Baraga County Deed Records Lookup
Baraga County deed records are filed at the combined Clerk and Register of Deeds office in L'Anse, Michigan. The office handles all real property instruments for the county, accepts e-recording through Simplifile, and is the official source for copies of recorded deeds, mortgages, and related documents. This page explains how to find, copy, and record deed records in Baraga County.
Baraga County Deed Records
Baraga County Register of Deeds Office
The Baraga County Register of Deeds is housed in the County Building at 2 S. Main St., L'Anse, MI 49946. Call 906-524-6100, ext. 698. Fax: 906-524-6432. Email: goodreauw@baragacounty.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The combined Clerk and Register of Deeds office serves both county clerk and recording functions under one staff.
The office information page is at the Keweenaw Bay area government site. For questions about recording, copies, or title searches, you can reach the office by phone or email. Emailing goodreauw@baragacounty.org is a good option for routine questions or to request fee quotes before mailing documents.
The screenshot below was taken from the office's web page showing department information and contact details.
This page confirms hours, mailing addresses, and who to contact for recording or search assistance in Baraga County.
Searching Baraga County Deed Records
Deed record searches in Baraga County are handled in person at the L'Anse office. Staff can search the deed index by grantor and grantee name, parcel number, or legal property description. Bring as much detail as you can about the property, including approximate dates of transactions you need, to help speed up the process.
Online search access for Baraga County is limited. The county does not appear to offer a public web portal for remote deed searches at this time. For out-of-area researchers, calling the office at 906-524-6100 ext. 698 to ask about available options is the best starting point. Staff can sometimes confirm whether a document is on file and quote a copy fee before you make the trip to L'Anse.
Title companies and abstractors doing regular work in Baraga County may use subscription platforms that have data agreements with the county. If you are an individual or occasional user, direct contact with the office is your most reliable path to getting the records you need.
Note: The Michigan Register of Deeds directory at the Department of Treasury lists Baraga County among all 83 county offices in the state, providing a central reference for contact information.
Recording Documents in Baraga County
Michigan law sets the recording fee at $30 per document under MCL 600.2657. This applies to deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, and all other instruments filed at the Baraga County Register of Deeds. Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry a $5.00 certification fee on top of the per-page charge. Make checks payable to the Baraga County Register of Deeds or the Baraga County Clerk.
Every document submitted for recording must meet the formatting rules in MCL 565.201. The statute covers margin width, minimum type size, paper weight, and the layout of the first page. A document that does not meet these requirements may be returned or assessed a non-standard document fee. If you are preparing a deed or other instrument yourself, review MCL 565.201 before finalizing the document.
You can deliver documents in person or by mail. For mail submissions, include a return envelope and a check for the correct amount. The office will record the document and return the original with the recording date and instrument number stamped on it.
Electronic Recording in Baraga County
Baraga County accepts e-recording through Simplifile. This lets title companies, lenders, and law firms submit documents electronically without mailing or delivering paper to L'Anse. Michigan's e-recording law, codified at MCL 565.841, authorized counties to receive electronic filings starting in 2010 under the MURPERA framework.
To use Simplifile for Baraga County, call 1-800-460-5657 or sign up through the Simplifile website. The vendor charges a service fee on top of the $30 county recording fee. Documents submitted electronically during business hours are typically processed the same day. This is significantly faster than mail for urgent recordings such as mortgage releases or time-sensitive deed filings. Other vendors like ePN, CSC, or Indecomm may also service Baraga County, so check with your firm's existing platform before signing up with a new vendor.
Baraga County appears in the Michigan Treasury ROD directory, which lists all 83 county offices with current contact details.
Transfer Tax on Baraga County Deed Records
Baraga County property transfers carry a combined state and county transfer tax. The state charges $3.75 per $500 of value under MCL 207.521. The county charges $0.55 per $500 under MCL 207.501. The total is $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price. The seller typically pays at closing, though parties can negotiate the responsibility in the purchase contract.
A transfer tax valuation affidavit must accompany every deed at recording. This form documents the sale price and any exemption claimed. Exempt transfers include sales between spouses, gifts between immediate family members, and transfers to trusts where the grantor retains beneficial ownership. Even exempt transfers require the affidavit for the assessor's records.
Transfer triggers property tax uncapping under MCL 211.27a. The taxable value resets to the state equalized value in the tax year following the recorded transfer. In Baraga County, where some parcels carry significant timber or recreational value, this reset can produce a meaningful change in annual property tax liability. Buyers should review the current state equalized value before closing to estimate the tax impact.
Types of Documents at Baraga County Register of Deeds
The Baraga County Register of Deeds holds all types of real property instruments. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds are the most common. Warranty deeds are used in most standard sales and include the seller's guarantee that the title is clear. Quitclaim deeds transfer whatever interest the grantor holds without any such guarantee, and they appear often in transfers between family members or in transactions where a clean title cannot be fully verified.
Other documents include mortgages, mortgage discharges, assignments of mortgage, land contracts, easements, affidavits of survivorship, plat maps, and liens. Easements recorded here can affect how a property is used, who has access to it, or what improvements can be built. Reviewing all easements on a parcel is a routine part of any title search.
Baraga County's location in the Upper Peninsula means many parcels have a history tied to timber rights and large land grants. Historical deed books at the office document these early transfers, which can be important for establishing a clean chain of title on older parcels.
Note: Land records in Baraga County may reference tribal land adjacent to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Always verify the legal description carefully when recording or searching near trust or reservation boundaries.
Nearby Counties
Baraga County borders three other Upper Peninsula counties, each with its own Register of Deeds office for property records.