Register of Deeds

We cannot help you prepare your document or provide legal advice. We recommended using a title agency or an attorney’s office.

The recording fee is $30 per document.

We accept card*, cash, check, and money order.

*Please note that we do not have an online pay portal at this time. To pay by card, please call our office at 269-383-8970 or come into our office at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.

We record documents the day we receive it. All recorded documents are returned within 3 – 5 business days as long as we have a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Documents are returned to the party who submitted to our office; if your document was submitted through your bank, attorney, or title agency, it is up to that office to return your document to you.

The purpose of recording a document is to make a public record of the transaction. Your document is scanned and indexed for the permanent record. Microfilm copies are made, local units of government are notified of land transfers, and the recording information/images are made available on our public sites.

Yes. To record a document, the following page attributes must be met:

• Minimum size of page to be recorded: 8.5 x 11 inches
• Maximum size of page to be recorded:  8.5 x 14 inches
• Top margin, first page: Minimum size 2.5 inches blank across full width of top of page
• Subsequent pages: Minimum top margin is .5 inch
• Remaining margins size: .5 inch
• Document Type: Identified on the first line of print (at 2.5 inches down or farther)
• Minimum Font Size: 10 pt. type
• Paper color: White
• Color of ink: Black
• Paper weight: 20 pounds (standard copy paper weight)

See also, Recording Requirements

Witnesses are no longer required for recording a document.

The following documents require a notary:

• Warranty Deed
• Quit Claim Deed
• Sheriff or Clerk’s Deed
• Master Deed
• Executor/Administrator Deed
• Trustee Deed
• Special Deed
• Mortgage Assignment
• Mortgage Amendment
• Mortgage Subordination
• Mortgage Renewal
• Mortgage Discharge
• Land Contracts
• Leases
• Plats
• Rights of Way/Easements
• Affidavits
• Memorandums
• Certificates of Trust
• Power of Attorney
• Notice of Commencement
• Discharge of Notice of Commencement
• Constructions Liens
• Levies
• Lis Pendens

All court documents must be certified and sealed by the court.

Land records can be notarized at the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office free of charge if requiring recording service. Other documents can be notarized at the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office for $3 per notary. There is an additional fee of $1 if a seal is required.

Other notary locations include financial institutions, libraries, and the UPS Store.

We only accept electronic recordings through the following certified vendors:

Rejected documents will include a rejection letter detailing the reasons for the document’s return. Please make all necessary corrections and resubmit to our office.

If you have any questions or need help understanding the errors, please call our office at 269-383-8970 or come into our office at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.

Yes. Once a document is recorded with our office, it becomes public record.

Deeds and other land records can be found through the Document Searches system available on the county’s website.

For best results, we recommend searching by NAME first, as addresses are not a requirement and results through this search criteria may be incomplete.

At this time, the document index and images go back to 1985. More records will be available soon.

Properties can be searched through the Document Searches system available on the county’s website.

Please note that searches conducted by address may be incomplete, as an address is not a requirement for recording a document.

You can also contact your local city/township assessor’s office for more information. A full list of offices is available here.

Copies can be purchased through the Document Searches system available on the county’s website.

The cost is $1 per page + a technology fee of $2.50.

Adding or removing a party from a deed requires a new deed. To have a new deed prepared, we recommend consulting with an attorney’s office or title agency. We cannot help you prepare this document.

Having a new deed prepared is not required.

To show that the passing party has relinquished interest in any and all properties in Kalamazoo County, an official death certificate must be filed with our office. Once the death certificate is recorded, it becomes part of the chain of title to the property.

We do not accept copies of death certificates.

If your deed uses the words “warrants” or “defends”, a tax clearance is required.

The following documents require a tax clearance from the Treasurer’s Office before recording with our office:

• Warranty Deed
• Covenant Deed
• Land Contract
• Assignment of Land Contract with warranty clause
• Master Deed
• Amended Master Deed adding property to the Condo

Properties located within the City of Kalamazoo must obtain an additional city tax certificate before receiving a tax certificate from the County Treasurer. The Kalamazoo City Treasurer's office handles this function. Contact them at Kalamazoo City Hall, 241 W South St, Kalamazoo MI 49007, or by phone at 269-337-8036. The fee for a city tax certificate is $10.00.

Transfer taxes are taxes paid by the seller of the property based on the consideration shown on the deed, equal to .086 of the sale amount. The sales price is rounded up to the next nearest $500 for purposes of calculating transfer tax.

Example:
A house was sold for $100,000 =
House Sales Price:  $100,000
State Transfer Tax fee is:  $750.00
County Transfer Tax fee is:  $110.00
Total Transfer Tax fee is:  $860.00

This amount is paid to the Register of Deeds office at the time of recording.

A transfer tax chart is available here.

Yes.

• County transfer tax exemption information is available here.
• State transfer tax exemption information is available here.

Our office does not have this information. Please check with your local city or township assessor’s office. A full list of offices is available here.