Find Property Records in Westland
Westland property records are on file with the Wayne County Register of Deeds in Detroit. The county office holds deeds, mortgages, land contracts, liens, and other documents that affect title to real estate in the city. Online access is available through the Wayne County land records system, and you can also request copies by mail or visit the office in person. This page walks you through the search options and what each resource provides for Westland properties.
Westland Property Records Overview
Wayne County Register of Deeds
All property records for Westland are recorded at the Wayne County Register of Deeds, located on the seventh floor of the Wayne County Building in downtown Detroit. This office is responsible for recording and indexing every deed, mortgage, lien, easement, and plat that affects real property in Wayne County, including Westland. Michigan's recording statute under MCL 565.29 makes this a race-notice state, meaning the party who records first generally wins title disputes.
Wayne County is Michigan's most populous county and records an enormous volume of documents each year. Despite that volume, the office maintains a searchable index going back many decades. Staff can help with in-person requests during business hours.
| Office | Wayne County Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 Monroe St., 7th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Phone | (313) 224-5850 |
| Land Records | waynecountylandrecords.com |
Searching Westland Records Online
Wayne County maintains two main online systems for property record searches. The primary portal at waynecountylandrecords.com allows searches by name, parcel, or address and provides access to document images. This is the system most people use for deed and mortgage lookups in Westland.
A second system, accessible at waynecountyrecorder.com, also provides online record access through the SFFlexSuite platform. Some users find one interface easier than the other; both draw from the same underlying Wayne County database. If you can't find what you need in one, try the other.
City of Westland Resources
The City of Westland maintains its own website with access to municipal records and assessing data. While the Wayne County Register of Deeds holds deed and mortgage records, the city assessor keeps the official property tax roll and handles Principal Residence Exemption applications.
The City of Westland website is the starting point for local government services related to property.
The city site provides links to the assessing department, zoning maps, and building permit information, all of which can supplement your property record search.
Westland's assessor values property at 50% of true cash value in line with Michigan's constitutional requirement. The city processes exemption applications and handles the annual notice of assessment that goes out each February. If you believe your assessment is too high, you can appeal first to the Board of Review and then to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
What Records Are Available
The Wayne County Register of Deeds indexes and stores a broad range of documents for Westland. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds show ownership transfers. Mortgage documents show liens placed on a property by lenders. Discharge of mortgage documents show when a loan has been paid off. Land contracts, easements, right-of-way grants, and subdivision plats are also recorded here.
Under MCL 565.201, documents must be properly acknowledged and meet formatting standards before the Register will accept them. The flat recording fee of $30 per document is set by MCL 600.2567. That fee is the same whether your document is one page or twenty.
Taxes and Transfer Costs
When a Westland property is sold, the buyer and seller will typically deal with both the county transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of sale price and the state transfer tax of $7.50 per $1,000. On a $200,000 sale, that's roughly $1,720 in transfer taxes. The seller usually pays, though this is negotiable.
Property in Westland is assessed at 50% of market value. Under Proposal A, the taxable value grows only by the inflation rate or 5%, whichever is less, until the property sells. At that point the taxable value uncaps to equal the new assessed value. This reset can significantly raise the new owner's tax bill in areas where values have grown steadily. The Michigan Department of Treasury oversees statewide assessment standards and provides resources on tax appeals and exemptions.
Title and Chain of Title
Michigan's Marketable Record Title Act allows title companies to clear most defects in a chain of title that runs back 40 years without interruption. In a city like Westland, which developed largely in the mid-20th century, 40-year searches cover most of the relevant ownership history. Title companies use the grantor-grantee index at the Wayne County Register of Deeds to trace ownership and find open liens or easements.
The Michigan Compiled Laws database is a free resource if you want to read the full text of the recording statutes that govern Westland property transactions. The Michigan LARA site handles licensing for real estate agents and title professionals in the state.
Nearby Cities
Westland neighbors several other large Wayne County communities. Property records for all of them are held by the same Wayne County Register of Deeds office.
Wayne County Property Records
Westland is located in Wayne County, and the Wayne County Register of Deeds is the official office of record for all land documents in the city. The county page provides more detail on recording procedures, online access, and the full range of documents available for communities across Wayne County.