Wayne County, Michigan • Detroit-area land records guide
Wayne County Recorder of Deeds Search: Find Deeds, Mortgages, Liens and Land Records
If you searched for the Wayne County Recorder of Deeds,
the official Michigan office name you need is the
Wayne County Register of Deeds.
The Register records and preserves deeds, mortgages, land contracts,
liens and other instruments affecting real property throughout Wayne
County—including Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, Canton Township,
Taylor, Romulus, the Grosse Pointe communities and the county’s other
cities and townships.
Fastest route for most searchers:
identify the parcel and municipality first → use the free Wayne County
Land Records name search if owner/buyer/seller names are known → use the
paid On-Demand search only when you need address, legal description,
parcel/tax ID, Liber/Page or full document images → request certification
only if the organization receiving the document actually requires it.
Official office name
Wayne County Register of Deeds
Current Register
Bernard J. Youngblood
Office
400 Monroe Street, 7th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Land-record history
Wayne County indexes land transactions dating to 1703
2026 fee change:
do not use older Wayne County articles that still say $15 for the first
page plus $3 for additional pages. A new fee schedule became effective
January 1, 2026. The standard recording charge for a deed,
mortgage or other ordinary instrument is now generally
$26 per document plus the $4 state survey/remonumentation fee
where applicable—for a typical total of $30, regardless of page count.
Independent informational website:
County-CAD.us is not affiliated with Wayne County, the Register of Deeds,
Wayne County Treasurer, a local assessor, City of Detroit or the State
of Michigan. Searches, recordings, tax certifications, official copies,
fraud complaints and filings are completed through the government
resources linked below.
Choose the problem you need to solve
What Are You Trying to Do?
Practical Wayne County deed-search route
Property → Parcel → Name Search → Document → Verify → Copy
1
Identify property
Address + municipality.
2
Get parcel
Treasurer or local assessor.
3
Free search
Grantor / grantee.
4
Paid search if needed
Address, parcel, legal, Liber/Page.
5
Verify document
Property, parties and date.
6
Copy / certify
Buy only what you need.
The moving indicator above uses CSS transforms only. It adds no image,
JavaScript library or external page-weight dependency.
Official task directory
Which Website Should You Open?
TAX
Wayne County Treasurer Property Search
Useful countywide address-to-parcel starting point and delinquent-tax search.
Open Official Property Search
Michigan terminology
Recorder of Deeds vs Register of Deeds
“Recorder of Deeds” is a common search phrase, but Michigan formally uses
the title Register of Deeds.
The office is Wayne County’s official recording office for legal instruments
involving transfers and encumbrances of land and property.
If you search for
Official Wayne County term
Where to go
Recorder of Deeds
Register of Deeds
Wayne County Register of Deeds.
Deed lookup
Land Records / Search Services
WayneCountyLandRecords.com.
Property owner / assessed value
Local assessor
City or township assessment office.
Delinquent property tax
County Treasurer
Wayne County Treasurer Property Tax system.
Scenario 1: you only know the address
How to Find the Parcel Before Searching Deeds
Wayne County is different from counties with one centralized, real-time
county assessor database. Michigan assessment rolls and current parcel maps
are maintained by the individual cities and townships.
For a quick countywide starting point, the Wayne County Treasurer’s property
search accepts a property address and can help identify the parcel ID.
For the freshest assessment information, use the property’s local city
or township assessor.
Open the official Wayne County property search above.
Select Property Address.
Enter at least the first three letters of the street name.
The county’s search specifically allows partial street-name searches.
Add the street number when known.
If uncertain, you can search more broadly.
Municipality is optional.
Leave it blank when you are uncertain whether the postal city and
taxing municipality are the same.
Open the matching property.
Compare municipality, address and owner information.
Save the parcel ID exactly as shown.
Now collect the owner name and any prior owner information.
Move to Wayne County Land Records.
Use the free grantor/grantee search first when names are known.
Search wider when an address fails:
the official tax system recommends leaving off words such as
“Street” or “Avenue” for a broader street search.
