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Register of Deeds

Recording a deed in Ingham County, Michigan

Everything you need to get a deed on file in Ingham County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.

Reviewed July 28, 2026
Create a deed for Ingham County
Recording office
Register of Deeds
Witnesses
Notary only
Transfer tax
State $3.75 per $500
First-page margin
2.5″ top
Recording fee
~$30 first page
E-recording
Generally available

Recording a deed in Ingham County

Deeds affecting property in Ingham County, Michigan are recorded with the Register of Deeds. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.

What to bring

  • The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
  • A completed notarial acknowledgment, with the date, county, and commission expiry all filled in.
  • Property Transfer Affidavit (Form L-4260), filed with the assessor within 45 days, which Michigan requires alongside the deed.
  • Payment for the recording fee, about $30 for the first page. Many offices do not take personal checks.

Formatting the office will check

  • 8.5 × 11 inch paper, printed on one side.
  • A 2.5-inch blank margin at the top of page one for the recording stamp.
  • 0.5-inch margins on the other edges and on later pages.
  • Type no smaller than 10 point, in black ink that will scan cleanly.
  • A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
  • A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.

How to file

  1. In personTake the original to the Register of Deeds in Mason. This is the fastest route. You usually walk out with the recording information the same day.
  2. By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
  3. E-recordingSubmit through a service such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Usually same-day, with a small submitter fee on top of the recording fee. You keep the paper original.

Confirm the address before you post anything

Offices move and hours change. Search for "Ingham County Michigan Register of Deeds" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.

Create a deed for Ingham County

Formatted to Michigan requirements, with Ingham County filing instructions included.

Common questions

With the Register of Deeds, located in Mason. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.

Around $30 for the first page. Michigan also charges real estate transfer tax at State $3.75 per $500 ($7.50 per $1,000), plus county $0.55 per $500, though family transfers and gifts are often exempt. Confirm current fees with the office. They are set locally and change.

Usually yes, through an e-recording service such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. You submit a scan, the office records it electronically, and you keep the paper original. It is normally same-day.

Keep reading

Deedly is not a law firm

We provide self-help software and state-specific statutory forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.