Ingham County Recorder of Deeds: Search Records & Office Guide

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Ingham County, Michigan · deeds, mortgages, liens, land records, copies and recording

Ingham County Recorder of Deeds: Search Records & Find the Office

If you searched for the Ingham County Recorder of Deeds, the office you need is officially called the Ingham County Register of Deeds. It records and preserves deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts and other instruments affecting real property in Ingham County.

Use this guide to search the official deed index, locate an actual document image, research an older record, order a copy, check recording fees, prepare a document for recording and find the Register of Deeds office in Mason.

Open official Records Online Use free Direct Search Office, hours & phone
Owner or former owner name Approximate recording date Property address Parcel number Legal description Instrument or liber/page
INGHAM COUNTY LAND RECORD ROUTE REGISTER OF DEEDS
RECORDED INSTRUMENT
RECORDED
INGHAM
COUNTY
1 · INDEX Find parties, date, document type and instrument reference.
2 · IMAGE Open or purchase the recorded document when needed.
3 · VERIFY Match legal description and related instruments before relying on it.
Important naming difference: Michigan uses the title Register of Deeds. “Recorder of Deeds” is a common search phrase, but when calling the county, visiting the courthouse or following an official link, look for the Ingham County Register of Deeds.
Free search

Direct Search provides an index-only search from 1956 forward, except approximately the latest 7 days.

Document images

The county lists Tapestry images from 1960 through the current effective date.

Recording fee

$30 for a deed or other standard real-property instrument, regardless of page count.

Office hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; vault hours are 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Office

341 S. Jefferson Street, 2nd Floor, Mason, MI 48854 · 517-676-7216.

Start with your actual goal

What are you trying to do with an Ingham County deed record?

Free index Find a deed or mortgage

Start with Direct Search to locate the recorded instrument and capture the document number, parties and recording date.

Follow the deed-search steps
Document image Read the actual recorded document

Use Tapestry after you identify the correct instrument, or request a copy directly from the office.

Compare copy options
Historical record Research an older deed

Records before the practical online image period may require an appointment in the courthouse vault.

Research older records
New recording Record a deed or other instrument

Check formatting, signatures, notarization, transfer-tax information and applicable fees before submitting it.

Review recording requirements
Ownership monitoring Watch for suspicious filings

Use the Property Fraud Alert service linked by the Register of Deeds to monitor recorded-name activity.

Set up an alert
Only have an address? Identify the parcel first

Use the county-linked assessing or GIS tools to identify the owner, parcel ID or legal description, then return to deed records.

Search from a street address

Go directly to your Ingham County deed-record task

Use the sections below in the order that matches what you are trying to accomplish.

Free official index workflow

How to search Ingham County Recorder of Deeds records online

The most efficient starting point for most homeowners, buyers and researchers is the county’s Direct Search. It is free, but it is an index search rather than a free document-image viewer.

Open the county’s Records Online page first Use the official Ingham County Records Online page. This page explains current search coverage, known historical-data limitations and the county’s available search services.
Choose Direct Search for the free index Open Ingham County Direct Search. The county currently describes it as a free index search covering records from 1956 forward, except approximately the most recent seven days.
Search the party name strategically Start with the surname and first name of the person who bought, sold, mortgaged or otherwise held an interest in the property. For trusts and companies, also try the principal entity name without unnecessary punctuation or suffixes.
Use a date range when you know the transaction period A purchase date, refinance year, divorce period, estate transfer or mortgage payoff date can sharply reduce false matches. Search a wider window when you are unsure when the document was actually recorded.
Open every plausible index result and capture the reference Compare the document type, grantor, grantee, recording date and any displayed instrument or liber/page reference. Do not rely on the owner name alone when several people share a similar name.
Move to the document image only after identifying the correct record Use Tapestry when you need the recorded image, or request the copy directly from the Register of Deeds office.
Recent filing warning: Direct Search excludes roughly the most recent seven days. If a deed, mortgage, release or other instrument was recorded very recently, absence from Direct Search does not necessarily mean it was not recorded.
Best practice for names: If you are researching ownership history, search both sides of the transaction. A deed normally identifies a grantor and grantee. Searching former owner names can reveal an earlier deed that a current-owner-only search misses.
Choose the correct search product

