Macomb County Property Records Search

Macomb County property records are managed by the Register of Deeds in Mount Clemens, with a record set that dates to 1818. The office offers several ways to search, including free name-based index access, paid document viewing, monthly subscription plans, and free public terminals at the courthouse. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and related instruments are all indexed and available to the public. You can search Macomb County property records online, in person, by mail, or through a UCC search request.

Macomb County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds is at 120 N. Main St. in Mount Clemens. Call (586) 469-7953 or email registerofdeeds@macombgov.org. The fax is (586) 469-5130. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. This office is the official recorder of all real property instruments in Macomb County and maintains the grantor-grantee index required by MCL 565.28. Records here date to 1818.

Macomb County is a densely populated metro Detroit county covering Sterling Heights, Warren, and dozens of other communities. The volume of recorded instruments is high. The Register of Deeds has invested in robust online access tools to handle the demand from title companies, lenders, attorneys, and individual researchers. The office website provides a detailed breakdown of search options, fees, and forms.

Search Options for Macomb County Records

The Macomb County Register of Deeds search options page outlines four main ways to access records. Each has its own cost structure and is suited for different types of users.

Free basic name search lets anyone look up the index at no cost. You can search by grantor or grantee name, see the index results, and identify what documents were recorded. Viewing or downloading the actual document images costs $6 per document. This option works well for occasional users who need a small number of specific records and don't want to pay for a subscription.

Subscription access is available at three tiers. A 24-hour subscription costs $25 and includes document downloads at $1 each. A one-week subscription is $75, with documents at $0.75 each. A monthly subscription runs $250, with document downloads at $0.50 each. Title companies, lenders, and law firms that run many searches each month will find the subscription tiers more economical than per-document pricing.

Public terminals at the Register of Deeds office are free to use during business hours. You can search the index, view document images, and print at standard copy costs. No subscription is needed. This is the best option for someone who needs to do a thorough search but does not want to pay for online access.

Mail searches are also available. The fee is $5 per search plus $1 per page. Include a completed search request form with the name, document type, approximate recording date, legal description, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The office will mail copies back to you.

The Macomb County Register of Deeds website provides complete information on all search methods, forms, and fee schedules.

The office website also links to forms for document submission, fraud alert enrollment, and UCC filings, making it a useful first stop for anyone working with Macomb County property records.

Fraud Notify Alert Service

Macomb County offers a free Fraud Notify alert service. When you enroll, the system sends you an email each time a document is recorded in the county using your name. This is a free service with no ongoing fees.

Property fraud is a real concern. Deed fraud, where someone records a fake deed to claim ownership of a property they don't own, can go undetected for months or years if the true owner isn't monitoring the record. The Fraud Notify system helps property owners catch unauthorized recordings early, when the situation is much easier to correct. Enrollment is recommended for anyone who owns Macomb County real estate.

This service does not prevent fraud from occurring. What it does is alert you quickly so you can investigate and take action. If you receive a Fraud Notify alert for a document you did not authorize, contact the Register of Deeds and consult an attorney right away.

UCC Filings and Tax Lien Searches

The Macomb County Register of Deeds handles UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings and lien searches. A UCC search by name costs $12 and covers UCC filings, state tax liens, and federal tax liens indexed at the county level. This type of search is often needed during real estate transactions and business due diligence.

The Macomb County Register of Deeds provides the UCC search request form on its website. You can submit requests by mail or in person. Results show all UCC filings, state tax liens, and federal tax liens indexed under the searched name. For comprehensive lien searches on a specific property or individual, the county search should be combined with a search at the state level through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), which handles certain UCC filings at the state level as well.

Recording Requirements and Transfer Taxes

All instruments presented for recording in Macomb County must comply with MCL 565.201. The first page needs a 2.5-inch top margin. All other margins need at least a half inch. Documents must cover a single recordable event. Print must be clear and dark enough for imaging.

The flat recording fee under MCL 600.2567 is $30 per document. Each additional assigned or discharged instrument within the document adds $3. These fees apply uniformly across Michigan.

Transfer taxes apply to conveyances for value. The county transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000. The state transfer tax is $7.50 per $1,000. The required transfer tax affidavit must accompany every deed at the time of recording. Certain transfers are exempt, including those between family members, court-ordered conveyances, and several other categories defined by statute.

Michigan is a race-notice recording state under MCL 565.29. A buyer who records promptly and takes without notice of prior unrecorded claims will generally prevail in a priority dispute. Prompt recording protects your interest and puts the world on notice of the conveyance.

Macomb County Property Search Resources

The Macomb County government website is the main starting point for all county services, including the Register of Deeds, equalization, and tax information.

The county site links to the property search system, the Register of Deeds, and other departments relevant to real estate research. Bookmark it if you are doing ongoing work with Macomb County records.

The Register of Deeds search options page is the key page for anyone planning to search records online or by mail.

This page lays out the exact fees for each search method and links to forms needed for mail requests. Check here first to pick the search option that best fits your needs.

The Michigan Department of Treasury handles property tax administration and oversees the State Tax Commission.

Cities in Macomb County

Macomb County includes several cities with populations above the threshold for individual city pages. These communities are all served by the same Register of Deeds in Mount Clemens for property record filings.

Nearby Counties

Macomb County shares borders with several southeast Michigan counties, each with its own Register of Deeds and property records system.