Documents Required for Recording
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Signatures must be original and names must be typed, stamped or printed beneath all written signatures in black ink only
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No discrepancies between names printed in notary acknowledgment or signatures or the acknowledgment
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Instruments conveying or any interest in real estate must include the marital status of any male grantors.
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Instruments must contain the addresses of each person in each document that real estate is conveyed, assigned, encumbered, or otherwise disposed of.
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The name and addresses of the person who drafted the document must appear on documents executed in Michigan.
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Documents purporting to convey or encumber real estate executed or cancel a mortgage executed in Michigan must have an acknowledgment by a notary public including expiration date of commission.
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A certified copy of the death certificate or proof of death must be recorded when the instrument of conveyance cites “survivor” in the grantor’s section.
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The type of document must be shown on the first line of print – each document must be indexed separately
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Warranty Deeds and Deeds that contain a Warranty or Covenant clause, Land Contracts and Assignments of Land Contract must be certified for payment of taxes by the treasurer
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The first page must have 2 ½” margin at top of document and ½” margin on all remaining sides of each page. A ½” margin on all sides is required on all other pages. If the first page requirement is not met, you must include a cover page with the title of the document on it and an additional page fee of $3.00 will be charged.
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DEFINITION OF A PAGE: One side of a single sheet of white paper no smaller than 8" x 11" and no larger than 8" x 14" with print no smaller than 10 point type which shall be legible and on paper of 20 pound weight. All print must be in black ink.
Most Counties Recording Fees
$30 Per Document
$3.00 Each Additional Page
$5.00 Tax Certification Fee for Warranty Deeds and Deeds that contain a Warranty or Covenant clause, Land Contracts, and Assignments of Land Contract Payable to the Treasurer
Transfer Tax needs to be paid at the time of recording on all docs that transfer the interest in a property unless an exemption is noted.
Wayne County Recording Fees
$15.00 1st Page
$3.00 Each Additional Page
$5.00 Tax Certification Fee for Warranty Deeds and Deeds that contain a Warranty or Covenant clause, Land Contracts, and Assignments of Land Contract Payable to the Treasurer
Transfer Tax needs to be paid at the time of recording on all docs that transfer the interest in a property unless an exemption is noted.
Transfer Tax
Transfer Tax is calculated by taking the consideration amount (usually the sales price) rounding it up to the nearest $500.00 and multiplying that number by:
State Transfer Tax = $7.50 per $1,000.00 (.0075)
County Transfer Tax = $1.10 per $1,000.00 (.0011)
Example:
If your consideration was $99,501.00 you would round up to $100,000.00
State Transfer Tax: Consideration $100,000.00 x .0075 = $750.00
County Transfer Tax: Consideration $100,000.00 x .0011 = $110.00
List of Exemptions
STATE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 330 of 1993
207.526 Written instruments and transfers of property exempt from tax.
Sec. 6.
The following written instruments and transfers of property are exempt from the tax imposed by this act:
(a) A written instrument in which the value of the consideration for the property is less than $100.00.
(b) A written instrument evidencing a contract or transfer that is not to be performed wholly within this state only to the extent the written instrument includes land lying outside of this state.
(c) A written instrument that this state is prohibited from taxing under the United States constitution or federal statutes.
(d) A written instrument given as security or an assignment or discharge of the security interest.
(e) A written instrument evidencing a lease, including an oil and gas lease, or a transfer of a leasehold interest.
(f) A written instrument evidencing an interest that is assessable as personal property.
(g) A written instrument evidencing the transfer of a right and interest for underground gas storage purposes.
(h) Any of the following written instruments:
(i) A written instrument in which the grantor is the United States, this state, a political subdivision or municipality of this state, or an officer of the United States or of this state, or a political subdivision or municipality of this state, acting in his or her official capacity.
(ii) A written instrument given in foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure of a loan made, guaranteed, or insured by the United States, this state, a political subdivision or municipality of this state, or an officer of the United States or of this state, or a political subdivision or municipality of this state, acting in his or her official capacity.
(iii) A written instrument given to the United States, this state, or 1 of their officers acting in an official capacity as grantee, pursuant to the terms or guarantee or insurance of a loan guaranteed or insured by the grantee.
(i) A conveyance from a husband or wife or husband and wife creating or disjoining a tenancy by the entireties in the grantors or the grantor and his or her spouse.
(j) A conveyance from an individual to that individual's child, stepchild, or adopted child.
(k) A conveyance from an individual to that individual's grandchild, step-grandchild, or adopted grandchild.
(l) A judgment or order of a court of record making or ordering a transfer, unless a specific monetary consideration is specified or ordered by the court for the transfer.
(m) A written instrument used to straighten boundary lines if no monetary consideration is given.
