Quitclaim Deeds and Transferring Property in Michigan
How to sign and record a quitclaim or other deed in Michigan, and whether you can use a transfer-on-death deed to avoid probate.
Short answer: A deed to Michigan land must be acknowledged before a notary public, judge or court clerk, and the county register of deeds will not record it unless it is acknowledged. Witnesses are not required. MCL 565.8, 565.47, 565.201; MCL 207.504, 207.525, 207.526
| Signing and recording a deed | A deed to Michigan land must be acknowledged before a notary public, judge or court clerk, and the county register of deeds will not record it unless it is acknowledged. Witnesses are not required. To be recorded, signers' names must be printed beneath original signatures in black or dark blue ink, the grantee's address and the drafter's name and business address must appear, and the document must meet format rules (2.5-inch top margin on page one, half-inch other margins, 10-point type, paper 8.5x11 to 8.5x14, and a first line stating the recordable event). State real estate transfer tax is $3.75 per $500 of value and county transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 (up to $0.75 in counties of 2 million or more). Exemptions include transfers for less than $100 and certain transfers between spouses and to children or grandchildren. Each transfer-tax exemption has conditions; check the exemption list before relying on one. |
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Free Michigan quitclaim deed template — fill in and print
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FAQ
What does a quitclaim deed need to be valid in Michigan?
A deed to Michigan land must be acknowledged before a notary public, judge or court clerk, and the county register of deeds will not record it unless it is acknowledged. Witnesses are not required. To be recorded, signers' names must be printed beneath original signatures in black or dark blue ink, the grantee's address and the drafter's name and business address must appear, and the document must meet format rules (2.5-inch top margin on page one, half-inch other margins, 10-point type, paper 8.5x11 to 8.5x14, and a first line stating the recordable event). State real estate transfer tax is $3.75 per $500 of value and county transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 (up to $0.75 in counties of 2 million or more). Exemptions include transfers for less than $100 and certain transfers between spouses and to children or grandchildren.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.