Find Deed Records in Roscommon County

Roscommon County deed records are kept by the County Clerk and Register of Deeds office in Roscommon, Michigan. Deeds, mortgages, land contracts, liens, and related real property instruments are filed and indexed here for all land in the county. Whether you are searching for a prior owner, checking a legal description, or verifying that a mortgage was discharged, this office is your starting point. This guide explains how to access records, what fees apply, and what state laws govern the recording process.

Roscommon County Clerk and Register of Deeds Office

The Roscommon County Clerk and Register of Deeds is located at 500 Lake St., P.O. Box 787, Roscommon, MI 48653. You can reach the office by phone at 989-275-5931. This office serves as both the county clerk and the register of deeds, which is common in smaller Michigan counties. The same staff handle deed recording, vital records requests, and election administration from one location.

The county website is at roscommoncounty.net. From there you can find contact details, hours, and links to county departments. Hours are subject to change for holidays or staff events. It is worth a quick call or a check of the website before visiting from out of town.

When you arrive at the office, let staff know you are looking for deed records or want to record a document. They can point you to the index or pull records for your parcel. If you have specific document numbers from a prior search, bring those to save time.

Searching Roscommon County Deed Records

In-person access is the most reliable way to search deed records in Roscommon County. You can search the grantee/grantor index by party name, or look up records using a parcel identification number or the property's legal description. Staff can assist you in locating documents and pulling them for review or copying.

Mail requests are accepted for copies of recorded documents. Write a letter describing the document you need, include the names of the parties involved, and give the approximate recording date or date range. Send your request along with a check for copy fees to the P.O. Box 787 address. Call the office first to confirm the fee amount and what information they need to process your request without delay.

The Roscommon County website at roscommoncounty.net may also have links to online search tools or document portals. Check the Clerk or Register of Deeds section for the most up-to-date online access options before making the trip.

Below is an image from the official Roscommon County website, which serves as a hub for county departments and records access.

The Roscommon County site includes department contacts, hours, and resources for deed records, property taxes, and other county services.

Deed Recording Fees and Transfer Tax

Roscommon County charges $30 per document to record a deed or other land instrument under MCL 600.2657. That flat fee covers recording regardless of the number of pages for most standard documents. Page copies from the office cost $1 each. A certified copy has an added $5 fee on top of the copy charge.

Michigan's real estate transfer tax applies when a deed is recorded for sale. The state rate is $3.75 per $500 of consideration under MCL 207.521. Roscommon County adds $0.55 per $500 under MCL 207.501. Combined, those rates equal $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price. Some transactions are exempt. Deeds correcting prior errors, transfers between spouses, and certain family transfers may not require transfer tax. Ask the office or speak with a real estate attorney if you are not sure whether your transaction is taxable.

E-Recording and How to Submit Documents

Michigan's Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act at MCL 565.841 (MURPERA) authorizes counties to accept electronically submitted documents. E-recording is most commonly used by title companies, attorneys, and lenders who submit many documents and want to avoid mailing delays.

Approved e-recording vendors that work with Michigan counties include Simplifile (1-800-460-5657), ePN, CSC, and Indecomm. Contact the Roscommon County Clerk office to confirm which vendors are currently accepted for Roscommon County and how to get set up. For single or occasional filings, mailing documents with the fee and a return envelope is straightforward and reliable.

If you mail a deed for recording, include the exact recording fee, the proper transfer tax payment, and a stamped return envelope. The office will record the document and return the stamped original to you. Call 989-275-5931 ahead of time to confirm current fee amounts and any document requirements before mailing.

Michigan Deed Requirements

A valid Michigan deed must meet the requirements in MCL 565.201. The deed needs the full legal names of both grantor and grantee, a complete legal description of the property, a statement of consideration or an exemption claim, the grantor's signature, and notarization. Deeds that do not meet these requirements may be rejected at recording.

Alongside the deed, you must file a Property Transfer Affidavit (PTA) with the local assessor within 45 days of the transfer. The PTA notifies the assessor of the change in ownership and may trigger a taxable value uncapping on the property. Failing to file on time can result in a penalty. The Michigan Department of Treasury explains the change of ownership process at michigan.gov/taxes/property/change-ownership.

This Treasury page outlines what triggers reassessment, which transfers are exempt from uncapping, and how specific situations like inheritance or divorce are handled under Michigan law.

Easements, Mortgages, and Other Recorded Instruments

Deed records in Roscommon County include more than standard warranty and quitclaim deeds. The office records easements, land contracts, discharge of mortgage documents, mechanic's liens, and right-of-way grants. If you want to know whether a parcel has any encumbrances, check the deed index by parcel number or owner name.

Easements have specific transfer tax implications under Michigan law. The Treasury explains how easement conveyances are handled at michigan.gov/taxes/property/forms/information/easement-conveyances-and-real-estate-transfer-tax.

Landowners and attorneys handling easement grants or transfers should review this page before recording to make sure they understand what taxes apply.

Related Roscommon County Property Resources

Deed records are one piece of the full property picture. The Roscommon County Equalization Department maintains property assessment data and taxable values. The county treasurer holds tax payment records. For delinquent tax information across Michigan, the Department of Treasury has background at michigan.gov/treasury.

Parcel maps and GIS tools can help confirm boundaries and legal descriptions. Check the Roscommon County website for any available mapping portal. The Michigan statewide property look-up tool for transfer tax info is at michigan.gov/taxes/collections/register-of-deeds. That site also lists resources relevant to all Michigan counties for deed recording and transfer tax compliance.

For full title searches, a licensed title company or real estate attorney can run a chain of title going back as far as needed. The index at the Roscommon County Register of Deeds is the foundation for that research.

Nearby Counties

Roscommon County is surrounded by several other Michigan counties, each maintaining its own deed records office.