Need Current Assessed Value? Use the Local Assessor, Not the Register of Deeds
Wayne County Assessment & Equalization states that current assessment
data and tax parcel maps are maintained by the local communities.
Countywide equalization data is compiled periodically and is not intended
to replace current city/township assessment records.
Other municipalities
Use Wayne County Assessment & Equalization’s local-office directory.
A&E
Wayne County Assessment & Equalization
Local assessor directory and county assessment information.
Find Assessment Resources
Start free before purchasing search time
How to Use Wayne County’s Free Deed Index Search
Wayne County’s free public land-record search is useful when you already
know a party name.
Free-search limitation:
the free public search is name-only—grantor or grantee.
It returns a list of indexed documents but does not allow you to view
or print the full document image.
Open WayneCountyLandRecords.com.
The county’s current search can route into its land-record search platform.
Look for Quick Search / public search.
Search the grantor or grantee name.
A grantor generally conveys the interest; a grantee generally receives it.
Try the seller first for a deed into a recent buyer.
Then search the buyer/grantee to cross-check.
Try reasonable name variations.
Trusts, estates, LLCs, married names, initials and business names can
be indexed differently.
Review document type and recording date.
Write down promising document references.
Upgrade to On-Demand only if you need full images or additional search fields.
Expanded online land-record access
Wayne County On-Demand Search: When Paying Makes Sense
Wayne County’s On-Demand account expands the available search fields beyond
the free name-only index.
$6
15 minutes
County-listed On-Demand search access, plus applicable fees.
$24
60 minutes
Longer search session.
$2/page
Online document copies
Current listed copy charge.
The expanded system can be used to search by information including:
- property address;
- legal description;
- parcel or tax identification number;
- Liber and Page;
- grantor/grantee information; and
- other indexed recording information provided by the portal.
First run the free name search when possible.
Collect likely document dates and types before starting paid time.
This prevents spending a paid session figuring out what you need.
Select Register / New Registered User when an On-Demand account is needed.
Use the most precise search field available.
Parcel/tax ID, Liber/Page or a well-formed legal-description clue can
be more efficient than a common surname.
Open the likely document image.
Verify it before purchasing pages.
Purchase only the pages you actually need.
Online vs historical records
How Far Back Do Wayne County Deed Records Go?
Wayne County has an unusually deep land-record history.
Record range
Availability
Best route
1960 to present
Detailed county Search Services page says online land-record searching and printing is available from January 1, 1960
Wayne County Land Records.
Pre-1960
Not part of the standard online range described by Search Services
Office search, Search-by-Mail or historical index resources.
Historical index
County history states land-transaction indexing reaches back to 1703
Tract Index, Liber indexes and historical research.
Why you may see “1986” elsewhere:
the Register’s homepage promotes searching/copying documents recorded after
1986, while the more detailed current Search Services page states that the
online land-record search covers documents back to January 1, 1960.
For a difficult 1960-1985 record, use the detailed search service first
and escalate to the office if the document cannot be retrieved.
Older deed research
How to Research Pre-1960 Wayne County Land Records
Older Detroit and Wayne County property research often requires more than
a modern street address. Names, subdivisions, parcel identifiers and legal
descriptions can change over decades.
IDX
Wayne County Historical Index Books
Index and Liber book access through the county’s historical-record platform.
Open Historical Index Books
The historical site currently includes index-book categories such as:
- acreage;
- cemeteries;
- condominiums;
- farms;
- municipalities;
- private claims;
- probate and chancery;
- railroads;
- tract indexes;
- deed Liber books;
- plat Liber books.
Start with every owner name you already know.
Save the modern legal description and parcel ID.
Search backward through known deeds.
Each deed can provide the prior grantor and historical legal-description clues.
Preserve Liber and Page references.
Use historical index books when modern search fields stop working.
Escalate to office or Search-by-Mail if you cannot locate the instrument.
Finding the correct deed
How to Verify a Wayne County Deed Before Relying on It
Confirm the municipality.
Wayne County contains many separate cities and townships.
Confirm the parcel/tax identification number.
Search the likely seller as grantor.
Search the buyer as grantee.
