Leases don't have to be in writing. But if a lease is written, it must include the name and address where the landlord will notify the tenant of changes to the lease. The lease must tell tenants they must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing where they can be reached within four days after moving out.
Michigan Lease Agreements do not need to be notarized. The Rental Contract is legally binding as long as it's signed by both the Landlord, or the lessor, and the Tenant, or the lessee.
Many landlords prefer their rental contracts to be witnessed or even notarized; however, it's not necessary to do so under Michigan law.
Handwritten contracts are legally binding if they meet the necessary conditions that apply to all contracts: mutual agreement, capacity, consideration, and legal validity. There are no legal differences between typed and handwritten agreements when it comes to enforceability.
For example, California does not require lease notarization, while other states like Ohio may have different requirements.
Lease agreements are a contract. But you don't necessarily need to hire a lawyer to write good lease agreements, you can do it yourself. But you're a first-time landlord or simply don't have the time to write a lease, you can hire a property management company to do it for you.
To be considered legally binding, a document must include the valid signatures of all parties entering into an agreement and outline all the duties and responsibilities each has to the other(s).
Here's a list of standard fields that you should include in your lease agreement: Tenant information. Include each tenant's full name and contact information. Rental property description. Security deposit. Monthly rent amount. Utilities. Lease term. Policies. Late fees.
Handwritten agreements are somewhat impractical compared to typed versions. However, they are fully legal if written and formatted properly, and are preferable to verbal contracts in practically all cases.