Find Deed Records in Wexford County

Wexford County deed records are filed with the Register of Deeds at 437 E. Division St. in Cadillac, where the office maintains the permanent public record of all property transfers, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land documents for the county. The office serves property owners, title companies, attorneys, and lenders throughout Wexford County and the surrounding north-central Michigan region.

Wexford County Register of Deeds Office

The Wexford County Register of Deeds is at 437 E. Division St., Cadillac, MI 49601. Call 231-779-9455 during business hours with questions about recording requirements, document searches, or copy requests. The county website at wexfordcounty.org has contact information and may include office hours and guidance on available services.

This office records all documents that affect real property in Wexford County. Common instrument types include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, land contracts, mortgage discharges, easements, and judgment liens. Each accepted document is stamped, indexed, and made part of the permanent public record. Anyone can search those records or request copies at any time.

Wexford County is located in north-central Michigan and includes the city of Cadillac as well as significant forested land, lakes, and recreational property. The county sees a mix of residential sales in and around Cadillac, recreational property transfers, and agricultural land transactions. All of this deed activity flows through the Register of Deeds office on E. Division Street.

Recording Fees and Copy Costs

Wexford County charges a flat $30 recording fee per document. This applies to deeds, mortgages, releases, and most other instruments regardless of page count. The fee is set by state law under MCL 600.2657, which standardized recording fees across Michigan effective October 1, 2016.

Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5.00 certification fee. Certified copies are often needed for estate administration, legal proceedings, or lender requirements. You can get copies in person at the Cadillac office or by mailing a request with the document details and payment.

Call 231-779-9455 before mailing to confirm the current payment methods and to make sure you have the right document details. Getting this right the first time avoids delays in your request.

Real Estate Transfer Tax

Michigan charges a transfer tax on most real estate sales. The state portion is $3.75 per $500 of the sale price. Wexford County adds $0.55 per $500. The total comes to $8.60 per $1,000 of purchase price. The seller usually pays this tax at closing.

A valuation affidavit must accompany any deed that conveys property for consideration. This form discloses the actual sale price so the transfer tax can be calculated. The Register of Deeds will not record a taxable deed without this affidavit. Most title companies and real estate attorneys prepare this form as a routine part of the closing package.

Certain transfers are exempt from the tax. These include transfers between spouses, transfers to or from government entities, and some foreclosure-related conveyances. If an exemption applies, note it clearly on the deed and attach the appropriate affidavit. A title company or attorney can confirm whether an exemption fits your situation before you file.

For recreational property in Wexford County, note that the sale price used for transfer tax must reflect the actual consideration paid, including any personal property included in the sale. If the sale includes boats, vehicles, or furniture as part of the price, those values should generally be excluded from the real estate valuation used for the tax.

Document Formatting Requirements

Michigan law at MCL 565.201 sets formatting requirements for all recorded documents in the state. The Wexford County Register of Deeds applies these standards and will reject documents that do not comply. The office does not make corrections to documents on your behalf.

The first page must have a 2.5-inch top margin. All other margins must be at least 0.5 inches. Font must be 10 points or larger. The first page must state the document type, all party names, the legal description of the property, and the name and address for future tax statements. The preparer's name and address must also appear.

Documents can be submitted in person at the Cadillac office, by mail, or electronically through an approved e-recording vendor. In-person submissions are generally processed the same day. After recording, the office stamps the document with the date, time, liber number, and page number. These details form the official record of when and how the document was filed. Keep the original stamped document in a safe place.

E-Recording in Wexford County

Wexford County accepts electronic recording through approved vendors. E-recording allows title companies, lenders, and law firms to submit documents digitally without visiting the Cadillac office. Documents are processed and returned electronically, usually within one business day.

Approved e-recording vendors include Simplifile (1-800-460-5657), ePN, CSC, and Indecomm. Contact the vendor of your choice to set up an account. Michigan's authority for e-recording comes from the Michigan Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act at MCL 565.841.

The screenshot below shows the Wexford County government website, which includes information about the Register of Deeds office and other county services.

Visit the county website to confirm office hours and check for any updates to recording procedures or fees before visiting or mailing documents.

Searching Wexford County Deed Records

You can search deed records in person at the Register of Deeds office in Cadillac. Staff can help you find documents by grantor or grantee name, liber and page number, or date range. Having the property address or parcel number helps, but searches are done by party name, not address.

Check wexfordcounty.org for any current online search options. Availability of online access to deed records varies by county in Michigan, so it is worth checking before making the trip to Cadillac from a distance.

Michigan is a race-notice state. The first party to record a deed without prior notice of another claim wins in an ownership dispute. Recording as soon as possible after closing is the best way to protect your title to Wexford County property. Do not leave a signed deed sitting unrecorded.

The Michigan Treasury provides guidance on change of ownership reporting that applies to all Wexford County property transfers. The image below shows part of those state guidelines.

After a deed is recorded in Wexford County, the buyer must file a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local assessor within 45 days. Failing to meet this deadline results in a penalty from the assessor's office.

Common Deed Types Recorded in Wexford County

Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds are the most frequently recorded instruments at the Wexford County Register of Deeds. A warranty deed includes the seller's guarantee of clear title. A quitclaim deed transfers the grantor's interest without any guarantee about the state of the title.

Other common document types include mortgages, land contracts, mortgage discharges, easements, and judgment liens. Land contracts appear regularly in Wexford County, particularly for recreational properties where buyer and seller may prefer to handle financing directly. Timber easements and access easements are also common given the county's forested character. The Register of Deeds records all of these in the same way as standard deeds and mortgages.

If a mortgage has been paid off and the lender has not filed a discharge, contact the lender right away and follow up until it is done. An unreleased mortgage clouds your title and can block a future sale or refinance. The Wexford County Register of Deeds office can confirm whether a discharge has been recorded for any specific loan.

Nearby Counties

Wexford County borders several other north-central Michigan counties, each with its own Register of Deeds office for local property records.