Access Chippewa County Property Records

Chippewa County property records are managed by the Register of Deeds office in Sault Ste. Marie. The county's record set dates from 1827, making it one of the oldest collections of land records in Michigan. These records cover all real property in Chippewa County, which borders Ontario, Canada and lies along Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. You can search Chippewa County property records online, in person at the office, or by submitting a written mail request. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and easements are all indexed and available to the public.

Chippewa County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds is located at 319 Court St. in Sault Ste. Marie. Call (906) 635-6300 for general inquiries. The fax number is (906) 635-6351. This office is the official repository for all instruments affecting real property in Chippewa County. It maintains the grantor-grantee index required by MCL 565.28 and provides public access to recorded documents during regular business hours.

Chippewa County is a large Upper Peninsula county. Its geographic size and the diversity of land types, ranging from Lake Superior shoreline to deep interior forest, means that property records here vary widely. Some parcels have been privately held for well over a century. Others involve federal or tribal land transactions. The Register of Deeds records all of these according to the same state standards that apply statewide.

Searching Chippewa County Property Records

Chippewa County offers online access to its property record index. You can search from any computer using party names or document types. Many records have digital images available online. For older records going back toward the 1827 start date, image availability drops off and you may need to request paper copies from the office.

In-person searches at the Register of Deeds office give you direct access to the index terminals and the original document files. Staff can assist with basic navigation of the system. For complex historical searches involving records from the 1800s or early 1900s, plan to spend extra time and consider consulting a professional title abstractor familiar with Chippewa County records.

Mail requests are a practical option for many users. Include the names of the parties, the approximate recording date, the document type, and a check for the fees. Allow adequate processing time, especially for older records that require manual search of pre-digital indexes.

This can give you a parcel identification number and current ownership before you search the deed index.

Recording Documents with Chippewa County

All documents recorded in Chippewa County must meet the state formatting requirements under MCL 565.201. Documents must use 8.5" x 11" white paper of at least 20 lb weight. Ink must be black. The top margin on the first page must be at least 2.5 inches. All other margins must be at least 0.5 inches. Font size must be 10 points or larger. Printed names must appear below every signature. One document may cover only one recordable event.

MCL 565.201a requires the drafter's name and address on every recorded document. Whether you are an attorney, a title company, or a private individual, your name and address must appear. Leaving this off will result in the document being returned without recording.

The standard recording fee is $30. Additional instruments assigned or discharged in the same document cost $3 each. The non-standard document penalty is $25. Copies are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per document. Transfer taxes are paid at recording and total $8.60 per $1,000 of the sale price, split between the county rate of $1.10 and the state rate of $7.50.

Given the complexity of some Chippewa County land titles involving tribal land interests, federal patents, and historical timber claims, it is worth consulting a local title company before preparing documents for recording. Errors in the chain of title are more common with older, complex parcels.

Property Law and Chippewa County Land Records

Michigan's race-notice recording rule under MCL 565.29 means the first party to record, without prior notice of another claim, wins any priority dispute. In Chippewa County, where some parcels have not changed hands in decades, it is especially important to record any new conveyance promptly. An unrecorded deed leaves the buyer exposed to claims from creditors of the seller and from subsequent buyers who record first.

The Marketable Record Title Act at MCL 565.101 is particularly significant in this county. With records going back to 1827, Chippewa County parcels can carry old mineral reservations, timber rights, easements, and other encumbrances from the 19th century. The 40-year rule for land title defects and the 20-year rule for mineral interests help clear many of these old claims from the record. Title companies use this act to write policies on older parcels without requiring a search of every recorded instrument going back to the original patent.

Property assessments run at 50% of true cash value across all Michigan counties. Chippewa County's assessments cover a wide range of property types, from urban parcels in Sault Ste. Marie to remote Upper Peninsula forest land. Proposal A's cap on annual taxable value increases protects current owners from sharp assessment swings, but a sale resets taxable value to the full assessed level.

The Michigan LARA portal handles statewide UCC filings separate from local fixture filings recorded at the Chippewa County Register of Deeds.

For UCC searches tied to Chippewa County real property fixtures, check both the local Register of Deeds and the LARA database.

Chippewa County Taxes and Assessments

Local township and city treasurers handle current property tax billing in Chippewa County. After taxes become delinquent, the county treasurer steps in. The Chippewa County equalization department conducts annual studies to verify that all local assessments meet the 50% true cash value standard required by state law.

The Michigan State Tax Commission oversees assessment practices across all 83 Michigan counties, including Chippewa. It sets the rules local assessors must follow and hears appeals from taxpayers who disagree with the Tax Tribunal's decisions. Appeals start at the local board of review each spring.

Tax status information is separate from the deed index. Always check with the local township or city treasurer to verify that taxes are current before completing a purchase. Recorded tax liens will appear in the Register of Deeds index, but not all delinquent tax situations result in a formally recorded lien.

Additional Resources for Chippewa County Property Records

Several agencies beyond the Register of Deeds hold information relevant to Chippewa County land research. The circuit court records foreclosure cases, civil judgments, and judgment liens. The probate court handles estate proceedings that often result in property transfers. Both court offices maintain separate indexes from the Register of Deeds, and a complete title search should cover all three.

For UCC fixture filings tied to specific Chippewa County parcels, search the Register of Deeds index. Statewide UCC filings not tied to a specific parcel go through Michigan LARA at 517-322-1144. The Michigan Department of Treasury administers state property tax programs including exemptions and the Principal Residence Exemption.

Unclaimed funds tied to former property owners or estates can be found through Michigan Unclaimed Property at 517-636-5320. The Michigan Compiled Laws on Justia provides the full text of the statutes that govern recording and land title in this county and across Michigan.

Cities in Chippewa County

No cities in Chippewa County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Sault Ste. Marie serves as the county seat and is the largest city in the county.

Nearby Counties

Chippewa County borders three other Michigan counties in the Upper Peninsula. Each has its own Register of Deeds with separate property records.