Direct Search vs. Tapestry vs. Laredo

Ingham County land-record search options
Option Best for Coverage noted by county Current cost / limitation
Direct Search Occasional users who first need to identify a recorded instrument. Index from 1956 forward, except approximately the latest 7 days. Free, but index-only; it does not provide the full image as a free download.
Tapestry One-time or occasional searches when you need to obtain the document image. Property records from 1956 forward; county lists document images from 1960 forward. $8.95 per search plus $1.00 per page when printing images.
Laredo Title professionals, law firms and frequent land-record researchers. Records from 1956 forward; images from 1960 forward. Subscription service. Contact the Register of Deeds for current subscription information.
Courthouse vault Older documents, difficult historical research and verification of early index records. Older county land records not adequately handled through the modern online search. Vault research is by appointment; copy charges apply when copies are requested.
1956–1981 index caution: Ingham County says indexed data for 1956 through 1981 has been under review because discrepancies were discovered during prior system conversions. The county describes 1982-forward data as having proven accurate. For a consequential older-record search, verify the result with the Register of Deeds rather than relying on a single online hit.
Address-to-deed workflow

Only know the property address? Find the parcel before searching deeds

Recorded-land indexes are organized around documents and parties, so a street address is not always the strongest deed-search identifier. If all you have is an address, first identify the owner, parcel number and legal description through the county’s property tools.

Open the Ingham County-linked property search Go to Ingham County BS&A Online. The service supports property and assessing searches and can be searched by address, name or parcel number.
Locate the correct parcel Match the street address, municipality and parcel number. Record the displayed owner name and legal or tax description when available.
Use GIS when location is uncertain Open the county-linked Ingham County FetchGIS map. It supports parcel, owner-name and street-address searches and can help identify a parcel when a conventional address is incomplete.
Take the owner name back to Direct Search Search the identified owner and prior owners in the Register of Deeds index to locate deeds, mortgages, releases or other recorded instruments.
Verify the legal description in the deed The parcel viewer is a research tool. When the legal identity of the land matters, read the legal description in the recorded document rather than treating a map outline as a surveyed boundary.
Do not confuse property data with title evidence. BS&A and FetchGIS can help you identify a parcel, owner display, assessment information or location, but those systems do not replace the recorded deed or a professional title examination.
Historical land records

How to research older Ingham County deeds and land records

Online convenience decreases as records get older. The county specifically directs researchers to the courthouse vault for older material and warns that the 1956–1981 electronic index contains conversion-related discrepancies.

1956–1981 search

Use the online index as a lead, but verify important results because the county has identified discrepancies in this period.

Before 1960

The county directs users needing older copies to the Register of Deeds office and vault in Mason.

Vault appointment

Call 517-676-7216 before traveling. Vault hours are 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

What to bring or prepare for an older-record search

Full names of current and previous owners.
Approximate years of ownership or transfer.
Township, city or village where the property is located.
Legal description, subdivision or lot number when known.
Liber/page, instrument number or prior deed reference.
Enough time to follow references from one recorded instrument to another.
Chain-of-title technique: Start with the newest deed you can confidently identify. Read the legal description and prior-recording references, then work backward through earlier deeds. This is usually more reliable than searching a century of surnames without a known starting instrument.
Plain and certified copies

How to get a copy of an Ingham County deed

Once you identify the correct recorded instrument, choose the copy method based on whether you only need to read the document or need an official certified copy for another legal or administrative purpose.

Current Ingham County recorded-document copy options
Copy type Current county fee Best route What to prepare
Recorded document copy $1.00 per page Office, mail request, or applicable online image service. Instrument number, liber/page, owner name or property description.
Certified recorded document $5.00 per document + $1.00 per page for the entire document Request through the Register of Deeds using its current certified-copy procedure. Exact document identification and intended mailing/contact information.
Unrecorded / time-stamped copy $0.50 per page Available when the document is presented for recording. Original recording submission.
Tapestry image print $1.00 per image page, in addition to the search charge Tapestry online search. Correct indexed instrument before purchasing pages.

