Michigan Promissory Note Templates (Free) [Word, PDF, ODT]

A Michigan promissory note is a type of loan agreement between a borrower and a lender — it’s like an IOU. There might also be a co-signer involved who acts as a third party to a promissory note.

Contents hide

1 Michigan Secured Promissory Note

2 Michigan Unsecured Promissory Note

3 FAQ

With promissory notes, the borrower receives a loan from the lender. Both the borrower and the co-signer, if there is one, read and acknowledge the terms. By signing the promissory note, they agree to repay the loan.

In the state of Michigan, there’s a legal interest rate (also known as a usury rate) of 5%, according to the state’s legislature in Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 438.31. However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Unsecured loans by an unlicensed entity can charge 5% annually without a written contract, or 7% annually with a written agreement.

The two types of Michigan promissory notes are secured or unsecured.

Michigan Secured Promissory Note

Two parties — a borrower and a lender — are brought together through a document that outlines how the former will reimburse the latter. The lender can make a profit through the interest earned on top of the original loan.

Word ODT PDF

The main difference between a secured promissory Michigan form and an unsecured one is that a secured promissory note includes security, also referred to as collateral. This could be a boat, a vehicle or even a home. The lender will receive this item if the borrower doesn’t repay the loan.

To write a secured promissory note in Michigan, you’ll need to include information like:

The payment type
The date that the balance and interest will be due
The interest rate and potential late fees
The current date and information about the borrower and lender

Michigan Unsecured Promissory Note

An unsecured promissory note differs from a secured promissory note in the level of safety provided to the lender. You can find a free Michigan promissory note form for this purpose.

Word ODT PDF

For this type of promissory note template for Michigan, if the borrower couldn’t make payments according to the promissory note, the lender wouldn’t have an immediate way of getting their loaned money back. That’s why lenders should be careful when making an unsecured promissory note.

FAQ

The short answer is it depends. The majority of promissory notes are registered as securities with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and within the state of Michigan. But other agreements that have shorter terms might be exempt from registration. However, that can be risky as those lead to more fraudulent activity.

A waiver of presentments means the lender doesn’t have to be physically present for the borrower to make their required payments.

With promissory notes, both parties need to add a mailing address as well as a physical address of the borrower (and co-signer) if it differs from their mailing address. The lender should also include their payment address if it’s different from the mailing address. This helps hold both parties accountable, especially if issues crop up during the agreement.