Search Ingham County Property Records

Ingham County property records are maintained by the Register of Deeds office in Mason. The office handles all instruments affecting real estate in the county, including deeds, mortgages, land contracts, easements, liens, and plats for Lansing, East Lansing, Mason, and every township in the county. Three online search options are available to the public, ranging from a free index search to pay-per-image and subscription services. You can search the index going back to 1956 from any device, or visit the Mason office in person to access older records and vault documents.

Ingham County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds office is at 341 S. Jefferson St., 2nd Floor, Mason, MI 48854. The main number is (517) 676-7216. The chief deputy can be reached at (517) 676-7294. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The document vault is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and vault access for pre-1960 documents requires an appointment. Mail copy requests to: Register of Deeds Copies, P.O. Box 195, Mason, MI 48854.

The office maintains the grantor-grantee index required by MCL 565.28. Ingham County is home to Lansing, the state capital, and East Lansing, home of Michigan State University, so the county has a large and active real estate market with significant recording volume.

Online Search Options for Ingham County Records

Ingham County provides three ways to search property records online. The first is a free direct index search covering records from 1956 forward. This option shows index data only and does not include document images. It is useful for confirming that a recording exists or for finding book and page numbers. No account or payment is required.

The second option is Tapestry, a pay-per-search service at $8.75 per search session. Images are available for documents recorded since 1960 at $1 per page. Tapestry is a good choice for occasional searches where you need to view the actual document. The third option is Laredo, a subscription service used primarily by title companies and attorneys who search Ingham County records regularly. Laredo provides access to the same records as Tapestry at $1 per image page plus a monthly fee. All three platforms are accessible through the Register of Deeds website at rd.ingham.org.

For documents recorded before 1960, digital images are not available online. You need to schedule a vault appointment to view those original instruments in person.

The Register of Deeds Portal

The screenshot below shows the Ingham County Register of Deeds website, which links to all three online search platforms.

Visit the Ingham County Register of Deeds to access the free index search, Tapestry, or Laredo, and to find contact information and recording guidelines.

The site also explains the recording process, lists document formatting requirements, and provides information on copy requests and fees.

Recording Fees and Document Requirements

Michigan's flat recording fee is $30 per document under MCL 600.2567, in effect since October 1, 2016. Documents that assign or discharge additional instruments are charged $3 per extra reference beyond the first. Transfer taxes apply to all arm's-length sales: $1.10 per $1,000 for the county transfer tax and $7.50 per $1,000 for the state transfer tax, both paid at the time of recording.

All documents must meet Michigan's formatting standards under MCL 565.201: a 2.5-inch clear top margin on the first page, 0.5-inch margins on all other sides, white paper, black ink, and minimum 10-point font. Documents that do not conform may be rejected or assessed a non-conforming document fee. Given the volume of recordings in Ingham County, the staff are accustomed to checking documents carefully at intake.

Property Assessment in Ingham County

Property in Ingham County is assessed at 50% of true cash value each year, producing the state equalized value (SEV). The taxable value can increase by no more than 5% or the rate of inflation per year under Proposal A. When ownership transfers, the taxable value uncaps and resets to equal the SEV for the following year. In an active market like Lansing and its suburbs, new buyers often see significant tax increases because prior owners had benefited from years of capped taxable value.

Local assessors handle valuation for each city and township within Ingham County. The Delhi Township assessor can be reached at 517-694-1502. The City of Lansing assessor is at 517-483-4020. The City of Mason assessor is at 517-676-9155. For county-level equalization questions, contact the equalization office at 517-676-7212. Assessment records are public and can be reviewed at the local assessor's office for any parcel.

Online Records Search Portal

The screenshot below shows the Ingham County online records access page, which provides direct links to the search platforms and instructions for each.

The Ingham County online records page explains the differences between the free index, Tapestry, and Laredo, and gives guidance on which to use based on your research needs.

If you are unsure which search platform to use, start with the free index to confirm a recording exists, then use Tapestry for a one-time image purchase if you need the actual document.

Race-Notice Recording and Marketable Title

Michigan's race-notice rule under MCL 565.29 applies throughout Ingham County. The party who records first without notice of a prior competing interest prevails. Given the high volume of transactions in this county, delays in recording can create exposure to competing claims. Title companies and lenders routinely record instruments on the same day as closing or the next business day.

The Marketable Record Title Act (MCL 565.101) provides a 40-year search standard that is sufficient to establish marketable title in most cases. Title examiners in Ingham County apply this standard regularly given the large number of properties that have changed hands multiple times in the county's active real estate market.

Cities in Ingham County

Lansing is the county seat and the largest city in Ingham County. As Michigan's state capital, Lansing has a large volume of recorded property instruments reflecting its active residential and commercial real estate market.

Nearby Counties

Ingham County is in mid-Michigan and shares borders with five neighboring counties, each with its own Register of Deeds.