Livingston County Recorder Information

Land records in Livingston County are recorded by the Register of Deeds. The office is held by Brandon Denby.

Documents recorded since 11-7-1980 (Liber 1000) are indexed and imaged. Libers 27 through 37 are also indexed; Libers 1-26 and 192-1004 are imaged but not yet computer indexed, with exceptions; Libers 38-191 are only in hard copy. Tapestry index/image search is $8.75 per search, and Laredo subscriptions are offered by monthly plan. A tract index is kept.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: MCL 600.2567 Register of deeds; fees · Register of Deeds - Livingston County, MI · Register of Deeds FAQs - Livingston County, MI

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Other charges

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.

Tax Certificate (required on all Warranty Deeds, Land Contracts, and Deeds which contain covenant): $5.00 for the first 25 parcel numbers and $0.20 for additional parcel numbers over 25. Certified copies: $5.00 certification plus $1.00 per page for all pages. Large plat/condo drawings: $2.00 per page. Emailed copies: $2.00 for 1-10 pages, $4.00 for 11-20, $6.00 for 21-30, $8.00 for 31-40, and $2.00 for every additional 10 pages. Quick search in person or by phone may incur a $5.00 search fee. Tract Index: $10.00 per hour or any portion thereof.

Paying the office

Many services and copies can be billed by those with charge accounts, but actual recording fees, including transfer tax, cannot be billed.

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.

The office describes transfer tax collected at recording when a sale amount is shown on a deed or certain easements: $1.10 per $1,000 to the County and $7.50 per $1,000 to the State. The sales price is rounded up to the next higher $500 increment. When the property is in more than one county, the sales amount must be pro-rated by county on the face of the deed. Rarely, transfer tax is also collected on affidavits of a transfer of controlling interest of one corporate entity into another.

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 · Register of Deeds FAQs - Livingston County, MI · Fee Schedule - Livingston County, MI · Enhanced Access Fee Schedule - Livingston County, MI

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

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).

Most documents must include a complete legal description; tax legals, street address, or a parcel ID are not acceptable. Documents with consideration cannot state "and other good and valuable consideration". The county and state in the notary venue must match the county in which the notary is acting. Court orders must be certified and sealed by the clerk of the court. A certified death certificate must be recorded before a conveyance stating "survivor" in the grantor's section, and its Document # must appear on the conveyance. Deeds of unplatted property are to carry the land division act and Right to Farm Act statements. E-recorded scans must be of the original signed document, legible, meet the 10 point font minimum, and a minimum 300 DPI is suggested.

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

The following documents cannot be recorded electronically: deeds with accompanying valuation affidavits, plats, master deeds with accompanying large drawings, and amendments to master deeds with accompanying large drawings. E-recorded documents that require a tax certification must be submitted through the Doc Router so they are routed to both departments. For mailed documents that require a tax certification, the $5.00 may be sent to the Register of Deeds, which will obtain the certification.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: MCL 565.201 Requirements for recording with register of deeds · MCL 211.27a General Property Tax Act · Register of Deeds FAQs - Livingston County, MI · Fee Schedule - Livingston County, MI · Recording Requirements - Livingston County, MI