The Census Geocoder places the two Beltline stores in Grand Rapids city, the Alpine Ave store in Walker city and the 28th Street store in Kent County outside any city ^[8][10].

See printing prices and fax prices.

Notary in Grand Rapids

• Grand Rapids Public Library: free notary service at the Main Library, Madison Square Branch and Seymour Branch. Appointments are required and can be booked online; you can also call 616-988-5400. The library doesn't guarantee a notary will be available at a particular time or location ^[3].
• What to bring: a valid government picture ID, the unsigned document and a witness if one is needed. Know which type you need: acknowledgment, oath or affirmation (jurat), or witnessing a signature; the notary can't tell you ^[3].
• What GRPL won't notarize: I-9 forms, powers of attorney, trusts or wills, mortgage- and housing-related financial documents, documents already signed, documents not in English, and blank documents or ones with blanks other than the signature space. Its notaries won't certify that a document is an original or a true copy ^[3].
• Kent County Clerk: the clerk's notary page covers becoming a notary ($10 application fee to the clerk and a $10,000 surety bond) ^[11]. We didn't find whether the clerk's office notarizes documents for the public.
• The UPS Store: its Grand Rapids page lists notarizing ^[8]. We didn't find prices.
• How notaries are commissioned (statewide): the Michigan Department of State commissions notaries. Applicants file a $10,000 surety bond with the county clerk and take the oath of office there. A commission lasts 6 to 7 years and ends on the notary's birthday; there's no renewal, so notaries apply for a new commission each time ^[12][13]. Once commissioned, a Michigan notary can notarize anywhere in Michigan, but not outside the state ^[12].
• Fees (statewide law): a Michigan notary may charge "not more than $10.00 for any individual transaction or notarial act" and must post a sign or tell you the fee before notarizing. A separate travel fee can be agreed before the notary travels. A notary may refuse to perform a notarial act ^[14].
• No true copies (statewide): a Michigan notary can't certify that a copy is a true copy of a document ^[15][16]. A county clerk can certify true copies of documents kept in the clerk's office ^[13]. Otherwise, only the issuer or the person named on the document can make a true copy statement; a notary can notarize that person's signature ^[16].

Passports in Grand Rapids

The U.S. Department of State's Passport Acceptance Facility Locator data lists 4 facilities with Grand Rapids addresses. The Census Geocoder places these 2 post offices in Grand Rapids city ^[17][10]:

• Just outside Grand Rapids: the locator also lists the City of Walker, 4243 Remembrance Road (616-791-6865), which the Census Geocoder places in Walker city, and Cascade Township, 5920 Tahoe Dr SE (616-949-1508), which it places in Kent County outside any city ^[17][10].
• Post offices: the locator says to book appointments or see more passport times at usps.com/scheduler ^[17].
• Library: we didn't find passport service on the Grand Rapids Public Library's printing, notary or FAQ pages ^[1][3][2].
• Post office fees (national): a $35.00 acceptance fee and a $15.00 photo fee "if needed" ^[18].
• Faster return delivery (national): two official pages list different prices. USPS lists "$22.05—1- to 3- day delivery service for faster return shipping to you from the State Department" ^[18]. The State Department's fee page lists 1–3 business day return delivery at $26.87, for passport books only ^[19]. We couldn't re-read the State Department page on Nov 1, 2026, because it blocked our check. Confirm the fee with the acceptance facility before you pay.

See the passport checklist and passport photo prices.

Birth, death, marriage, court and recorded-document copies

We read the Kent County pages below in a web browser on Nov 1, 2026, because the county site blocked our automated check.

Birth and death certificates (Kent County Clerk)

• Where: the Kent County Clerk's Office, Administration Building, 300 Monroe Avenue NW, Floor 1; Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:45 pm; 616-632-7640 ^[4][5]. The Census Geocoder places 300 Monroe Ave NW in Grand Rapids city ^[10].
• Fees: birth certificates are $10 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ^[4]. Death certificates are $10 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy ^[5]. By mail, the $10 search fee includes one certified copy ^[5]. Online orders add a convenience fee ^[4][5], and search and convenience fees aren't refundable ^[5]. These are well below the state's fees in the statewide section below.
• Who can order: for a birth certificate less than 100 years old, the person named, the mother or father, or a legal guardian. Anyone can order a birth record over 100 years old ^[4]. Anyone can request a death certificate if they have the person's full name at death and the date of death ^[5].
• How: order online through Tyler Technologies; by mail with the county's request form, sent to the Kent County Clerk's Office, 300 Monroe Avenue NW, Floor 1, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; or in person with a valid driver's license or other government-issued photo ID ^[4]. The clerk's birth records go back to 1867 ^[4].
• How to pay: we didn't find accepted payment methods on the clerk's birth or death certificate pages ^[4][5]. Ask the clerk before you go or mail a request.

