Wayne County MI Recorder: Deeds & Records

Official office

Wayne County Register of Deeds

Register of Deeds

Bernard J. Youngblood

Office address

400 Monroe Street, 7th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226

Telephone

313-224-5850

Email

rodhelp@waynecountymi.gov

Office hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:15 PM

In-person access

Appointment required

Standard recording fee

$30 total for most documents, including the applicable $4 remonumentation fee

Wayne County operates an official online land-record search system for deeds, mortgages and other recorded property documents.

You can perform a limited name search for free. More detailed search options and document images require paid access.

1. Open the official Wayne County records portal.

   Use the county’s public records search website.

   Open Wayne County Land Records Search

   After opening: choose Quick Search for limited public searching, or register to access additional search and document options.

2. Search by grantor or grantee.

   A grantor is generally the person transferring an interest in property.

   A grantee is generally the person receiving that interest.

3. Try the property’s owner name.

   If you recently purchased a home, try your name as grantee.

   For earlier transfers, search the previous owners or a relevant trust or business name.

4. Review recording details.

   Check the document type, recording date, party names and available legal description.

5. Use detailed search when necessary.

   A paid session provides expanded search options, including address, legal description, tax ID and liber/page references.

6. Save the document reference.

   Keep the recording date and document identification details for future research or copy requests.

Free Search vs. Paid Search

How far back do online Wayne County deed records go?

Wayne County maintains historical land records dating back to the early 1700s.

Its current search information describes online access to historical documents, but the county’s pages give different starting dates for different online search services.

One official page references records from January 1, 1960, while another describes online document access after 1986.

If an older document is missing, contact the Recorder rather than assuming the document was never recorded.

The Register of Deeds records documents that affect ownership, financing or other interests in real property.

Does a recorded deed prove the property has clear title?

No. A recorded deed proves that a document was accepted into the county’s public records.

It does not guarantee that the property has no liens, mortgages, easements or competing ownership claims.

A complete title examination may be necessary before purchasing, financing or transferring property.

Recording a deed in Wayne County requires more than delivering a signed document.

Depending on the transaction, you may also need Wayne County Treasurer tax certification and payment of state and county real estate transfer taxes.

1. Prepare the correct deed.

   Use a qualified attorney or title company if you are unsure whether the transaction requires a warranty deed, quitclaim deed or another instrument.

2. Verify the legal description and parcel ID.

   Include a complete legal description, property tax identification number and common property address.

3. Check signatures and notarization.

   Original signatures and an appropriate notarial acknowledgment are generally required for documents conveying or encumbering Michigan real estate.

4. Check Treasurer tax certification.

   Unless exempt, warranty deeds, certain other deeds, land contracts and plats may require tax certification before recording.

   Open Treasurer Tax Certification Instructions
5. Calculate recording fees and transfer taxes.

   The standard 2026 recording charge is $26, plus the applicable $4 state survey and remonumentation fee.

   Real estate transfer tax may be payable separately unless a valid exemption applies.

6. Schedule an appointment.

   Choose Document Recording from the county’s appointment system.

   Alternatively, the county accepts mailed documents that meet its recording and payment requirements.

7. Submit the document and payment.

   Bring or mail the properly prepared original with the required supporting documents and payment.

8. Keep the recording reference.

   Record the instrument information and confirm that the deed appears in the county’s land-record system.

Wayne County deed recording requirements

After opening: check the sections for document formatting, taxes, payments and common rejection reasons before scheduling your appointment.

Many Wayne County deed transfers require certification from the County Treasurer before the Register of Deeds can record them.

This is a separate service, with a separate payment and appointment process.

Wayne County Treasurer location

Office: Wayne County Treasurer

Address: 400 Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: 313-224-5990

Email: taxinfo@waynecountymi.gov

Deed certification fee: $5 per document for up to 25 parcel identification numbers.

Additional parcels may be charged at 20 cents each after the first 25.

Mailing documents for certification

The Treasurer states that original documents can be mailed with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Copies cannot be certified through this process.

After certification, the document must be submitted separately to the Register of Deeds for recording.

After opening: locate “How to obtain tax certification for property deeds?” Review the mailing address, payment instructions and appointment link.

Wayne County introduced a new recording fee schedule effective January 1, 2026.

The basic charge for most deeds, mortgages and other common recordable instruments is now a flat amount, regardless of page count.

Michigan real estate transfer tax

Wayne County’s recording guidance lists the following rates for taxable property transfers.

Example: $200,000 taxable real estate transfer

This example assumes the full $200,000 is subject to both transfer taxes.

It does not include recording charges or Treasurer certification fees.

When could transfer tax be exempt?

Michigan law provides exemptions for certain transfers. They must be supported by the actual transaction and cited appropriately.

A deed’s stated consideration and any claimed statutory exemptions should be reviewed before submission.

After opening: review “Recording Fees, Transfer Tax and Payment Options,” then open the 2026 fee notice for document-specific charges.

Wayne County provides document copies through its online records website, in-person office services and mail requests.

The correct option depends on whether you need an ordinary document image or an officially certified copy.

How to request a deed copy by mail

1. Identify the recorded document.

   Write down the property address, names, recording date or available liber/page reference.

2. Open the Search by Mail form.

   Download the request form from the county’s Search Services and Copy Requests page.

3. Include applicable payment.

   Wayne County lists a $15 search-by-mail charge per address.

   Copies and certifications have additional charges.

4. Mail the request.

   Wayne County Register of Deeds
   400 Monroe Street, 7th Floor
   Detroit, MI 48226

After opening: scroll to “Search-by-Mail,” download the form and follow the payment instructions. Confirm fees if you need certification.

Wayne County offers a limited free property-record search and copy benefit for qualifying veterans and current military personnel.

The benefit applies to the individual’s own property records, subject to identity and address verification.

Schedule an appointment and ask the Register of Deeds what identification is currently accepted for this benefit.

Wayne County offers online property-record alerts and operates a Mortgage & Deed Fraud Unit.

These services can help property owners identify unfamiliar recorded documents and report suspected fraud.

How to register for property alerts

1. Open the official land-record portal.

   Visit the county’s public search website.

   Open Wayne County Property Alerts
2. Register an account.

   Enter your name, email address and password.

3. Verify your email.

   Open the verification email and follow the confirmation link.

4. Select Property Alert.

   Once signed in, choose the Property Alert option.

5. Add monitoring criteria.

   You can monitor names, addresses or other supported property-record information.

6. Review unexpected alerts.

   If a new recording matches your criteria, examine the alert and compare it with known property activity.

Report suspected deed fraud

Wayne County’s Mortgage & Deed Fraud Unit is a partnership involving the Register of Deeds, Prosecutor and Sheriff’s Office.

The unit investigates certain fraudulent transfers and mortgages.

What the Fraud Unit does not handle

The county says the unit is not a general property-owner lookup service.

It does not handle ordinary property tax matters, landlord-tenant disagreements, probate questions or general legal advice.

The Wayne County Register of Deeds serves properties located throughout Wayne County.

The office is in Detroit, but its records are not limited to Detroit city properties.

Be careful with Detroit-area mailing addresses

A mailing address does not always establish the property’s recording county.

Some nearby communities and ZIP-code areas cross different county boundaries.

Confirm the actual property’s county and parcel location before choosing a land-record search system.

Detroit tax foreclosure records

Wayne County Treasurer handles delinquent property tax foreclosure administration.

A foreclosure-related deed can appear in recorded land records, but tax foreclosure status should be verified with the Treasurer.

Do not assume that a recorded deed alone confirms the full tax balance or foreclosure status.