Frequently Asked Questions

We are located at:

173 East Apple Avenue, Suite 301

Muskegon, MI 49442

No, only original documents with original signatures can be recorded. 

We accept electronic recordings through the following Vendors:

• CSC https://www.erecording.com/
• EPN https://goepn.com/
• Indecomm https://indecomm.com/
• Simplifile https://www.simplifile.com/

The following documents cannot be recorded electronically:

• Master Deeds
• Amendments to Master Deeds (if the legal description is being changed and has large drawings being recorded with it)
• Plats
• Property Transfer Affidavits (Must be sent in to the Muskegon County Equalization Department)

Please see our Recording Requirements page. 

You can obtain copies of documents in our office or from our Online Record Search. 

The Register of Deeds Office does not provide blank deed forms. You may be able to find forms online or at office supply stores. We highly recommend going to a title company, real estate attorney, or legal aid to assist with the preparation of deeds.

No. Please be advised pursuant to MCL 600.916(1), clerks are barred by law from giving legal advice or preparing documents. If you need assistance, please contact a title company or real estate attorney.

To change, remove, or add a name to a deed a new deed must be prepared. We strongly recommend consulting with an attorney or a title company to ensure interest is conveyed exactly as intended. After the new deed is prepared and notarized, it needs to be brought in or mailed in to our office to be recorded.

A certified copy of the death certificate needs to be recorded in our office. Recording a person’s death certificate will remove their interest from the property. Your deed will stay the same; You will not receive a new deed from our office.

You do not receive a new deed when a mortgage is paid off. Instead, the mortgagee will record a discharge of mortgage. The original deed should have been issued when the property was purchased. You can purchase a copy of the deed or discharge of mortgage in our office or from our Online Records Search.

A tax certification is a stamp from the Treasurer’s Office that indicates that all the taxes on a property are paid up. Tax Certifications are required before recording the following documents:

• Warranty Deeds
• Any deeds that “warrant” (contain a covenant of warranty)
• Land Contracts
• Assignment of Land Contracts with a warranty clause.

• Recording Fee: $30 per document
• Deeds that have a sale amount will be charged Transfer Tax.
• $5 Tax Certification Fee on Warranty Deeds, Land Contracts, Deeds that contain a covenant of warranty, and assignment of land contracts with a warranty clause. 
  1. Note: If you recording a document that requires a tax certification & you are paying with a check, there needs to be two checks:
     • One check that includes the recording fee plus any transfer tax. This check must be made payable to the Register of Deeds Office
     • A separate $5 check made payable to the Muskegon County Treasurer’s Office
• For any document which assigns or discharges more than one instrument, $3 shall be added to the recording fee for each additional instrument assigned or discharged.

Transfer Tax is collected on the amount a property is sold for.  The grantor on a deed/easement is responsible for paying the transfer tax.

• There may be Transfer Tax Exemptions depending on the situation:
  • See County Transfer Tax Exemptions
  • See State Transfer Tax Exemptions
• The correct exemption codes must appear of the face of the document.
  • Sheriff’s Deeds are always exempt from State Transfer Tax, but are not always exempt from County Transfer Tax

Only if your property has been surveyed and that survey was brought into our office to be recorded.