Birth and death certificates from the state (statewide)

• State fees (statewide): the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) lists a $34 search fee for a standard record, or $42 for an apostille or exemplified record for use outside the U.S. Online orders add a $14 processing fee ^[20]. State law sets $34.00 for a search with 1 certified copy, $16.00 for each additional identical copy ordered at the same time, $12.00 for each additional year searched and $12.00 for an expedited search ^[21]. If you're 65 or older and ordering your own birth record, the state charges $14.00 for one certified copy ^[20][21]. Search fees aren't refunded ^[20].
• Local fees (statewide law): a local government may set local registrar fees at or below the state amounts. A charter county with more than 1,500,000 people may set higher fees, but not more than the cost of the service ^[21]. County fees on this page can differ from the state's.
• How to order from the state (statewide): by mail, online or by phone at 866-443-9897 through VitalChek (the state's only authorized online provider, with an extra fee), at the drop box in the main lobby of 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing (Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.), or in person by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Will Call orders placed through VitalChek are processed within 2–5 business days for pickup in Lansing. The state takes checks or money orders payable to the State of Michigan, credit cards and cash. Questions: 517-335-8666 ^[20].
• Processing times (statewide): MDHHS currently lists 8–10 weeks for expedited and 10–12 weeks for regular birth, death, marriage and divorce orders, and 8–10 weeks (expedited) or 12–16 weeks (regular) for authenticated or apostilled records ^[20].
• Who can order a birth record (statewide): the person named on the record, parents named on it, a legal heir, a court-appointed guardian, someone with a power of attorney that specifically grants access to vital records, or a licensed attorney for the person or parents. Records more than 100 years old aren't restricted ^[20].

Marriage licenses (Kent County Clerk)

• Marriage license fee (statewide law): Michigan law sets a $20.00 license fee, plus $10.00 more if both of you live outside Michigan. A charter county with more than 1,500,000 people may set a different fee by ordinance ^[22]. Check the county fee below.
• Waiting period (statewide law): the license can't be handed over within 3 days, counting the day you apply. The county clerk may release it right away for good cause, for a fee set by the county board. The license is void if you don't marry within 33 days after you apply ^[23].
• Kent County fees: $20 if at least one of you lives in Kent County and the wedding is in Michigan, or $30 if both of you live out of state and the wedding is in Kent County ^[6].
• Timing: wait 3 days after you apply before picking up your license, marry within 33 days of applying, and return the signed license within 10 days of the ceremony ^[6].
• What to bring: a driver's license or state ID (photocopies of documents are acceptable), a government-issued birth certificate (not hospital records) and your Social Security number; you don't need the card ^[6].
• How: apply online or in person, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:45 pm. The clerk won't process in-person applications after 4:30 pm, and online applications received after 4:45 pm wait until the next business day ^[6].
• How to pay: we didn't find accepted payment methods on the clerk's marriage license page ^[6].
• Copies: certified marriage records are $10 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ^[24].

Recorded documents (Kent County Register of Deeds)

• Fees: the fee schedule, effective October 1, 2016, lists $30 per document to record a deed, mortgage, lis pendens, certified copy or other instrument. Real estate record copies are $1 a page, searches are a $5 minimum and certification is $5 per document ^[25].
• Payment: cash, check or money order; make checks payable to the Kent County Register of Deeds ^[25].
• Where: 300 Monroe Avenue NW; 616-632-7610. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:45 pm, and recording hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm ^[26].

Court records (17th Circuit Court Clerk)

• Copy fees: regular copies are $1 a page. Certified copies are $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, and copy fees can't be waived with a fee waiver ^[27]. The court's filing fee page lists certified copies at $10 ^[28].
• Divorce judgments: an uncertified copy is $7 and a certified copy is $15; online orders add a convenience fee ^[27].
• Paperless cases: electronic copies from fully paperless cases have no copy fee. Request them by email at courtclerksfax@kentcountymi.gov or by fax at 616-632-5458 ^[27].
• Payment and location: cash, checks and money orders payable to "Kent County Clerk." The clerk's office is in the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400, open Monday–Thursday 9 am–4 pm and Friday 8:15 am–4 pm; 616-632-5480 ^[27]. The Census Geocoder places the courthouse in Grand Rapids city ^[10].

Apostilles and authentications (statewide)

• Fee (statewide): $1 per document from the Michigan Department of State's Office of the Great Seal, paid by check or money order payable to the State of Michigan. Don't send cash ^[15][16]. The request form lists the fee as $1.00 per authentication, not per page, and asks for the country where the document will be used (not the USA) ^[29].
• What it can authenticate (statewide): documents notarized by a Michigan notary, and certified copies of birth, marriage, divorce or death records from the State Registrar or a Michigan county clerk. Documents from court clerks, or sent by fax, aren't accepted ^[15]. Court and register of deeds documents must be notarized first ^[16]. City clerk records: the service page accepts them from city clerks in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties ^[15], and one FAQ answer agrees, but another FAQ answer says city registrars in Wayne County only ^[16]. If yours is from a city clerk, confirm with the Office of the Great Seal.
• Where and how (statewide): by mail to the Office of the Great Seal, 7064 Crowner Drive, Lansing, MI 48918, with the request form, the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope; or in person by appointment on Mondays or Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Phone (888) 767-6424 ^[15]. The office is in the Richard H. Austin Building, 430 W. Allegan, 1st floor, Lansing ^[30].
• How long (statewide, sources differ): the service page and FAQs say turnaround is 1–2 weeks ^[15][16], but the request form says to allow 4–6 weeks after the office receives it ^[29]. There's no expedited service ^[16][29]. Confirm with the office if you have a deadline.