Request a copy by mail

The county instructs mail requesters to include the name and/or property description, or the book/page or document number, together with payment for the requested copies.

Mail copy requests to:
Register of Deeds Copies
P.O. Box 195
Mason, MI 48854
Before mailing payment: If you do not know how many pages the document contains, identify the instrument first and contact the office at 517-676-7216 if you need help confirming the expected copy charge.
Before submitting a deed

How to record a deed with the Ingham County Register of Deeds

Recording is not simply handing the office a signed deed. Michigan law imposes formatting and execution requirements, and the Ingham County Register of Deeds states that it does not prepare or change documents and cannot provide legal assistance.

Review the official recording requirements Open the Ingham County Recording Requirements before signing or mailing the instrument.
Confirm signatures and acknowledgment The county lists original signatures as a requirement. Names should be legibly printed, typed or stamped beneath signatures, and Michigan-executed instruments conveying or encumbering real estate generally require a proper acknowledgment.
Check the grantee and drafter information A deed should include the address of each grantee. Documents executed after January 1, 1964 must also identify the person who drafted the instrument.
Check document format The county lists black ink, white paper of at least 20-pound weight, type no smaller than 10 point, a 2½-inch blank top margin on the first page and at least ½-inch margins elsewhere. Page size must be at least 8½ × 11 inches and no larger than 8½ × 14 inches.
Determine whether a Treasurer tax certificate is required Warranty deeds, covenant deeds, qualifying land contracts and certain related instruments require a tax certificate from the County Treasurer before recording. Review the official fee schedule for the categories listed by the county.
Calculate recording and applicable transfer taxes Standard real-property recording is currently $30 per instrument. A taxable conveyance can also trigger Michigan state and county real estate transfer taxes unless an exemption applies.
Submit the completed instrument Deliver or mail it according to the Register of Deeds’ current instructions, or use an approved eRecording provider when your transaction and document type qualify.
Verify the recording after processing Keep the instrument number or returned recorded document. Later, use the index to verify that the parties and recording information appear as expected.

Practical pre-recording checklist

Original signatures where required.
Signer names match the acknowledgment.
Proper notarial information and commission details.
Grantee mailing or street address shown.
Drafter name and address included when required.
First-page recordable-event statement included.
Correct paper, type size, ink and margins.
No prohibited white-out or corrective tape.
Consideration stated or applicable valuation affidavit attached.
No unnecessary Social Security number digits displayed.
Transfer-tax exemption cited when one is claimed.
Recording fee, tax certificate and transfer tax checked before submission.
Legal-document warning: A deed can affect ownership, creditor rights, estate planning, taxes and title insurance. The Register of Deeds records documents but does not decide whether a deed is legally appropriate for your situation. Use qualified legal help when you are unsure what instrument should be prepared.
Current county charges

Ingham County deed recording fees and transfer taxes

Common Register of Deeds charges currently published by Ingham County
Item Current published amount Important detail
Deed / mortgage / real-property instrument recording $30.00 Flat recording fee regardless of number of pages for standard instruments listed by the county.
Multiple assignment or discharge Additional $3.00 Applies for each additional liber/page or instrument number when more than one instrument is assigned or discharged.
Treasurer tax certificate $5.00 for first 5 parcels + $0.20 each additional parcel Required for the deed and land-contract categories identified on the county fee schedule.
State transfer tax $3.75 per $500 or fraction Applies to taxable conveyances unless a statutory exemption applies.
County transfer tax $0.55 per $500 or fraction Also applies to taxable conveyances unless exempt.
Recorded copy $1.00 per page For copies of recorded documents.
Certified copy $5.00/document + $1.00/page Certification charge plus copying of the entire recorded document.
Transfer-tax example: If a non-exempt conveyance has $200,000 of consideration, $200,000 ÷ $500 = 400 units. At the currently published rates, that would equal $1,500 in state transfer tax and $220 in county transfer tax, for a combined $1,720. This is only an arithmetic example; the legal taxability of a transfer and any exemption must be determined separately.
Check current official fee schedule Review recording requirements
Mason courthouse office

Ingham County Register of Deeds office, address, phone and hours

Office location
Ingham County Register of Deeds
Ingham County Courthouse
341 S. Jefferson Street, 2nd Floor
Mason, MI 48854
Call 517-676-7216
Mailing address
Ingham County Register of Deeds
P.O. Box 195
Mason, MI 48854

For a mailed copy request, identify the name/property description or the book-page/document number and include the appropriate payment.

