Register of Deeds

"As your Register of Deeds I work to make sure your documents are complete and ready for recording by following state statute and upholding the law. I listen to you for new ideas resulting in a user friendly environment. Under my leadership, this office has taken action offering you quality service with new technology and equipment from staff who are highly skilled. It is an honor to serve you as your Register of Deeds."

- Gary Scholten

Gary Scholten, Register of Deeds
Katherine Haiker, Chief Deputy Register of Deeds

Main Office and Recording Office 12220 Fillmore Street, Room 146 West Olive, MI 49460 Phone: (616) 994-4510

Research Library 414 Washington Avenue, Room 305 Grand Haven, MI 49417

Phone:
Grand Haven (616) 846-8295, ext. 4510
Holland (616) 994-4510
Hudsonville/Jenison (616) 662-3100, ext. 4510
Allendale/Coopersville (800) 764-4100, ext. 4510

Fax: (616) 994-4521
Email: register@miottawa.org

Office Hours

Main Office and Recording Office:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Research Library
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm to 5:00 p.m.

2009 Fee Revenue Vs. Expenditures

Warranty Deeds Recorded		Warranty Deeds-A History
Month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 January 625 479 466 414 270 368 February 475 439 456 355 214   March 603 546 421 386 305   April 587 515 436 428 332   May 685 565 651 423 332   June 775 620 531 461 293   July 689 557 540 434 473   August 767 585 581 448 358   September 726 557 520 425 384   October 701 592 525 429 469   November 588 508 472 305 382   December 587 461 426 297 395

Mortgage Foreclosure Statistics

2007-2009 Statistics Documents Recorded 2007 2008 2009 Deed Related Documents 562 885 1,001 Master Deeds 28 17 6 Quit Claim Deeds 2,798 2,764 2,804 Sheriff Deeds 850 957 933 Warranty Deeds 5,935 4,805 4,189 Total Deeds 10,173 9,428 8,933 Assignment of Mortgages 2,717 1,701 1,680 Discharge of Mortgages 13,001 11,641 14,002 Mortgages 14,248 11,291 12,813 Mortgage Related Documents 2,067 2,061 2,830 Total Mortgages 32,033 26,694 31,325 Leins 883 977 878 Federal Tax Leins 314 393 423 Lein Related Documents 949 1,036 1,313 MESC Tax Leins 166 375 292 State Tax Leins 380 809 875 Total Leins 2,692 3,590 3,781 Certificate of Trusts 877 851 949 Death Certificates 695 729 674 Miscellaneous Documents 4,231 4,338 4,802 Notice of Commencement 553 358 169 Power of Attorney 519 427 420 Total Miscellaneous 6,875 6,703 7,014 Total Documents 51,773 46,415 51,053

Lien History (Claim of Lien, Federal, State & MESC Liens)

Mortgages & Discharge of Mortgages - A History

Online Property Access (no fee)

Go to the online Property Search, click on "Begin Search" under Public Users. You can search by name, address or parcel number.

Note: Because records held in the Register of Deeds Office are public your recorded documents may be copied, catalogued and made available online from commercial vendors for their profit.

Office Information

The Office of the Register of Deeds was organized when Ottawa County was first established in 1834. In that time, 28 persons have served as Register of Deeds. The Register of Deeds office records over 120 different documents (instruments). Only original documents can be recorded. The document can be sent or brought in to our office for recording. The document is kept by our office until the recording process is completed and then is returned to the person/organization who submitted the document.

The Register of Deeds staff review documents, before recording, to insure they meet State Statute Recording Requirements. The Register of Deeds staff cannot give legal advice. The recording of your document, by this office, does not make your document legal. It makes your document public.