Register of Deeds
A Little History...
Recording laws were established before governments were formed because protecting property was important to the pilgrims and other pioneers. Many colonists had left England and had objected to the feudal system of land owners. They wanted ownership of land and a system to protect their valuable asset.
Under French and English rule, all deeds were recorded by a notary in a book kept for the purpose. By law of June 18, 1795, of the Northwest Territory, the office of register was created. The first act of registering deeds under Michigan Territory was passed August 29, 1805; it provided that deeds might be recorded with the clerk of any court. An Act, passed on January 19, 1811, authorized the register of probate to record deeds; and by Act of November 4, 1815, deeds were required to be recorded in his office.
An April 12, 1827, the register was directed to provide a book for the recording of mortgages. On January 29, 1835, the office of county register was created, and the register of probate ceased to have the recording of deeds or mortgages.
In 1839, the Michigan legislature appointed three Ottawa county commissioners and charged them with the task of selecting a location for the county seat. The population at that time was 208. Along with the three commissioners, Ottawa County government also included a clerk, a register of deeds and several other officials as the legislature required. Today, we have more than 268,634 residents, eleven county commissioners, one register of deeds, one clerk and other officials as legislated.
The Ottawa County Register of Deeds office is the keeper of the records for land documents back to 1838.
The office is self supporting, in fact this office generates revenue for the county general fund far in excess of it expenditures each year.
To best serve the citizens of Ottawa County, the Register of Deeds has had to be a visionary for the office. We have been able to take the office operations to a high level of automation and competency resulting in achieving top ten status in the state of Michigan.
Since the Register of Deeds Office was created there have been 28 persons serving 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 mailed (see address above) 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..