Regular office hours
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Vault hours
Monday–Friday
8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Appointment required.

Current office leadership

Derrick Quinney

Ingham County Register of Deeds.

517-676-7216
Trisha Gerring

Chief Deputy Register of Deeds.

517-676-7294
Before making a special trip: Check the official Register of Deeds homepage for holiday closures or temporary notices, especially when you need vault access.
Electronic document submission

Can documents be eRecorded in Ingham County?

Yes. Ingham County publishes an official list of electronic-recording vendors. The county currently identifies providers including CSC, eRecording Partners Network, Simplifile and Indecomm.

When eRecording makes sense

It is commonly useful for title companies, law firms, lenders and other submitters who routinely send recordable real-estate instruments.

What eRecording does not change

The document still has to satisfy Michigan recording requirements and any applicable fee, tax-certificate or transfer-tax obligations.

View county-approved eRecording vendors
Occasional filer? If you are recording a single owner-prepared document, compare the complexity and vendor requirements with submitting directly to the Register of Deeds. Call the office when you need to confirm the accepted submission method for your document type.
Ownership-monitoring tool

Use the Ingham County Property Fraud Alert service

The Register of Deeds links residents to a Property Fraud Alert notification service. It is designed to alert registered users when a document matching a monitored name is recorded.

Open the Ingham County alert sign-up Visit Property Fraud Alert for Ingham County.
Register the names you want monitored Consider the exact owner name used on the deed as well as legitimate name variations that may appear in recorded instruments.
Choose the available notification method Follow the current service prompts to provide the contact method used for alerts.
Investigate an unexpected alert promptly If an alert refers to a document you do not recognize, contact the Register of Deeds and obtain the recorded instrument so you can identify what was filed.
An alert does not block a recording. It is a monitoring tool. A notification should trigger investigation of the actual recorded document rather than an assumption that fraud definitely occurred.
High-value verification workflow

How to research the ownership trail instead of stopping at one deed

A single deed can answer a simple question such as “Who conveyed this property to the current owner?” It does not necessarily answer more complicated questions involving liens, easements, releases, probate, trusts, divorce, land contracts, mortgages or competing interests.

1. Start with parcel identity

Confirm the property address, parcel number and legal description so you do not research the wrong land.

2. Find the current deed

Record the grantor, grantee, document number, recording date and legal description.

3. Search related names

Look for earlier deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, liens and other instruments associated with the parties.

4. Follow references

Use liber/page or instrument references inside documents to locate prior or related recorded instruments.

What the Register of Deeds search can and cannot tell you

Use the deed index as evidence, not as a substitute for legal title analysis
Question Register of Deeds can help Additional review may be needed
Who appears in a recorded deed? Yes. The recorded instrument identifies the parties. Verify that the legal description is the property you intended to research.
Is there a recorded mortgage or release? The index can help locate mortgages, assignments and discharges. The legal effect and current enforceability may require additional analysis.
Is this person unquestionably the legal owner? A deed is an important part of the evidence. A full chain-of-title review may be needed before making a legal conclusion.
Where is the exact boundary? The deed may provide a legal description and references. Recorded plats, surveys and professional boundary work may be necessary.
What is the tax assessment or parcel value? Not the primary source. Use Ingham County Equalization, the local assessor or county-linked property systems.
For a home purchase or other high-stakes transaction: A title search performed for a closing typically goes beyond finding one deed. The researcher follows recorded interests and exceptions affecting the property. Use a qualified title or legal professional when the ownership conclusion will be relied upon for a purchase, loan, estate, lawsuit or boundary dispute.
Official resource directory

Ingham County deed and property links in one place

Register of Deeds homepage

Office notices, contacts, recording information and official department navigation.

