Grand Traverse County Recorder

The Register of Deeds is responsible for recording and maintaining records for real property located in Grand Traverse County.

Regardless of the number of pages, all documents will cost $30.00 to record, this cost is inclusive of the Michigan Remonumentation and Register of Deeds Automation fees.

For a document that assigns or discharges more than 1 instrument $3.00 for each instrument assigned or discharged (in addition to the $30.00 flat fee).

A tax certificate must be obtained before a warranty deed, any deed with a covenant of warranty, a land contract, or an assignment of land contract with a warranty clause can be recorded. Tax certificates are $5.00 for up to five parcel (tax ID) numbers. Each parcel over five is $0.20.

The county transfer tax rate is $1.10 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof.
The state transfer tax rate is $7.50 per each $1,000 or fraction thereof.

* Original signatures are required. Print or type the corresponding name beneath signatures. Names printed in the notary acknowledgment and beneath signatures should match.

* A document submitted for recording should be legible. Use 10 point font in black ink. Paper should be at least 8.5x11 inches and not larger than 8.5x14 inches. White paper of at least 20 # weight will help to ensure legible results.

* At the top of the first page, provide a blank margin of 2.5 inches. All other margins should be at least 1/2 an inch.

* On the first line of print on the first page, provide a document title. This should identify the recordable event.

* A legal description is required. This should be attached to the document. A tax parcel ID or a street address is not a legal description. The full legal description must be included when applicable. "Tax" legal descriptions are not accepted. This is the legal description on the tax bill or the one from the township/city/village. The only legal descriptions accepted are ones from a previous deed or survey. Tax legal descriptions are incomplete and incorrect. They are for the assessor's use only.

* Documents purporting to convey or encumber real estate in Michigan require acknowledgment by a judge, clerk of a court of record, or a notary public in the state of Michigan. A common error is to incorrectly fill in the venue and the notary acknowledgment. The venue, which usually appears above the notary acknowledgment statement, is the county and state where the document was executed. The county and state in the venue must be filled in and must coincide with the county and state in which the notary commission is acting.

* Any instrument conveying or mortgaging property should state the marital status of all male grantors or mortgagors.

* Provide the grantee's address in a document of conveyance.

* The name and address of the preparer of the document should be given on the first page of documents executed in Michigan. If the document is prepared by a company, an individual's name is still needed.

* When "survivor" is indicated on a document, a certified copy of the death certificate or proof of death must be recorded or have been recorded. This should be referenced by liber and page on relevant documents.

TRANSFER TAX

Any deed or easement that has a consideration will have state and county transfer tax due at the time of recording.

Transfer tax is determined by the consideration listed in the deed, unless exemptions are stated. State transfer tax is not due on deeds executed prior to January 1, 1995 or if the deed is given upon the payoff of a land contract that was executed prior to the same date. Either the liber/page and date of the land contract must be stated on the deed or the exemptions must be stated. Transfer tax affidavits are not entered into the public record.