Identify the correct deed type and date.
Open the actual recorded document.
Do not stop with a search-result row.
Compare the legal description.
Compare the property tax ID and commonly known address when shown.
Save the Liber/Page or other recording reference.
Search later related recordings.
A later deed, mortgage, discharge, lien, court document or other instrument
can affect your interpretation.
A deed search is not a complete title examination.
For a purchase, probate dispute, foreclosure, lien-priority question,
ownership conflict or title-insurance decision, use a Michigan attorney
or title professional.
Understand the document
Wayne County Deed Result Decoder
Grantor
Generally the seller or party conveying the recorded interest.
Grantee
Generally the buyer or party receiving the interest.
Liber and Page
Traditional Wayne County recording reference used to retrieve documents.
Property Tax ID
Parcel identifier connecting the instrument to tax/assessment records.
Legal Description
Formal land description; more reliable than relying only on a postal address.
Recording Date
Date the instrument became part of the Register’s recorded database.
Document Type
Deed, mortgage, land contract, discharge, lien, assignment or another instrument.
Return To
Mailing destination for the recorded original; this can be an attorney,
title company, lender or other transaction participant rather than the buyer.
What Does the Wayne County Register of Deeds Record?
Deeds
Instruments transferring or affecting ownership interests.
Mortgages
Real-estate financing instruments.
Mortgage discharges
Releases recorded after qualifying mortgage payoff.
Land contracts
Recorded contractual interests involving real property.
Assignments
Transfers of interests in previously recorded instruments.
Liens
Certain claims against real property.
Financing statements
Recordable financing instruments associated with real-estate interests.
Plats
Subdivision and related land records.
Condominium master deeds
Reviewed through Wayne County’s Plat Engineering process.
Mortgage payoff question
Paid Off Your Mortgage? Search for the Discharge
Wayne County states that when a mortgage is paid in full, the lending
institution is required to send a Discharge of Lien
to the Register of Deeds for recording.
Find the original mortgage in Wayne County Land Records.
Save the lender, borrowers, Liber/Page and recording date.
Search later records involving the lender and borrowers.
Look for the Discharge of Lien / mortgage discharge.
Compare the discharge to the original mortgage reference.
If no discharge appears, contact the lender or mortgage servicer.
You do not normally receive a new ownership deed merely because
the mortgage was paid off.
The deed and mortgage are separate recorded instruments.
The Register records liens—it does not create every lien
How to Research Wayne County Liens
The Register’s own FAQ makes an important distinction: the office does not
place liens against property. It records liens submitted by people,
companies and government entities so they become part of the permanent record.
Search the property owner and parcel in Land Records.
Identify the lien document and lienholder.
Save the recording reference and date.
Search for a later release, discharge or satisfaction.
If it is a delinquent property-tax issue, check the Wayne County Treasurer.
If it arises from litigation or a judgment, identify the responsible court record.
Use a title professional when you need lien priority or legal validity determined.
Three ways to obtain records
Online vs Office vs Search-by-Mail
Method
Current cost / access
Best use
Free online search
Free name-only index
Confirm possible grantor/grantee records before purchasing access.
On-Demand online
$6 / 15 minutes or $24 / 60 minutes, plus applicable fees
Address, parcel, legal description, Liber/Page and full document review.
Office search
$5 property search
Staff-assisted or kiosk research; fee can be waived for qualifying personal-residence search.
Search-by-Mail
$15 per address
Remote research and certified-document requests.
Wayne County Deed Copy and Certification Fees
$2/page
Document copy
Standard published copy fee.
$10
Certification
Additional certification charge per document.
$15
Search-by-Mail
Per-address search charge before copy costs.
2026 fee-notice detail:
the new Register fee PDF continues to list document copies at $2 per page,
but notes that the copy charge is
temporarily waived for most orders.
Because this is explicitly described as temporary, verify the live charge
before assuming your request will be free.
Certified copies are not available through the ordinary online
land-record website.
Wayne County says certification must be obtained through the office or
Search-by-Mail.
Find the exact document first.
Save the parties, date, Liber/Page and document type.
