Lapeer County Property Records Search
Lapeer County property records are maintained by the Register of Deeds at 255 Clay Street in Lapeer, where deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, and plat maps for all properties in the county are filed and indexed. The county also offers online property tax access through BS&A Online integrated with lapeercountymi.gov, making it easier to research tax and assessment data alongside traditional deed and mortgage records. Whether you need a current ownership search or a full chain of title, the Lapeer County Register of Deeds is where Michigan's official land records for the county are kept.
Lapeer County Property Records Overview
Lapeer County Register of Deeds
The Lapeer County Register of Deeds is at 255 Clay Street, Lapeer, MI 48446. The phone is (810) 667-0201, and the fax is (810) 667-0209. Lapeer is the county seat, located in Michigan's Thumb region east of the Flint metropolitan area. The Register of Deeds records every instrument affecting real property title in Lapeer County and maintains a public index for research and retrieval.
Lapeer County sits in eastern Michigan, bordered by Macomb, Oakland, Genesee, Sanilac, and St. Clair counties. It is a growing county with a mix of agricultural land, small-town communities, and residential development spreading outward from the metro Detroit region. The county generates a healthy volume of property recording activity each year, with a mix of residential, agricultural, and commercial instruments.
| Address | 255 Clay St., Lapeer, MI 48446 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (810) 667-0201 |
| Fax | (810) 667-0209 |
| Website | lapeercountymi.gov |
| County Seat | Lapeer |
Online Property Tax and Records Access
Lapeer County uses BS&A Online software for property tax and assessment records, accessible through the county's official website. BS&A is widely used across Michigan and provides parcel-level information including assessed values, taxable values, current and past tax bills, and basic ownership information. This is a good first stop for property research in Lapeer County, letting you confirm parcel details before moving on to a full deed search at the Register of Deeds.
The county website integrates tax records and county department information in one place, making it easier to navigate from online tax data to Register of Deeds information. For deed research, mortgage records, and instruments going back through the chain of title, the Register of Deeds office at 255 Clay Street remains the authoritative source.
The grantor-grantee index maintained under MCL 565.28 is the backbone of the deed search system. You can search by grantor or grantee name to find all instruments recorded against a particular party or property. In-person searches at the Lapeer courthouse are available during office hours, and mail requests are accepted for copy orders.
Property Document Types in Lapeer County
The Lapeer County Register of Deeds holds all standard Michigan property documents: warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages and mortgage discharges, land contracts, easements, and subdivision plat maps. Agricultural deeds and farm mortgage documents are common given the county's rural character. Mechanics liens, tax liens, and judgment liens are also recorded here and will appear in title searches on affected properties.
Land contracts appear frequently in Lapeer County records, particularly for rural and agricultural transactions where seller financing is common. A recorded land contract memorandum puts the buyer's interest on public notice, which is important for priority purposes under Michigan's recording laws. When the contract is paid off and a deed is delivered, that deed should also be promptly recorded.
Subdivision plats for Lapeer County's growing residential developments are also filed with the Register of Deeds. These documents establish the legal boundaries for lots in platted subdivisions and must be reviewed as part of any title search on a lot within a recorded plat.
Recording Standards and Michigan Law
All documents recorded in Lapeer County must meet the requirements of MCL 565.201. The first page of any document must have a 2.5-inch blank top margin for the recording stamp. All other margins must be at least 0.5 inch. Paper must be white, ink must be black, type size must be at least 10 points, and each document may cover only a single recordable event. Documents not meeting these requirements will be rejected at the counter.
Michigan is a race-notice recording state under MCL 565.29. The party who records first, without prior notice of a competing claim, generally prevails in any priority dispute. This rule applies fully in Lapeer County. Buyers and lenders should record their deed and mortgage promptly after closing to protect their interests from subsequent liens or competing claims.
Recording Fees and Transfer Taxes
The flat recording fee in Lapeer County is $30 per document under MCL 600.2567. If one document discharges or assigns multiple instruments, add $3 per additional instrument beyond the first. Real estate transfer taxes are due when a deed reflecting a sale is recorded: the state rate is $7.50 per $1,000 of sale price, and the Lapeer County rate is $1.10 per $1,000. These taxes are usually paid by the seller at closing.
Copy fees are $1 per page for standard copies and $5 per document for certified copies. Mail requests should include payment with the request. For in-person copies, bring cash or a check payable to the Lapeer County Register of Deeds.
Property in Lapeer County is assessed at 50% of true cash value. Proposal A limits annual taxable value increases to the lesser of inflation or 5%. When a property is sold, the taxable value uncaps to the state equalized value the following year. Given that Lapeer County property values have risen as the area has attracted suburban buyers from the metro Detroit area, new owners should plan for a potential tax increase after purchase.
Title Searches and Marketable Title
Title research in Lapeer County goes back at least 40 years under Michigan's Marketable Record Title Act (MCL 565.101). A 40-year chain is generally sufficient to establish marketable title, clearing older defects from the record. For agricultural properties with complex ownership histories or older subdivision plats, extending the search further back is often wise.
Title insurance is standard for Lapeer County residential and commercial transactions. Title companies regularly serve the county and use the Register of Deeds grantor-grantee index as the foundation for their title commitments. Buyers financing through a lender will be required to provide lender's title insurance; owner's coverage is also recommended for comprehensive protection.
Additional Property Resources
The Michigan Department of Treasury provides statewide guidance on property assessment, the Principal Residence Exemption, and tax appeal procedures that apply to Lapeer County property owners. The Treasury website includes information on how taxable values are calculated and what happens when a property transfers or is improved.
Cities in Lapeer County
Lapeer is the county seat and largest city in the county. No cities in Lapeer County meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page. The city of Lapeer and other communities in the county are all served by the Register of Deeds at 255 Clay Street in Lapeer.
Nearby Counties
Lapeer County is bordered by five Michigan counties in the eastern lower peninsula and Thumb region. Cross-county research may be needed for properties near borders.