• Grand Rapids note: the Office of the Great Seal accepts certified vital records from Michigan county clerks ^[15], which includes Kent County Clerk copies. Court documents must be notarized before they can be authenticated ^[16].

More on certified copies: how to get a certified copy.

Money orders

USPS money order fees are national: $2.65 for $0.01 to $500.00, and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000.00. Pay with cash or a debit card, not a credit card. The limit is $1,000 per domestic money order ^[31]. Other sellers: money order guide.

Shredding

• Free shredding events: we didn't find a Kent County shredding event dated 2026 ^[32].
• Recycling: Kent County says shredded paper isn't recyclable in your curbside bin. Its shredding page lists private businesses that shred documents ^[32].
• The UPS Store: its Grand Rapids page lists shredding ^[8]. We didn't find prices.

For paid per-pound shredding, see where to shred documents.

Questions

Sources

Sources last checked Oct 29 or Nov 1, 2026, as marked on each, except the locator data file.

1. Grand Rapids Public Library, "Printing, Faxing, Copying, and Scanning Services": grpl.org/printing (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
2. Grand Rapids Public Library, "Mobile Printing": grpl.org/mobileprint (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
3. Grand Rapids Public Library, "Notarization": grpl.org/notary (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
4. Kent County Clerk, "Order Birth Certificates": kentcountymi.gov/791/Order-Birth-Certificates (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
5. Kent County Clerk, "Death Certificates": kentcountymi.gov/800/Death-Certificates (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
6. Kent County Clerk, "Get a Marriage License": kentcountymi.gov/804/Get-a-Marriage-License (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
7. U.S. Census Bureau, "2020 Place by County relationship file, Michigan": www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/place_by_cou/st26_mi_place_by_county2020.txt (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
8. The UPS Store, "The UPS Store Locations in Grand Rapids, Michigan": locations.theupsstore.com/mi/grand-rapids (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
9. The UPS Store, "Notary Services Nationwide": theupsstore.com/store-services/notary-services (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
10. U.S. Census Bureau, "Census Geocoder (address to geography lookup)": geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
11. Kent County Clerk, "Notary Public": kentcountymi.gov/810/Notary-Public (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
12. Michigan Department of State, "Notary services": michigan.gov/sos/notary-services (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
13. Michigan Department of State, "Notary FAQs": michigan.gov/sos/faqs/office-of-the-great-seal/notary (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
14. Michigan Legislature, "MCL 55.285 (Michigan Notary Public Act, notary fees)": legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-55-285 (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
15. Michigan Department of State, "Document authentication and apostille": michigan.gov/sos/all-services/document-authentication-and-apostille (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
16. Michigan Department of State, "Document authentication (apostille and certificate of authority) FAQs": michigan.gov/sos/faqs/office-of-the-great-seal/document-authentication (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
17. U.S. Department of State, Passport Acceptance Facility Locator (locator data file, downloaded Oct 28, 2026, filtered to Michigan): passportfacilitylocator.travel.state.gov (last checked Oct 28, 2026)
18. USPS, "Passports": usps.com/international/passports.htm (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
19. U.S. Department of State, passport fees page (Last Updated March 19, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html (last checked Oct 29, 2026)
20. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, "Order Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce Records": michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords/order-a-copy-of-a-vital-record (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
21. Michigan Legislature, "MCL 333.2891 (vital record search fees)": legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-333-2891 (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
22. Michigan Legislature, "MCL 551.103 (marriage license fee)": legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-551-103 (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
23. Michigan Legislature, "MCL 551.103a (marriage license waiting period)": legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-551-103a (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
24. Kent County Clerk, "Marriage Records": kentcountymi.gov/807/Marriage-Records (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
25. Kent County Register of Deeds, "Fee Schedule": kentcountymi.gov/851/Fee-Schedule (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
26. Kent County Register of Deeds, "Register of Deeds": kentcountymi.gov/848/Register-of-Deeds (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
27. Kent County Clerk (17th Circuit Court), "Clerk of the Court": kentcountymi.gov/1032/Clerk-of-the-Court (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
28. Kent County Clerk (17th Circuit Court), "Filing Fees": kentcountymi.gov/1037/Filing-Fees (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
29. Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, "Authentication Request Form (PDF)": michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/Notary/OGS_AUTHENTICATION_REQUEST_FORM.pdf (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
30. Michigan Department of State, "Office of the Great Seal": michigan.gov/sos/notary-services/great-seal (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
31. USPS, "Money Orders": usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm (last checked Nov 1, 2026)
32. Kent County Department of Public Works, "Paper Shredding": kentcountymi.gov/410/paper-shredding (last checked Nov 1, 2026)

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