What are the requirements for recording my deed?

Michigan has fairly strict requirements for recording documents at the Register of Deeds Office. The principal requirements are:

• Documents must be at least 8 1/2″ by 11″ and no larger than 8 1/2″ by 14″
• There must be a 2 1/2″ margin at the top and a 1/2″ margin at the sides
• The document must be black ink on white paper (signatures can be in blue ink in Washtenaw County but nothing else!)
• The minimum paper weight must be 20lbs. (No thermal fax paper!)
• The document must be legible with at least 10pt. type face
• The document must be signed in front of a Notary Public

You must also pay recording fees of $9.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page (e.g. a three page document costs $13.00).