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The Register of Deeds is the office responsible for recording and maintaining records in Alpena County.
Recording Fees
Regardless of the number of pages, all documents will cost $30.00 to record, this cost is inclusive of the Michigan Remonumentation and Register of Deeds Automation fees.
For a document that assigns or discharges more than 1 instrument $3.00 for each instrument assigned or discharged (in addition to the $30.00 flat fee).
A tax certificate must be obtained from the County Treasurer's Office prior to recording a warranty deed, land contract, assignment of land contract with warranty clause, or a master deed of condominium. The tax certificate fee is $5.
Any deed or easement that has a consideration will have state and county transfer tax due at the time of recording.
Transfer tax is determined by the consideration listed in the deed, unless exemptions are stated. State transfer tax is not due on deeds executed prior to January 1, 1995 or if the deed is given upon the payoff of a land contract that was executed prior to the same date. Either the liber/page and date of the land contract must be stated on the deed or the exemptions must be stated. Transfer tax affidavits are not entered into the public record.
For the Alpena County transfer tax rate, contact the Register of Deeds.
Document Formatting Requirements
* Documents submitted to the Register of Deeds must be legible.
* Use white paper of at least 20lb weight and 8.5 x 11 inches in size.
* Typing must be in black ink with a font size of at least 10 point.
* Provide a clear 2.5 inch margin at the top of the first page and at least 1/2
an inch on all remaining sides of each page.
* On the first line of print on the first page, provide a single statement that identifies the recordable event that the instrument evidences.
* Signatures must be original with corresponding names typed or printed underneath.
* Names printed in the notary acknowledgment and beneath signatures should match.
* Instruments conveying or mortgaging property should state the marital status of all male grantors/mortgagors.
* The address of each grantee in a deed of conveyance or assignment of real estate shall contain the street number address or post office address.
* The name and address of the person who drafted the document must appear on documents executed in Michigan.
* Documents purporting to convey or encumber real estate executed in Michigan require an acknowledgment by a judge, clerk of a court of record, or a notary public within the state. A common error is to incorrectly fill in the venue and the notary acknowledgment. The venue, which usually appears above the notary acknowledgment statement, is the county and state where the document was executed.
The county and state in the venue must be filled in and must coincide with the county and state in which the notary commission is acting.
* A certified copy of the death certificate or proof of death must be recorded or have been recorded and referenced by liber and page on said document when "survivor" is indicated.
* Court orders must be certified and sealed by the clerk of court.
* A legal description is required. This can be contained in the document or included as an attachment. A tax parcel ID or a street address is not an adequate legal description. The full legal description must be included when applicable. "Tax" legal descriptions are not accepted. This is the legal description on the tax bill or the one from the township/city/village. The only legal descriptions accepted are those from a previous deed or survey. Tax legal descriptions are incomplete and incorrect. They are for the assessor's use only.
A tax certificate must be obtained from the County Treasurer before a warranty deed, any deed with a covenant of warranty, a land contract, or an assignment of land contract with a warranty clause can be recorded.
Unrecorded instruments: Whenever any grantor, who has heretofore conveyed or shall hereafter convey, any real estate within this state, shall have or hold in his possession any unrecorded deed or deeds through or under which he derived title of any lands by him so conveyed, it shall be his duty on the written request of his grantee or any subsequent grantee, to cause such deed or deeds to be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the proper county, or cause the same to be delivered to such grantee demanding the same for the purpose of recording, within 20 days from the time when such written request shall have been served upon him.