Open county office page
Records Online

County explanation of Direct Search, Tapestry, Laredo and historical coverage.

Open records guide
Direct Search

Free index-only search for occasional deed and land-record research.

Search the index
Tapestry

Pay-per-search system for occasional users who need recorded-document images.

Open Tapestry
Fee schedule

Recording fees, copy charges, transfer-tax rates and tax-certificate information.

Check fees
Recording requirements

County summary of common statutory requirements for documents submitted for recording.

Review requirements
Assessing property search

Find an owner display, parcel number or assessing record before moving to the deed index.

Open BS&A search
Parcel map

Research parcel location, address and mapping details through the county-linked GIS viewer.

Open FetchGIS
Property Fraud Alert

Monitor recorded-name activity and investigate unexpected filings promptly.

Open alert registration
10 practical answers

Ingham County Recorder of Deeds FAQs

Is the Ingham County Recorder of Deeds the same as the Register of Deeds?

Yes for practical search purposes. “Recorder of Deeds” is a commonly used phrase, but the official Ingham County office is the Register of Deeds. That is the office responsible for recording and retaining real-property instruments.

How can I search Ingham County deed records for free?

Use Direct Search. Ingham County describes it as a free index search covering records from 1956 forward, excluding approximately the most recent seven days. The free service identifies records but does not provide free document images.

Can I see the actual Ingham County deed online?

Yes, when the document is within available image coverage. The county lists Tapestry property records from 1956 forward and images from 1960 through the current effective date. Tapestry is a paid search service, so first locate the correct instrument through Direct Search when possible.

Why can I not find a deed that was recorded this week?

The free Direct Search excludes roughly the latest seven days. If the filing is very recent, allow for that index delay or contact the Register of Deeds at 517-676-7216 when confirmation is time-sensitive.

Can I search the Register of Deeds using only a street address?

Start with Ingham County BS&A Online or the FetchGIS parcel viewer to identify the owner, parcel number and legal description. Then search those names in the Register of Deeds index.

How much does it cost to record a deed in Ingham County?

The county currently publishes a $30 recording fee for deeds, mortgages and other standard instruments pertaining to real property, regardless of the number of pages. A tax certificate, transfer taxes or special instrument-related fees can add to the total.

How much is a certified copy of a deed?

Ingham County currently lists certified recorded-document copies at $5.00 per document plus $1.00 per page for the entire document. Ordinary recorded copies are currently $1.00 per page.

Where is the Ingham County Register of Deeds located?

The office is on the second floor of the Ingham County Courthouse at 341 S. Jefferson Street, Mason, MI 48854. Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Do I need an appointment to search old deeds?

The county requires an appointment for vault research. Vault hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 517-676-7216 to schedule the appointment, particularly when researching documents before the modern online image period.

Does finding a deed online prove that the listed grantee still owns the property?

Not by itself. Another later deed, court order, foreclosure, probate instrument, trust-related document or other recorded interest may affect the ownership history. For a legal ownership conclusion, review the chain of title and obtain professional assistance when the stakes justify it.

Bottom line

Use the free index first, then pay only when you need the document

For most people searching the Ingham County Recorder of Deeds, the quickest path is straightforward: identify the property or owner, use the free Register of Deeds Direct Search to find the correct recorded instrument, and move to Tapestry or the county office only when you actually need the document image or a certified copy.

For older land records, recent filings, complex ownership histories or documents you intend to record, use the county’s published requirements and contact the Register of Deeds when the online index does not answer the question. Keeping the deed search, parcel database and legal title question separate prevents many of the most common property-record mistakes.

Start free deed search Review official search options Call Register of Deeds
Information reviewed October 19, 2026. This guide is designed to help users reach and use the official Ingham County land-record systems. Search fees, portal availability, office schedules and recording procedures can change. For a live transaction, confirm the current requirement on the linked Ingham County page before submitting payment or a legal instrument.

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