Ask the receiving organization whether certification is required.
If an ordinary online copy is sufficient, purchase/print the needed pages.
If certification is required, use office or Search-by-Mail service.
Official PDF request form reviewed
What Information Goes on Wayne County’s Search-by-Mail Form?
The Register’s official Document Request Form asks for enough information
to identify both the requester and the property/document being researched.
Requester information
Name, phone, mailing address and email address.
Street address
Property address being searched.
Legal address
Include it when known.
Property tax ID
Strong identification clue when available.
Document type
Options include deed, mortgage, assignment, lis pendens, judgment or other.
Certification choice
Indicate whether you need the raised-seal certified document.
The official form currently states a $15 address-search charge,
$2-per-page copy charge and an additional $10 for a certified document.
Major Wayne County change effective January 1, 2026
Wayne County Register of Deeds 2026 Fee Schedule
$26
Standard instrument fee
Ordinary deed, mortgage and other unspecified instrument.
+$4
State survey/remonumentation
Added where applicable.
$30
Typical standard total
When the $4 state fee applies.
The key 2026 change:
the ordinary fee is now document-based rather than the old
$15-first-page / $3-each-additional-page schedule.
For an ordinary qualifying deed or mortgage, the county’s new notice says
the $26 base fee applies regardless of the number of pages.
PDF
2026 Full Fee Notice
Official two-page Wayne County Register of Deeds fee PDF.
Open 2026 Fee PDF
Other 2026 Wayne County Register Fees Worth Knowing
Service
Published fee
When it matters
Plat copy
$5 per plat page
Subdivision/plat research.
Microfiche viewing
$1 per fiche examined
Historical record research.
Tract index counter search
$12
Property-history research by tract.
Tract index mail search
$15
Remote historical research.
Grantor/grantee search
$5
Office-assisted party-name research.
Historical document search
$50 per address
Deeper historical investigation.
UCC search
$6 per name
Applicable UCC record research.
State/federal tax lien search
$3 per name
Specific tax-lien research.
Construction lien
$26 regardless of pages
Claim-of-lien recording.
Deed recording may include more than the $30 recording fee
Wayne County Michigan Real Estate Transfer Tax
Transfer tax generally must be paid when a document transfers an interest
in real property unless a valid statutory exemption applies and is properly
stated on the instrument.
$0.55
County transfer tax
Per $500 of consideration.
$3.75
State transfer tax
Per $500 of consideration.
$8.60
Combined rate
Equivalent rate per $1,000 stated by Wayne County.
Simple planning example:
$200,000 consideration × $8.60 per $1,000 =
approximately $1,720 in combined state and county transfer tax,
before considering any applicable exemption or transaction-specific issue.
Do not guess an exemption.
Wayne County lists failure to state the consideration amount or correctly
cite applicable county/state transfer-tax exemptions among common reasons
a deed can be rejected.
Critical Wayne County pre-recording step
Does Your Deed Need Wayne County Treasurer Tax Certification?
Wayne County requires certain instruments to be tax-certified before the
Register of Deeds can record them.
The Register specifically identifies instruments including:
- warranty deeds;
- deeds containing a Covenant of Warranty;
- land contracts; and
- assignments of land contracts.
The Register homepage also warns customers that deeds, land contracts and
plats generally require tax certification unless an applicable exemption exists.
$5
Deed certification
Per document containing up to 25 parcel identification numbers.
+$0.20
Each parcel over 25
Added to the $5 certification charge.
Use the original document.
The Treasurer states that copies cannot be tax-certified.
Complete the Treasurer certification process.
The Treasurer is at 400 Monroe Street, 5th Floor.
If mailing, include the correct payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Wait for the original to be returned when using mail.
Then send or take the certified document to the Register of Deeds.
The Register is on the 7th Floor.
Do not combine the appointments:
Wayne County explicitly says the Treasurer certification appointment and
the Register of Deeds recording appointment are separate.
Recording a new instrument
How to Record a Deed in Wayne County
Make sure you have the legally correct instrument.
The Register does not supply blank deeds or provide legal advice.
