Van Buren County Property Records
Van Buren County property records are filed with the Register of Deeds in Paw Paw, the county seat in southwestern Michigan between Kalamazoo and the Lake Michigan shoreline. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments affecting real property in the county. Van Buren County offers online copy ordering, a Fraud Notify alert service, and a clear fee schedule. You can access records in person during office hours, order copies online, or submit a written request by mail.
Van Buren County Property Records Overview
Register of Deeds Office
The Van Buren County Register of Deeds in Paw Paw is the official office for all real property documents in the county. It maintains the grantor-grantee index under MCL 565.28 and records all instruments affecting land ownership. More information is available at the county's Register of Deeds page at vanburencountymi.gov.
| Address | 212 E. Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (269) 657-8089 |
| Fax | (269) 657-8080 |
| Recording Fee | $30 flat per document |
| Additional Instruments | $3 each assigned/discharged |
| Tax Certification | $5 |
| Copy Fee | $1 per page |
| Certified Copy | $5 per document |
| Payment | Cash or check only (payable to Register of Deeds) |
Searching and Ordering Records
Van Buren County offers online copy ordering for property records, which is convenient if you cannot visit the Paw Paw office in person. Keep in mind that online orders may take up to two working days to process. Payment at the office is accepted in cash or by check made payable to the Register of Deeds. Credit cards are not accepted for in-person payments.
For in-person searching, bring the full legal name of the grantor or grantee and the approximate year of the transaction. Staff can help you search the grantor-grantee index and retrieve document copies. For mail requests, include all relevant details and a check for the fees.
Fraud Notify Service
Van Buren County's Register of Deeds offers a Fraud Notify service. This free alert system monitors the county's property records and sends notifications when a document is recorded in your name. It's a useful tool for property owners who want to catch fraudulent deed transfers or unauthorized recordings early.
Property deed fraud, while relatively uncommon, has become a concern in counties across Michigan. Signing up for Fraud Notify gives Van Buren County property owners an added layer of protection without any cost. Contact the Register of Deeds office in Paw Paw to learn how to enroll.
The Michigan State Tax Commission provides oversight of property assessments statewide, ensuring that Van Buren County properties are valued consistently with state guidelines.
The Michigan State Tax Commission sets assessment standards and guidelines that affect how Van Buren County parcels are valued for property tax purposes each year.
Document Recording Requirements
Van Buren County follows the recording requirements of MCL 565.201. Names must be printed beneath all signatures, and there must be no discrepancies in how names appear throughout the document. Proper margins are required: 2.5 inches at the top of the first page, 0.5 inches on all other margins. Text must be black ink, minimum 10-point font, on white paper.
Only one recordable event per document. The drafter's name and address must appear per MCL 565.201a. The property tax identification number must be on the first page. Original signatures are always required. Documents that do not meet these rules may be rejected or subject to a non-standard recording penalty.
Michigan Property Recording Law
Michigan's race-notice statute at MCL 565.29 means the first buyer to record without prior notice of a competing claim wins a title dispute. Buyers in Van Buren County should record their deeds promptly after closing.
The Marketable Record Title Act, MCL 565.101, allows a 40-year chain of title to clear older defects. This benefits buyers in Van Buren County by simplifying the title search process for properties with long ownership histories.
Transfer Taxes and Property Assessment
Van Buren County collects a county real estate transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of the sale price when property changes hands. The state adds $7.50 per $1,000. Both are collected at closing. Some exempt transfers, such as those between family members, do not require transfer tax payment.
Property is assessed at 50% of true cash value in Michigan. Under Proposal A, taxable value can increase no more than the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is less, each year. When property sells, taxable value resets to state equalized value. The county equalization office and local assessors handle parcel-level questions in Van Buren County.
The Michigan Department of Treasury administers the Principal Residence Exemption and other statewide property tax programs available to Van Buren County property owners.
Cities in Van Buren County
Van Buren County has no incorporated cities above the qualifying population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Paw Paw is the county seat. Other communities include South Haven, Bangor, and Lawrence. Property records for all communities in Van Buren County are filed at the Register of Deeds in Paw Paw.
Nearby Counties
Van Buren County borders four Michigan counties. Each has its own Register of Deeds handling local property records.