Find Deed Records in Mason County

Mason County deed records are filed and maintained by the Register of Deeds office in Ludington, Michigan. The office keeps records of all real property transactions in the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting title to land. This page explains how to search for existing records, how to submit new documents for recording, and what resources are available to property owners and researchers in Mason County.

Mason County Register of Deeds Office

The Mason County Register of Deeds is located at 304 E. Ludington Avenue, Ludington, MI 49431. Phone is 231-843-4466. Fax is 231-845-7977. You can also reach the office by email at register@masoncounty.net. The office maintains a public research facility for property records and serves all those who need to review or record land documents in Mason County.

The Register of Deeds in Mason County also serves as Chairperson of the County Plat Board. This means the office handles both deed recording and plat approval, which matters when a developer or surveyor needs to have a new plat recorded. Plat maps show subdivisions, road right-of-ways, and lot lines, and they are part of the permanent record held by this office.

The Mason County Register of Deeds page on the county website has office details and service descriptions. For current hours and any updates to procedures, contact the office directly or check the website before visiting.

Understanding how recorded deeds affect taxable value in Michigan is important for buyers in Mason County. The Treasury's change of ownership guidelines, shown above, explain when tax uncapping applies after a transfer.

Searching Deed Records in Mason County

The Mason County Register of Deeds maintains a public research facility where you can search deed records in person. Researchers can use the facility during office hours to look up grantor and grantee indexes, review deed books, and request copies of recorded instruments. If you are tracing a chain of title or checking for liens on a parcel, this is the most direct way to do it.

For remote access, contact the office at 231-843-4466 or email register@masoncounty.net to ask about current online search options. Mail requests are also accepted. When mailing a request, include as much identifying information as possible, such as the parcel number, legal description, or the names of the grantor and grantee, along with a check for the applicable copy fees.

The Michigan Department of Treasury ROD directory lists Mason County among all 83 Michigan county offices. If you are working on a title search that spans multiple western Michigan counties, this directory can quickly give you contact details for each office you need to reach.

Recording Deed Records in Mason County

Michigan sets a flat $30 recording fee per document under MCL 600.2657. This fee applies to deeds, mortgages, discharges of mortgage, land contracts, assignments, and most other instruments filed at the Mason County Register of Deeds. Page copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 certification fee on top of the per-page rate.

Documents must meet the formatting standards required by MCL 565.201. These rules cover margin sizes, font legibility, paper weight, and the layout of the first page of the document. A document that does not meet these standards can be rejected at the counter or assessed a non-standard document fee. If you are drafting a deed or other instrument without an attorney, review the statute carefully or call the office before you submit.

You can submit documents in person at the Ludington Avenue office, mail them with a check payable to the Mason County Register of Deeds, or ask the office about e-recording options. The office will return the recorded original to the address on the cover sheet or return envelope you provide.

Transfer Tax on Mason County Deed Records

Any sale of real property in Mason County triggers a combined state and county transfer tax totaling $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price. The state portion is $3.75 per $500 under MCL 207.521. The county adds $0.55 per $500 under MCL 207.501.

The seller pays the transfer tax at closing in most transactions, though the parties can negotiate otherwise. Exemptions exist for transfers between spouses, gifts, and certain trust transfers where the beneficial owner stays the same. When the deed is recorded, a transfer tax valuation affidavit must accompany it. This affidavit tells the Register of Deeds and the township assessor what the sale price was and confirms whether the correct tax was paid.

Recorded transfers also trigger property tax uncapping under MCL 211.27a. When a property changes hands, its taxable value resets to the state equalized value in the next tax year. Buyers should factor this into their purchase budget, especially in Mason County where waterfront and lakeshore parcels often have a large gap between taxable value and market value.

Property Fraud Alert in Mason County

Mason County offers a free Property Fraud Alert service. This program monitors deed records and notifies enrolled property owners when any document is recorded in their name. It is a no-cost tool that can help catch deed fraud early.

Deed fraud happens when someone files a forged or fraudulent deed to claim ownership of a property. The victim often does not find out until they try to sell or refinance. The alert service can shorten that gap significantly. If you receive an alert about a document you did not authorize, contact the Register of Deeds office immediately at 231-843-4466. Early detection makes it much easier to take legal action to correct the record.

Delinquent tax records can sometimes reveal property title issues that deed fraud creates. If ownership is disputed or unclear, checking state delinquent tax records can help build a fuller picture of what happened to a property.

Types of Deed Records Filed in Mason County

The Register of Deeds office in Mason County holds a broad range of real property instruments. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds are the most commonly filed. You will also find mortgages, discharge of mortgage documents, assignments of mortgage, land contracts, easements, and lien filings of various types.

Additional instruments include plat maps, condominium master deeds, restrictive covenants, and affidavits of survivorship. The Mason County Register also maintains plat records in the role of County Plat Board Chairperson, which means subdivision plats go through this office. For Mason County, which has significant shoreline and recreational land, easements granting lake access or boat dock rights are also commonly recorded here.

Easements and conveyances can have specific transfer tax implications. The Michigan Treasury covers those rules on its easement conveyances page. Review that page before recording an easement to make sure you handle the tax correctly.

Electronic Recording in Mason County

Michigan adopted the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (MURPERA) under MCL 565.841, which allows counties to accept e-recorded documents. Contact the Mason County Register of Deeds at 231-843-4466 or register@masoncounty.net to confirm current e-recording availability and which vendors are accepted.

Common e-recording vendors used in Michigan include Simplifile (1-800-460-5657), ePN, CSC, and Indecomm. These platforms let title companies and law firms submit documents electronically, receive the recorded original back digitally, and avoid the delay of mailing. Vendor fees are charged separately from the county's $30 recording fee.

Nearby Counties

Mason County borders several western and central Michigan counties. Each has its own Register of Deeds for property records in that area.