Confirm the correct property tax ID and legal description.
Determine whether Treasurer tax certification is required.
Calculate state and county transfer tax.
If exempt, use the correct statutory exemption language rather than
simply writing “exempt.”
Confirm the new 2026 recording fee.
The ordinary current fee is generally $26 plus the $4 state survey/remonumentation
fee where applicable.
Check every signature.
Original signatures are required and names should be printed, stamped
or typed beneath written signatures.
Check the notarial acknowledgment.
Michigan-executed instruments conveying or encumbering real estate
generally require acknowledgment.
Check document formatting.
Use white paper, black ink and at least 10-point type.
Check margins.
The first page requires a 2.5-inch top margin and at least 0.5-inch
margins on the other sides.
Add the document title on the first line of print.
Include the drafter’s name and address.
This applies to documents executed in Michigan.
Include a complete Return To name and address.
Schedule a Register of Deeds appointment.
In-person service is currently appointment-only.
Bring the correct payment for recording and transfer tax.
Do not use this guide to choose or draft your deed.
Adding a spouse, removing an owner, transferring into a trust, handling
an estate or choosing survivorship language can change legal rights and
tax consequences. The Register itself recommends an attorney or real-estate professional.
Avoid a returned document
Wayne County Recording Checklist
Original signatures
Copies of signatures are not recordable.
Printed names
Print, type or stamp names/titles beneath written signatures.
Notary
Signature, county and commission-expiration information must be complete.
Paper size
8.5 × 11 or 8.5 × 14 inches.
First-page top margin
2.5 inches.
Other margins
At least 0.5 inch.
Text
Black ink on white paper, minimum 10-point type.
Document title
Identify the instrument on the first line of print.
Property identification
Include tax ID and commonly known property address.
Legal description
Complete property description—not merely the mailing address.
Return To
Complete name and address.
Social Security number
The first five digits must be obscured/removed as required.
Certified death certificate:
Wayne County states that a death certificate submitted for recording must
be a certified copy with the raised seal; an ordinary photocopy is not recordable.
How Can You Pay Wayne County Recording Charges?
The Register currently lists accepted counter payment methods including:
- credit/debit cards with matching identification;
- money orders;
- cashier’s checks;
- certified checks;
- corporation checks; and
- law-firm checks.
Counter limitation:
the Register states that American Express and Discover are not accepted,
and personal checks are not accepted at the counter.
Mail differs:
personal checks can be accepted in mail transactions, while credit/debit
cards are not accepted for mailed recording transactions.
Use a separate check for each recording.
Wayne County warns that if several documents are submitted with a single
check and one document is non-recordable, the entire group can be returned.
Important after-closing Michigan requirement
Property Transfer Affidavit: The Deed Is Not the Only Filing
Michigan’s Property Transfer Affidavit, Form 2766 (L-4260)
is separate from recording the deed.
State guidance requires the buyer to file the Property Transfer Affidavit
with the local assessor within
45 days of the transfer.
Identify the property’s municipality.
Detroit and the other Wayne County cities/townships have separate local assessors.
Open the Michigan Property Transfer forms page.
Select Form 2766 — Property Transfer Affidavit.
Complete the transferred-property and ownership information.
File it with the local city or township assessor.
Do not send it to the Register of Deeds merely because the deed was recorded there.
Keep proof of timely filing.
Easy-to-miss distinction:
recording your deed with Wayne County and filing Form 2766 with the local
assessor are two separate tasks.
Electronic filing caution
Can You eRecord a Wayne County Deed?
During this August 2026 review, Wayne County’s current public
Document Recording page expressly describes
in-person and mail submission.
The current public Register pages reviewed for this guide do not provide
a clear current consumer-facing eRecording instruction page or approved-vendor list.
Therefore, do not pay an electronic-recording vendor solely because
it claims it can submit a Wayne County deed.
For a current professional eRecording route, contact the Register’s
recording staff at
313-224-5851
before transmitting the document or paying a third-party service.
Current in-person rule
Wayne County Register of Deeds Is Appointment-Only
The county’s current Register homepage states that
appointments have been required since October 1, 2025
for in-person service.