(n) A written instrument to confirm title already vested in a grantee, including a quitclaim deed to correct a flaw in title.
(o) A land contract in which the legal title does not pass to the grantee until the total consideration specified in the contract has been paid.
(p) A conveyance that meets 1 of the following:
(i) A transfer between any corporation and its stockholders or creditors, between any limited liability company and its members or creditors, between any partnership and its partners or creditors, or between a trust and its beneficiaries or creditors when the transfer is to effectuate a dissolution of the corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or trust and it is necessary to transfer the title of real property from the entity to the stockholders, members, partners, beneficiaries, or creditors.
(ii) A transfer between any limited liability company and its members if the ownership interests in the limited liability company are held by the same persons and in the same proportion as in the limited liability company prior to the transfer.
(iii) A transfer between any partnership and its partners if the ownership interests in the partnership are held by the same persons and in the same proportion as in the partnership prior to the transfer.
(iv) A transfer of a controlling interest in an entity with an interest in real property if the transfer of the real property would qualify for exemption if the transfer had been accomplished by deed to the real property between the persons that were parties to the transfer of the controlling interest.
(v) A transfer in connection with the reorganization of an entity and the beneficial ownership is not changed.
(q) A written instrument evidencing the transfer of mineral rights and interests.
(r) A written instrument creating a joint tenancy between 2 or more persons if at least 1 of the persons already owns the property.
(s) A transfer made pursuant to a bona fide sales agreement made before the date the tax is imposed under sections 3 and 4, if the sales agreement cannot be withdrawn or altered, or contains a fixed price not subject to change or modification.
(t) A written instrument evidencing a contract or transfer of property to a person sufficiently related to the transferor to be considered a single employer with the transferor under section 414(b) or (c) of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 414.
(u) A written instrument conveying an interest in property for which an exemption is claimed under section 7cc of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7cc, if the state equalized valuation of that property is equal to or lesser than the state equalized valuation on the date of purchase or on the date of acquisition by the seller or transferor for that same interest in property. If after an exemption is claimed under this subsection, the sale or transfer of property is found by the treasurer to be at a value other than the true cash value, then a penalty equal to 20% of the tax shall be assessed in addition to the tax due under this act to the seller or transferor.
(v) A written instrument transferring an interest in property pursuant to a foreclosure of a mortgage including a written instrument given in lieu of foreclosure of a mortgage. This exemption does not apply to a subsequent transfer of the foreclosed property by the entity that foreclosed on the mortgage.
(w) A written instrument conveying an interest from a religious society in property exempt from the collection of taxes under section 7s of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7s, to a religious society if that property continues to be exempt from the collection of taxes under section 7s of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7s.
County Transfer Tax
Exemption to Real Estate Transfer Tax
MCL 207.505
Sec. 5.The following instruments and transfers shall be exempt from this act:
(a) Instruments where the value of the consideration is less than $100.00
(b) Instruments evidencing contracts or transfers, which are not to be performed wholly within this state insofar as such instruments include, land lying outside of this state.
(c) Written instruments which this state is prohibited from taxing under the constitution or statutes of the United States.
(d) Instruments or writings given as security or any assignment or discharge thereof.
(e) Instruments evidencing leases, including oil and gas leases, or transfers of such leasehold interests.
(f) Instruments evidencing any interest which are assessable as personal property.
(g) Instruments evidencing the transfer of rights and interests for underground gas storage purposes.
(h) Instruments –
(i) in which the grantor is the United States, the state, any political subdivision or municipality thereof, or officer thereof acting in his official capacity;
(ii) given in foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure of a loan made, guaranteed or insured by the United States, the state any political subdivision or municipality thereof or officer thereof acting in his official capacity;
(iii) given to the United States, the state, or one of their officers as grantee, pursuant to the terms or guarantee or insurance of a loan guaranteed or insured by the grantee.
(i) Conveyances from a husband or wife or husband and wife creating or disjoining a tenancy by the entireties in the grantors or the grantor and his or her spouse.
(j) Judgments or orders of the courts of record making or ordering transfers, except where a specific monetary consideration is specified or ordered by the court therefore.
(k) Instruments used to straighten boundary lines where no monetary consideration is given.
(l) Instruments to confirm titles already vested in grantees, such as Quit Claim deeds to correct flaws in titles
(m) Land contracts whereby the legal title does not pass to the grantee until the total consideration specified in the contract has been paid.
(n) Instruments evidencing the transfer of mineral rights and interests.
(o) Instruments creating a joint tenancy between two or more persons where at least one of the persons already owned the property.
Websites with Additional Recording Information
Macomb County
http://www.macombcountymi.gov/clerksoffice/RegisterOfDeedsIndex.htm
Oakland County
http://www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/
Wayne County