Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Houghton County Register of Deeds
About the Houghton County Register of Deeds
Land records in Houghton County are recorded by the Register of Deeds. The office is held by Jennifer Kelly.
Tapestry: documents available from September 1993 to present; $8.75 per search and $1.00 per page for each document printed; viewing at no charge. Laredo is a subscription service for professionals for a monthly fee. Notary Fraud Alert is a free subscription service for notaries.
Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: MCL 600.2567 Register of deeds; fees · Houghton County Register of Deeds | Houghton County, Michigan
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| Deeds and other conveyances | $30.00 flat (per document, regardless of pages) |
|---|---|
| Mortgages and deeds of trust | $30.00 flat (per document, regardless of pages) |
| Releases and satisfactions | $30.00 flat ($3 per additional instrument discharged) |
| Other standard documents | $30.00 flat (per document, regardless of pages) |
Added at recording
| Certify | $5.00 Documents which contain a covenant of warranty, Warranty Deeds, Covenant Deeds, Land Contracts or Assignment of Land Contracts (in addition to the $30.00 flat fee); tax certification, MCL 211.135 |
|---|
Other charges
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
|---|---|
| Certification | $5.00 |
Fee schedule effective October 1, 2016.
StatewideThe $30.00 recording fee includes the survey and remonumentation fee under MCL 600.2567a ($4.00 before January 1, 2043; $2.00 beginning January 1, 2043), and $5.00 of each fee goes to the county automation fund. A charter county may set its own fee schedule by ordinance or resolution, not greater than the cost of the service. Grantor/grantee searches: 50 cents per year searched, $5.00 minimum.
The $4.00 M.S.S.R. is not assessed on Fixture Filings, State and Federal Liens, State Deeds, Plats, or Treasurer's tax reversion documents. Tract Index Fees: $400.00/month, $20.00/hr, $5.00/15 minutes. State Tax Lien Certificate Search $3.00/name search; Federal Tax Lien Certificate Search $3.00/name search. Plat copy $2.00/page. Transfer tax is separate from these fees.
Paying the office
| Checks payable to | Houghton County Register of Deeds |
|---|
Transfer tax
State Real Estate Transfer Tax. $3.75 for each $500.00 or fraction of $500.00 of the total value of the property being transferred. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, MCL 207.525(1))
StatewideCounty real estate transfer tax (1966 PA 134): 55 cents for each $500.00 or fraction thereof of the total value in a county with a population of less than 2,000,000, and not more than 75 cents as authorized by the county board of commissioners in a county with a population of 2,000,000 or more (MCL 207.504). It is imposed on deeds and land contracts when recorded (MCL 207.502). The State Real Estate Transfer Tax is paid to the county treasurer where the property is located (MCL 207.523(3)). A taxable instrument must state the total value on its face or have a value affidavit attached.
Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: MCL 600.2567 Register of deeds; fees · MCL 207.525 State Real Estate Transfer Tax Act · MCL 207.504 Rate of tax · Houghton County Register of Deeds | Houghton County, Michigan
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | Not less than 8-1/2 inches wide and 11 inches long or more than 8-1/2 inches wide and 14 inches long (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(f)(v)) |
|---|---|
| First page top margin | 2.5 in (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(f)(i)) |
| Other margins | 0.5 in (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(f)(i)) |
| Minimum type size | 10 pt (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(f)(iii)) |
| Ink and paper | Legibly printed in black ink on white paper that is not less than 20-pound weight; signatures in black or dark blue ink (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(a), (1)(f)(iv)) |
| Prepared-by statement required | Yes (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(i)) |
| Grantee address required | Yes (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(d)) |
| Printed names under signatures required | Yes (statewide, MCL 565.201(1)(a)) |
StatewideThe first line of print on the first page must be a single statement identifying the recordable event the instrument evidences. Printed names must match the acknowledgment or jurat. The notary's name must be printed near the notary's signature. Attachments must also be 8-1/2 x 11 to 8-1/2 x 14 inches. The first 5 digits of any social security number must be obscured or removed unless law requires otherwise. A non-English instrument must have an English translation attached. The size rules do not apply to instruments executed outside Michigan or to plats. Deeds and other conveyances of title require county and local treasurer tax certificates showing taxes paid for the 5 preceding years, except for listed exceptions such as quitclaim deeds (MCL 211.135).
Forms filed along with a transfer
- Property Transfer Affidavit (Form 2766, L-4260) Statewide Michigan Department of Treasury (State Tax Commission form)Within 45 days of a transfer of ownership, filed with the assessing office of the local unit where the property is located
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
| eRecording through Deeds.com | Available for this office |
The office has a daily cutoff time for recording at 3:30 p.m. Electronic documents may be submitted at any time and are processed during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Not all documents can be electronically recorded.
Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: MCL 565.201 Requirements for recording with register of deeds · MCL 211.27a General Property Tax Act · Houghton County Register of Deeds | Houghton County, Michigan
Deeds.com Resources & Services
Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Available through Deeds.com
Use Deeds.com's paid service to submit documents electronically to the recorder's office. Deeds.com service fees are separate from government recording fees and taxes.
Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Houghton County Register of Deeds
Deeds.com Forms
Blank legal forms sold by Deeds.com, not by the recorder's office.
Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
Deeds.com Customer Care
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