First appointment
8:00 a.m.
Last appointment
3:50 p.m.
Open the official Register homepage.
Select Schedule Appointment.
Choose the correct service.
Current choices include record, search or kiosk.
Choose the correct appointment length.
The county reserves 45-minute slots for high-volume customers recording
5 to 25 documents.
For up to five documents, use the ordinary 20-minute recording appointment.
Do not bring additional people unnecessarily.
The current policy says one person per appointment may enter.
Do not simply walk into 400 Monroe expecting same-day service.
The current official page says customers are serviced by appointment and
cannot wait on the floor for an opening.
Searching at the Greektown Office
The Register’s office has self-service kiosks in its lobby for land-record
research.
$5
Property search
Standard office-search fee.
8-3
Kiosk hours
Current search-services page says kiosks are available 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Personal residence:
Wayne County says the $5 search fee is waived when you provide proof that
you are searching your own personal residence, such as qualifying identification.
Veterans/current military:
qualifying veterans and current military personnel can receive a search
of their own real-estate property and copies at no charge when the required
credentials and matching address documentation are presented.
Commercial enterprises are excluded from this benefit.
Wayne County has a dedicated deed-fraud unit
Suspicious Deed? Use Property Alert and the Mortgage & Deed Fraud Unit
Wayne County has a specialized Mortgage & Deed Fraud Unit focused on
fraudulent transfers and fraudulent mortgaging of real property.
Deed Fraud Hotline
313-224-5869
Hotline accepts calls 24/7; voicemails are returned.
Property Alert
The current Wayne County land-record portal includes a Property Alert
option for monitoring recorded activity.
Search the suspicious document independently.
Save its parties, recording date, Liber/Page and property information.
Compare it with the legitimate ownership chain.
Call the Deed Fraud Hotline when you suspect a fraudulent transfer or mortgage.
Use the official complaint form when directed.
Seek legal assistance quickly when ownership or foreclosure rights are at risk.
The Mortgage & Deed Fraud Unit specifically says it does not handle
ordinary ownership lookups, landlord-tenant disputes, squatters, probate/estate
questions, civil proceedings, property-tax issues or requests for legal advice.
Estate / survivorship caution
What If an Owner or Spouse Has Died?
Wayne County’s Register FAQ states that in an applicable survivorship
situation, a certified death certificate and a new deed showing the
survivor’s ownership can be recorded.
However, how title passes depends on how the property was owned and the
surrounding estate facts.
Do not assume every deceased-owner situation is solved by removing
a name from a deed.
Joint ownership, tenancy language, probate, trusts, heirs and estate
administration can produce different legal outcomes. Use a Michigan
attorney/title professional when the ownership result is uncertain.
Wayne County buyer due diligence
Buying a Detroit or Wayne County Property? Check More Than the Deed
Correct municipality
Postal city and assessing municipality can differ.
Correct parcel ID
Pay attention to Detroit vs non-Detroit formatting.
Current local assessment
Use the city/township assessor.
Newest recorded deed
Read the actual deed, not only a search-result row.
Mortgages and discharges
Verify whether prior financing was released.
Recorded liens
Follow lien releases and responsible agencies.
Delinquent taxes / foreclosure
Use the Wayne County Treasurer.
Property Transfer Affidavit
Buyer generally has a separate Form 2766 filing obligation with the local assessor.
Survey / boundaries
Parcel maps are not substitutes for a professional boundary survey.
Title review
Use a qualified title company or attorney when legal ownership must be established.
Wayne County / Detroit-specific shortcuts
Local Tips That Can Save Time and Money
Use the free name search before starting paid time.
Gather candidate document dates and types first, then buy On-Demand access
only if you need full images or expanded fields.
Detroit parcel formatting is different.
Keep the applicable dash or period in a Detroit parcel ID; remove
spaces/dashes for other Wayne County communities.
Do not assume Detroit rules apply to Livonia, Dearborn, Canton or Westland.
Current assessment data is maintained by each local city or township.
Search both sides of the transaction.
Seller as grantor + buyer as grantee can reduce false matches.
