Clinton County Deed Records Search

Clinton County deed records are maintained by the Register of Deeds in St. Johns, Michigan. The county provides an E-Web portal at rod-eweb.clinton-county.org where you can search recorded land documents online, including deeds, mortgages, and related instruments. In-person access and mail requests are also available through the county office.

Clinton County Register of Deeds

The Clinton County Register of Deeds is located at 100 E. State Street, Suite 2500, in St. Johns. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the office by phone at 989-224-5270. The county operates an online document search portal at rod-eweb.clinton-county.org that gives public access to the deed index and recorded documents.

The Register of Deeds maintains the official record of all land instruments in Clinton County. This includes warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, discharges of mortgage, land contracts, easements, liens, and other documents that affect property title. All instruments are indexed by grantor and grantee name so they can be found by anyone searching the public record.

Clinton County also accepts electronic recording of documents, making it convenient for title companies and law firms that process a high volume of real estate transactions in the county.

Online Access to Clinton County Deed Records

Clinton County's E-Web portal gives public access to the deed index and document images from a computer or mobile device. To use the portal, go to rod-eweb.clinton-county.org and search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or other available criteria. The system returns a list of matching records with details about each instrument.

For many searches, you can view the document image on screen without a fee. If you need a printed or certified copy, contact the Register of Deeds office at 989-224-5270. Copies cost $1 per page and certified copies require an additional $5 fee. For mail requests, send a written description of the document you need to 100 E. State Street, Suite 2500, St. Johns, MI 48879, along with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The E-Web recording system is also how e-recording submissions are processed in Clinton County. This integrated approach means both public searching and electronic filing use the same underlying system, which keeps records up to date quickly after a document is submitted.

Deed Recording Fees

The recording fee in Clinton County is $30 per document under MCL 600.2657. This statewide flat fee covers the cost of reviewing, indexing, imaging, and returning the document. Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies add a $5 certification fee on top of the copy charge.

Michigan's real estate transfer tax applies to most deed transactions at the time of recording. The state collects $3.75 per $500 of consideration under MCL 207.521. Clinton County collects $0.55 per $500 under MCL 207.501. Together, the rate is $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price. Bring payment for both the recording fee and the transfer tax when submitting a deed in person.

Types of Deed Records in Clinton County

Clinton County deed records include several common instrument types used in real estate transactions. Warranty deeds are the standard deed used in most home sales and provide the buyer with title guarantees from the seller. Quitclaim deeds transfer only the interest the grantor holds and make no guarantees about the title's condition.

Land contracts are used when the purchase price is paid in installments. The seller holds legal title until the contract is fully paid, at which point a deed is recorded to transfer ownership. Mortgages are liens recorded against property to secure a loan, and discharge of mortgage documents are filed once the debt is paid off. Other instruments recorded in Clinton County include easements, affidavits, court-ordered deeds, and trustee deeds.

Each instrument must meet the requirements of MCL 565.201 to be accepted. Key requirements include proper margins, legible text, the grantor's and grantee's names and addresses, a full legal description, and a notarized grantor signature.

E-Recording in Clinton County

Clinton County accepts electronic recording through its E-Web recording system under Michigan's URPERA statute, MCL 565.841. Authorized filers can submit documents electronically, which reduces turnaround time and eliminates the need to mail paper originals. E-recording is particularly useful for title companies and lenders who process multiple closings in Clinton County each month.

To use e-recording in Clinton County, you need to work through an approved vendor or the county's own E-Web system. Statewide vendors like Simplifile (1-800-460-5657), ePN, CSC, and Indecomm may also be options. Contact the Register of Deeds at 989-224-5270 to confirm current accepted methods and to get instructions for first-time electronic filers.

Property Tax and Change of Ownership

Recording a deed in Clinton County can reset the property's taxable value under Michigan's Proposal A rules. When ownership changes, the local assessor is notified and may uncap the taxable value, allowing it to rise to the state equalized value. For properties that haven't been sold in many years, this can mean a substantial increase in property taxes after the deed is recorded.

Michigan Treasury publishes change of ownership guidelines explaining which transfers trigger uncapping and which are exempt. Transfers between spouses, some family transfers, and corrective deeds may be excluded. Buyers should review these rules before closing to anticipate the future tax impact. The full guidance is at michigan.gov.

The Michigan Treasury change of ownership page provides a detailed breakdown of what events trigger a taxable value uncapping in Michigan, including transfers in Clinton County.

Transfer Tax on Deed Recordings

When a deed is recorded in Clinton County, the transfer tax is paid to the Register of Deeds at the time of submission. The Register collects taxes on behalf of both the state and the county. Payment must accompany the deed. For in-person submissions, cash, check, or money order is typically accepted. For e-recorded documents, payment is handled through the vendor's billing system.

The Michigan Treasury page on transfer tax covers how the tax is calculated, what exemptions exist, and how the tax applies to different types of conveyances recorded in Clinton County and across the state.

Nearby Counties

Clinton County is located in central Michigan and borders several counties that also maintain active deed recording offices.