St. Joseph County Property Records
St. Joseph County property records are filed with the Register of Deeds in Centreville, the county seat in southwestern Michigan near the Indiana border. The office maintains all real property instruments for the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats. Criminal court records in St. Joseph County date back to 1833, and property records extend nearly as far. Online access to property records is available, and the county clerk offers a Copy and File Review Request process for court-related documents. In-person and mail access are both available at the Centreville courthouse.
St. Joseph County Property Records Overview
Register of Deeds Office
The St. Joseph County Register of Deeds is the official keeper of real property records for the county. The office maintains the grantor-grantee index per MCL 565.28. Two divisions serve different functions: the General Division handles most administrative and recording matters, while the Court Division manages court-related document requests.
| Address | 125 W. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 189, Centreville, MI 49032 |
| Phone (General) | (269) 467-5602 |
| Phone (Court) | (269) 467-5531 |
| Fax | (269) 467-5605 |
| Recording Fee | $30 flat per document |
| Copy Fee | $1 per page |
| Certified Copy | $5 per document |
Searching Property Records
St. Joseph County property records are available online through the county's public records search portal. This lets you look up deeds, mortgages, and other instruments by party name or parcel identifier without visiting the courthouse. For court records, the Copy and File Review Request form is the proper way to request specific documents from the Court Division.
For in-person research, visit the General Division at 125 W. Main St. in Centreville. Staff can assist with name searches and help you locate the documents you need. For mail requests, use the P.O. Box mailing address, include a clear description of what you are looking for, party names, and approximate dates, along with the appropriate fees.
Third-party tools like means that a 40-year chain of recorded title is generally sufficient to establish marketable title. Even with records going back to the 1830s, you typically only need to trace title back about 40 years for most real estate transactions in St. Joseph County.
Joseph County properties.
Michigan Property Checker aggregates publicly available data including ownership and parcel details that can help you begin research on St. Joseph County property records.
Document Recording Requirements
All documents submitted to the St. Joseph County Register of Deeds must follow the formatting rules in MCL 565.201. The first page must have a 2.5-inch top margin. All other margins must be at least 0.5 inches. Text must be in black ink, at least 10-point font, on white paper. Only one recordable event is allowed per document.
The drafter's name and address must appear on the document under MCL 565.201a. Names of all parties must be typed or printed clearly beneath their signatures. The property tax identification number must be on the first page. Original signatures are always required. Documents that fall short of these standards may be rejected or accepted at a non-standard penalty rate.
Recording Priority in Michigan
As a race-notice state under MCL 565.29, Michigan gives priority to the party who records first and had no prior knowledge of a competing claim. Buyers in St. Joseph County should record their deeds right away after closing to establish their priority in the public record.
Transfer Taxes and Assessments
When real property sells in St. Joseph County, two transfer taxes apply. The county charges $1.10 per $1,000 of the sale price. The state adds $7.50 per $1,000. Both are collected at closing. Some transfers are exempt by statute.
Property in Michigan is assessed at 50% of true cash value. The Proposal A cap limits annual taxable value increases to the lesser of inflation or 5%. When property changes hands, taxable value resets to state equalized value, which can raise taxes for the new owner. The county equalization office and township assessors handle local assessment questions for St. Joseph County.
The Michigan Department of Treasury provides guidance on exemptions, appeals, and the Principal Residence Exemption program that may benefit St. Joseph County homeowners.
Cities in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County has no incorporated cities above the qualifying population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Centreville is the county seat. Sturgis and Three Rivers are among the larger communities. Property records for all areas in St. Joseph County are filed with the Register of Deeds in Centreville.
Nearby Counties
St. Joseph County borders three other Michigan counties to the north and east. Each has its own Register of Deeds office.