Save Liber and Page.
Wayne County has centuries of land records, so durable recording references
matter more than remembering only a street address.
Use the 2026 $30 standard recording total when the $4 state fee applies.
Ignore older $15 + $3/page articles.
Tax certification happens on the 5th Floor; recording on the 7th.
They are separate tasks and can require separate appointments.
Form 2766 goes to the local assessor.
Do not send the Property Transfer Affidavit to the Register simply because
the deed was recorded there.
Certified copies cannot be purchased from the ordinary online search.
Use the office or Search-by-Mail.
Bring proof when searching your own residence in person.
The county can waive the $5 office search fee for qualifying personal-residence searches.
Kiosk hours are shorter than general business hours.
The current Search Services page lists kiosk use from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Do not travel without an appointment.
Current 2026 Register guidance says in-person service is appointment-only.
Do not confuse a property alert with a fraud finding.
Verify the actual document before filing a criminal complaint.
For pre-1960 research, work backward.
Owner names and Liber/Page references are usually more durable than
modern street-address assumptions.
Which Wayne County Office Handles Your Property Question?
Your task
Correct office
What to do
Deed / mortgage / lien
Register of Deeds
Search Wayne County Land Records.
Current assessed or taxable value
Local city/township assessor
Use the property’s municipality.
Delinquent property tax / foreclosure
Wayne County Treasurer
Search the county property-tax system.
Tax-certify a deed
Wayne County Treasurer
Certify original document before applicable recording.
Property Transfer Affidavit
Local assessor
File Michigan Form 2766 within applicable statutory timing.
Suspected deed fraud
Mortgage & Deed Fraud Unit
Verify document, then use hotline/complaint process.
Have These Details Ready Before Calling
- property municipality;
- street address;
- parcel/tax identification number;
- current owner;
- previous owner / seller when known;
- grantor and grantee names;
- approximate recording or sale date;
- document type;
- Liber and Page when known;
- whether you need a search, ordinary copy, certified copy or recording guidance.
County-CAD.us Research and Corrections
Sources & Methodology
See how county, state, forms, fee notices and official public-record
systems are prioritized.
Read Sources & Methodology
Report an Outdated Link
Tell the editorial team if Wayne County changes a search portal,
appointment rule, fee, form or office contact.
Contact County-CAD.us
Independent Site Disclaimer
County-CAD.us explains government systems but does not operate them.
Read Disclaimer
Primary official source ledger
Government Sources Used for This Wayne County Guide
Wayne County Register of Deeds
Used for current Register, 2026 appointment requirement, standard
recording fee notice, office contact and land-record history.
Open Register of Deeds
Search Services & Copy Requests
Used for 1960+ online coverage, free name search, On-Demand access,
office search, Search-by-Mail, copy and certification rules.
Open Search Services
2026 Register Fee Notice PDF
Used for the new $26 standard document fee, $4 state remonumentation
charge and specialized search/copy/lien fees.
Open 2026 Fee Notice
Document Recording
Used for transfer tax, payment methods, recording standards,
mortgage discharge and common rejection reasons.
Open Recording Rules
Wayne County Treasurer Property Search
Used for address search, Detroit/non-Detroit parcel-ID formatting
and county tax-account routing.
Open Treasurer Property Search
Wayne County Treasurer Property Tax Information
Used for deed tax-certification procedure, $5 certification fee and
separate Treasurer/Register appointment workflow.
Open Treasurer Instructions
Assessment & Equalization
Used to verify that current assessment data and parcel maps are handled
by local cities/townships rather than one real-time county assessor system.
Open Assessment & Equalization
Mortgage & Deed Fraud Unit
Used for fraud-unit scope, hotline and complaint-routing information.
Open Fraud Unit
Register of Deeds History
Used for tract-index history, 1703 record coverage and historical
land-record context.
Open Office History
Editorial verification: August 14, 2026.
This update specifically accounts for Wayne County’s January 1, 2026
recording-fee change and the current appointment-only service rule.
Fees, appointment requirements, portal behavior, officeholders,
tax-certification procedures and Michigan forms can change; verify the
final transaction through the responsible government office.
