Find Deed Records in Montmorency County

Deed records in Montmorency County are kept by the Register of Deeds office in Atlanta, where all property transfers, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land instruments are recorded and indexed for public access. Whether you are checking title on a parcel, researching ownership history, or verifying that a lien has been released, the Register of Deeds is the primary source for official property records in the county. The office maintains both paper records and a digital index, and staff can help direct you to the right documents for your search.

Montmorency County Register of Deeds Office

The Register of Deeds office is located at 12265 M-32 West, P.O. Box 789, Atlanta, MI 49709. The phone number is 989-785-8079, and the fax is 989-785-8080. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office website is at montcounty.org. If you are mailing documents for recording, use the P.O. Box address. If you are dropping off documents in person, use the street address.

The Register in Montmorency County also serves as the Chairperson of the County Plat Board. That role involves reviewing and approving plat maps before they are recorded. Plat approval is a separate process from regular deed recording, and the Register works with the county's plat board members to confirm that new subdivisions and land divisions meet applicable requirements.

For most users, the everyday function of this office is recording deeds, mortgages, and related property documents and making those records available to the public.

The image below shows the Montmorency County Register of Deeds page on the county's official website, where you can find contact details and information about office services.

The county website lists current office hours, contact information, and details about what documents the office records and how to request copies.

Records Maintained by This Office

Montmorency County maintains an unusually broad range of property-related records compared to some smaller counties. In addition to standard deed and mortgage documents, the office keeps Mineral Interest and Surface Interest records. In northern Michigan, where mineral rights have often been separated from surface rights through historic transactions, this matters a great deal. A parcel may have one owner for the surface and a different owner for the mineral rights, and both interests are tracked here.

All original documents submitted to this office are scanned and digitized. Older records were transferred to microfiche to preserve them. The office maintains reception books and indexes that log every document in the order it was received. A tract index organized by legal description allows searchers to look up all documents associated with a specific parcel without having to know the names of every prior owner.

This tract index is particularly useful for title searches on rural parcels where ownership may have changed many times over the past century.

The screenshot below shows the broader Montmorency County government website, giving context for where the Register of Deeds fits within the county's administrative structure.

From the county's main site, you can navigate to the Register of Deeds and find information about records access, fees, and document submission procedures.

Recording Requirements and Fees

The standard recording fee in Michigan is $30, set by MCL 600.2657. This fee covers most documents including deeds, mortgages, assignments, and discharges. Copies are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the certification plus $1 per page. If you need a certified copy, ask specifically for the certification stamp when you order.

All documents must comply with the formatting rules in MCL 565.201. The top margin on the first page must be at least 2.5 inches to allow space for the recording stamp. All other margins must be at least 0.5 inches. The print must be legible and at least 10 points in size. The first page must show the name and address of the person who prepared the document, the address where the tax bill should go after recording, and a complete legal description of the property being conveyed.

Documents that don't meet these standards will be returned unrecorded. That can delay a closing or create problems with title.

Transfer Tax in Montmorency County

When property changes hands for value in Michigan, both state and county real estate transfer taxes apply. The state tax is $3.75 per $500 of value, and the county tax adds $0.55 per $500. Combined, the total is $8.60 per $1,000 of the sale price. The seller is responsible for paying this tax at closing. The tax is calculated based on the actual consideration paid, which must be disclosed on the deed or on the transfer tax valuation affidavit.

In addition to the transfer tax, a property transfer affidavit must be submitted to the local township or city assessor within 45 days of the transfer. This affidavit notifies the assessor of the change in ownership so they can update the tax rolls. Failing to file within 45 days can trigger a penalty. The affidavit is not recorded with the Register of Deeds. It goes directly to the assessing unit.

Certain transfers are exempt from transfer tax, including transfers between spouses, transfers to correct a deed error, and some transfers involving government entities. If you think an exemption applies, note it on the face of the deed.

Mineral and Surface Rights Records

Montmorency County is in northern Michigan, a region with a long history of timber, oil, and gas activity. As a result, it is common for surface rights and mineral rights to be held by different parties on the same parcel. The Register of Deeds maintains separate records for mineral interests and surface interests, which helps title searchers identify what each instrument conveys.

When you buy land in Montmorency County, you should check both the deed chain for surface rights and any instruments affecting mineral rights. A prior owner may have conveyed the mineral rights separately, retaining them or selling them to a third party. If mineral rights were severed from the surface decades ago, they may not appear in a standard deed search focused only on recent transfers.

The tract index by legal description is the most efficient way to find all recorded instruments tied to a specific parcel, including mineral conveyances.

E-Recording and Document Submission

Michigan's Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, codified at MCL 565.841, authorizes counties to accept electronically submitted documents. E-recording lets title companies, lenders, and attorneys submit documents digitally through approved providers. The document is reviewed electronically, recorded, and returned with a time stamp confirming the recording date and time.

Approved e-recording providers in Michigan include Simplifile (1-800-460-5657), ePN, CSC, and Indecomm. Each provider charges its own submission fee on top of the county recording fee. Contact the Register of Deeds office at 989-785-8079 to confirm which providers are currently active in Montmorency County.

For one-off recordings or when e-recording is not available, documents can be brought in person during office hours or mailed to the P.O. Box address. If mailing, include a check for the recording fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of the recorded document.

Priority and Michigan's Recording Rules

Michigan follows the race-notice rule. Under this rule, a buyer who records first and who had no notice of a prior unrecorded claim will take priority over that earlier transaction. The practical effect is that recording promptly after closing is not just a formality. It is what legally protects your ownership interest against competing claims.

If a seller were to convey the same parcel to two different buyers, the buyer who records first (and who did not know about the other sale) would hold clear title. The second buyer would have no legal recourse against the property itself, only a potential fraud claim against the seller. Title insurance can help protect against some gap risks, but it is not a replacement for recording quickly.

Every document recorded in Montmorency County receives a liber and page number. These numbers become part of the chain of title and are referenced in all future documents affecting the same property.

Nearby Counties

Montmorency County is surrounded by several other northern Michigan counties, each maintaining its own deed records at the local Register of Deeds office.