Search Michigan Deed Records
Michigan deed records are maintained by the Register of Deeds office in each of the state's 83 counties. You can search property deeds, land contracts, mortgages, and other recorded documents to find ownership history, transfer details, and liens tied to any parcel of land in Michigan. Whether you need a copy of a warranty deed or want to trace the chain of title on a property, this guide explains how to find deed records and what to expect from the search process.
Michigan Deed Records at a Glance
Where to Find Michigan Deed Records
All deed records in Michigan are held at the county level. The Register of Deeds in each county records, indexes, and stores documents tied to land ownership. This includes warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, land contracts, mortgage liens, and discharge documents. There is no single statewide database that covers all 83 counties. To find a deed, you need to know which county the property sits in and contact that county's Register of Deeds office.
The Michigan Department of Treasury keeps a directory of all county Register of Deeds offices across the state. That page lists contact details and links for each county. Some counties offer free online deed searches. Others charge a fee or require you to visit in person. A few smaller counties still rely on physical books and may need a mail request. Online access varies quite a bit from county to county.
The Michigan Department of Treasury explains what happens to property taxes when a deed is recorded on its change of ownership guidelines page. When a property transfers hands, the taxable value can uncap and be reset to the State Equalized Value. This is one of the most important tax consequences of a deed transfer in Michigan, and this state resource explains it clearly.
Note: Michigan has no central deed database. Each county keeps its own land records. Start your search at the Register of Deeds for the county where the property is located.
How to Search Michigan Deed Records Online
The fastest way to look up deed records in Michigan is through county online portals. Many counties now let you search by name, parcel number, or legal description from a web browser. Oakland County has one of the strongest free systems through OCMIDeeds.com, which holds over 18 million records going back to the 1800s. Macomb County provides a free SuperIndex search tool. Muskegon County has a dedicated site at MuskegonRecords.com. Van Buren County offers a free online deed search with GIS integration at deeds.vanburencountymi.gov.
Washtenaw County's portal at rod.ewashtenaw.org covers records from 1824 to present. Emmet County has a full online portal at rod.emmetcounty.org. Eaton County uses Record Fusion at countyfusion3.kofiletech.us, with all records from 1836 onward. Chippewa County maintains a land records portal at rod.chippewacountymi.gov with deed, mortgage, and lien information.
For counties without online access, visit the Register of Deeds office in person or send a mail request. Bring the property address, parcel number, or the names of the parties involved. Staff can help you search using the name index or grantor/grantee books. Most offices charge $1.00 per page for copies and $5.00 for a certified copy. Recording a document costs a flat $30.00 per instrument under MCL 600.2657. This fee applies statewide regardless of how many pages the document contains.
Types of Deed Records in Michigan
The Register of Deeds records many types of documents tied to real property in Michigan. Each one creates a public record of a transaction or legal interest in land. Understanding what these documents are helps you know what to look for when searching.
Warranty deeds are the most common type used in Michigan property sales. The seller guarantees they hold clear title and that the buyer is protected against claims from others. Quitclaim deeds transfer whatever interest the grantor holds without any guarantees. They are often used between family members, to add or remove a spouse from a title, or to correct errors in prior deeds. Land contracts are also recorded when a seller finances the sale directly rather than through a bank. These instruments create a public record that shows the buyer's equitable interest in the property before the deed is conveyed.
Other documents recorded at the Register of Deeds include mortgages, mortgage discharges, easements, mechanic's liens, tax liens, and subdivision plats. Some counties also record oil and gas leases, court orders affecting real property, and death certificates when joint tenancy needs to be cleared. Each document is indexed by party names and recording date, which lets you trace who has held an interest in a parcel over time.
Michigan follows a race-notice recording statute. Under this rule, a buyer who records first and has no knowledge of a prior unrecorded claim gets priority. This makes prompt recording essential. An unrecorded deed is valid between the parties but offers no protection against later claims by third parties who record first without knowledge of the prior transfer.
Michigan Deed Recording Requirements
Michigan law sets specific rules for how a deed must be prepared before it can be recorded. These come from MCL 565.201. The document must carry original signatures, with names typed or printed beneath each one. A notary public or other authorized official must acknowledge the signatures. The grantee's mailing address must appear on the document. The name and address of the drafter must also be included on the first page.
Formatting rules require black ink only, a minimum 10-point type size, white 20-pound paper, and a 2-inch blank margin at the top of the first page. Side and bottom margins must be at least half an inch. Paper size must fall between 8.5 by 11 and 8.5 by 14 inches. The first page must identify the type of document being recorded. Social Security numbers must have the first five digits obscured, as required by 2007 PA 53, 54, and 55.