Wayne County Deed Search Checklist
- Use the official term Wayne County Register of Deeds.
- Confirm the property’s city or township.
- Find the parcel/tax ID before doing a complex deed search.
- Use the free grantor/grantee search first.
- Purchase On-Demand time only when expanded search or document images are needed.
- Verify the deed’s legal description and parcel connection.
- Save the Liber/Page or other recording reference.
- Search mortgage discharges after a loan payoff.
- Use the Treasurer for delinquent tax/foreclosure questions.
- Use the current 2026 $26 + applicable $4 standard recording structure.
- Complete Treasurer tax certification before recording when required.
- File Michigan Property Transfer Affidavit Form 2766 with the local assessor.
- Schedule an appointment before visiting the Register.
- Use the Fraud Unit when a verified document appears fraudulent.
10 Wayne County deed questions
Wayne County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
1. Is it called the Wayne County Recorder of Deeds or Register of Deeds?
The official Michigan office name is the Wayne County Register of Deeds.
“Wayne County Recorder of Deeds” is a common search phrase, but the
Register of Deeds is the government office that records deeds, mortgages,
land contracts, liens and other instruments affecting Wayne County real property.
2. How do I search Wayne County Michigan deeds online?
Open WayneCountyLandRecords.com. Wayne County’s free public search allows
grantor/grantee name searches and returns indexed document listings.
If you need address, legal-description, parcel/tax-ID or Liber/Page search
options and full document images, use the paid On-Demand account.
3. How far back can I search Wayne County land records online?
Wayne County’s detailed Search Services page states that its online
land-record search covers recorded documents dating back to January 1,
1960. For earlier records, use the Register office, Search-by-Mail or
historical index/Liber resources. The office states that its broader
land-transaction index history reaches back to 1703.
4. How much does it cost to record a deed in Wayne County in 2026?
Effective January 1, 2026, Wayne County’s new fee notice lists $26 to
record an ordinary deed, mortgage or other instrument not otherwise
specified, regardless of page count, plus the $4 state survey and
remonumentation fee where applicable. That produces a typical $30
standard recording total when the state fee applies. Transfer tax and
other transaction-specific charges are separate.
5. What is the Wayne County Michigan real estate transfer tax?
Wayne County currently lists county transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 and
state transfer tax at $3.75 per $500, equivalent to a combined $8.60 per
$1,000 of consideration. A valid statutory exemption can change whether
tax is due, so the deed must correctly state the consideration or
applicable exemption.
6. How do I get a certified Wayne County deed copy?
Certified copies are not available through the ordinary online land-record
system. Wayne County states that certification can be obtained in person
or through Search-by-Mail. The published copy charge is $2 per page and
certification is $10 per document, although the 2026 fee notice says the
page-copy fee is temporarily waived for most orders.
7. Do I need an appointment at the Wayne County Register of Deeds?
Yes under the current county policy. Wayne County states that appointments
have been required for in-person Register of Deeds service since
October 1, 2025. The first appointment is currently 8:00 a.m. and the
last is 3:50 p.m. Scheduling help is available at 313-224-5860.
8. What should I look for after paying off a mortgage?
Search for a recorded Discharge of Lien or mortgage discharge. Wayne
County states that when a mortgage is paid in full, the lending institution
is required to submit a discharge for recording. Paying off the mortgage
does not normally create a new ownership deed.
9. What is Michigan Property Transfer Affidavit Form 2766?
Form 2766, Property Transfer Affidavit, is a Michigan ownership-transfer
filing that is separate from recording the deed. State guidance requires
the buyer to file it with the local city or township assessor within
45 days of the transfer. It is not filed with the Wayne County Register
of Deeds merely because the deed was recorded there.
10. Where is the Wayne County Register of Deeds office?
The Wayne County Register of Deeds is at 400 Monroe Street, 7th Floor,
Detroit, Michigan 48226, in Greektown. The main number is 313-224-5850
and the email is rodhelp@waynecountymi.gov. Normal business hours are
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., but current in-person
service requires an appointment.