Easements are a common recorded interest in land, and the rules for transfer tax differ from standard deed transfers. The Michigan Treasury explains these on its easement conveyances and transfer tax page. Review this if you are recording or searching for easement documents, as the tax treatment depends on whether the easement is permanent or temporary and what type of right it grants.
If the deed involves a transfer of ownership, a Real Estate Transfer Tax Valuation Affidavit must be attached unless the total consideration is under $100. Transfer tax is typically paid by the seller unless both parties agree otherwise. All values are rounded up to the nearest $500 before the tax rate is applied.
Michigan Real Estate Transfer Tax
When a deed is recorded in Michigan, the seller generally pays two separate transfer taxes. The state real estate transfer tax under MCL 207.521 is $3.75 per $500 of value, or $7.50 per $1,000. The county real estate transfer tax under MCL 207.501 is $0.55 per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000. Together the total is $4.30 per $500 or $8.60 per $1,000 of the sale price. Taxes are calculated by rounding up to the nearest $500 increment. The state maintains information on transfer tax rates and requirements at michigan.gov/taxes/property/transfer-tax.
Several types of transfers are exempt from transfer tax. Transfers between spouses are exempt. So are transfers to and from government entities, transfers by will or descent, corrective deeds, and transfers where the consideration is under $100. Transfers to certain trusts may also qualify. MCL 207.505 and MCL 207.526 list all available exemptions. To claim one, the deed must state the basis for the exemption before it can be recorded without tax payment.
Note: Transfer tax is calculated on the rounded-up sale price. A sale of $305,000 is rounded up to $305,500 before the tax rate applies. Always round up to the nearest $500.
Electronic Recording of Deed Records
Michigan adopted the Michigan Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (MURPERA) in 2010, now at MCL 565.841 et seq. This law allows county registers of deeds to accept electronic documents for recording. An e-recorded deed carries the same legal weight as a paper document. Electronic signatures are valid under MURPERA, and documents are processed the same way regardless of how they arrive at the office.
Most Michigan counties now accept e-recording through approved vendors. Common vendors include Simplifile (1-800-460-5657), ePN (Electronic Partner Network), CSC (Corporation Service Company), and Indecomm Global Services. Title companies, law firms, and lenders use these services to submit deed records without visiting the courthouse. Check with each county's Register of Deeds to confirm which vendors they accept and whether there is a cutoff time for same-day recording. Genesee County, for example, works with eRecording.com, eRecordingPartners.net, and Simplifile.com. Antrim County accepts e-recording through Simplifile and EPN.
Delinquent taxes affect deed records and property transfers in Michigan. When a property carries unpaid taxes, those obligations must be addressed before or during a sale. The Michigan Treasury provides information on delinquent tax revolving funds and related accounting changes under Public Act 123 of 1999. Luce County, for example, requires a Tax Certificate from the County Treasurer before it will record a Warranty Deed or Land Contract.
Protecting Your Property with Fraud Alerts
Many Michigan counties offer free Property Fraud Alert programs. These services notify you by email or phone whenever a document is recorded under your name at the Register of Deeds. They do not prevent fraud from happening, but they give you early notice so you can act fast. Registration is free and usually takes just a few minutes. You provide your name, email, and phone number. The office contacts you when a document is filed under your name.
Counties with active fraud alert programs include Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Emmet, Hillsdale, Houghton, Iron, Jackson, Kalkaska, Manistee, Mason, Menominee, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon (Fraud Guard), and others. Mackinac County allows sign-up by calling the office directly at 906-643-7306. Ontonagon County also runs a fraud alert program. If you own property in Michigan, check with your county's Register of Deeds to learn their specific enrollment process.
Beware of private companies that charge high fees to provide copies of deed records that county offices can produce far more cheaply. Emmet County explicitly warns property owners on its website about companies charging $50 or more for certified deed copies that the county provides for as little as $5.00. Lenawee County notes that commercial services have charged as much as $83 for a copy that the county provides for a couple of dollars. Always go directly to the county Register of Deeds for certified copies.
Browse Deed Records by County
Each of Michigan's 83 counties has a Register of Deeds office. Click a county below to find contact details, online search options, and specific recording information for deed records in that area.
Michigan City Deed Records
Deed records for Michigan cities are filed with the Register of Deeds in the county where the city is located. Click a city below to find local resources and the county office that holds property records for that area.