St. Clair County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

You can file your mechanic liens in person at the St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office located at:

200 Grand River Avenue, Suite 103
Port Huron, MI 48060

Phone: (810) 989-6930
Fax: (810) 985-4795

Hours
Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 4:30pm (closed for lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm)
Friday: 10:30am – 4:30pm (closed for lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm)
Closed County Holidays

Recording counter closes at 4:00pm. Any document received after 4:00pm will be dated for 8:00am the next business day.

The St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

If your construction project is located in St. Clair County, then yes, you should file your lien here.

The St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office’s recording requirements are as follows:

1. 2-1/2″ margin at the top of the first page and 1/2″ on remaining sides and additional pages.

2. Signatures must be original and names must be typed, stamped or printed beneath all written signatures. MCLA 565.201 (a) (e)

3. No discrepancy in the names shall exist between the printed names of such person, as appears, either in the signature, and the acknowledgment or jurat. MCLA 565.201 (b)

4. Instruments conveying or mortgaging any interest in real estate shall state the marital status of any male grantors. MCLA 565.221

5. The address of grantee/purchaser must appear on any instrument by which title to any interest therein is conveyed, assigned, encumbered or otherwise disposed of. MCLA 565.201 (a) (f)

6. The name and address of the person who drafted the document must appear on the documents executed in Michigan. MCLA 565.201A, 565.203

7. Documents purporting to convey or encumber real estate executed in Michigan must have an acknowledgement by a notary public. MCLA 565.8

8. Effective 4/01/04 acknowledgement must state “Acting in the county of ______________” MCLA 55.287

9. Court orders must be certified and sealed by the clerk of the court to be eligible for recording. MCLA 565.401, 565.411

10. The definition of a page. See Document Requirements here:
https://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/register_of_deeds/forms/DocReq.pdf?meid=201

11. The date of the document must appear on it.

12. You must indicate where the document is to be returned to on the document.

13. If the property conveyed is unplatted, the following applies: the grantor grants to the grantee the right to make ___ division(s)) under section 108 of the land division act, Act No. 288 of Public Acts of 1967. (If no number is inserted, the right to make divisions stays with the portion of the parent tract retained by the grantor; if all of the parent tract is conveyed, then all divisions rights are granted.)

14. This property may be located within the vicinity of farmland or a farm operation. Generally accepted agricultural and management practices which may generate noise, dust, odors, and other associated conditions may be used and are protected by the Michigan right to farm act.

If the instrument is executed before April 1, 1997, each sheet of the instrument is all of the following:

(i) Typewritten or printed in type not smaller than 8-point size.

(ii) Not more than 8-1/2 by 14 inches.

(iii) Legible.

(iv) On paper of not less than 13 (17×22—500) pound weight.

(f) If the instrument is executed after April 1, 1997, each sheet of the instrument complies with all of the following requirements:

(i) Has a margin of unprinted space that is at least 2-1/2 inches at the top of the first page and at least 1/2 inch on all remaining sides of each page.

(ii) Subject to subsection (3), displays on the first line of print on the first page of the instrument a single statement identifying the recordable event that the instrument evidences.

(iii) Is electronically, mechanically, or hand printed in 10-point type or the equivalent of 10-point type.

(iv) Is legibly printed in black ink on white paper that is not less than 20-pound weight.

(v) Is not less than 8-1/2 inches wide and 11 inches long or more than 8-1/2 inches wide and 14 inches long.

(vi) Contains no attachment that is less than 8-1/2 inches wide and 11 inches long or more than 8-1/2 inches wide and 14 inches long.

The St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office accepts check payments. Make checks payable to: St. Clair County Register of Deeds.

The St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office’s recording fees are as follows:

Recording Fees

Effective October 1, 2016, recording fees for all documents recorded in the Register of Deeds office will be $30.00, regardless of the number of pages. The fee of $3.00 after the first instrument reference remains in effect. Certification of a recorded copy will also increase from $1.00 to $5.00 per document. Should you have any questions, visit the Michigan Legislature website at http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2015-HB-5165 .

This fee change is in accordance to Michigan Public Acts 224 through 232 of 2016.

Tax Certificates

A tax certificate must be obtained prior to recording any of the following (MCLA 211.135):

* Warranty Deed
* A deed which contains a covenant of warranty
* Land Contract
* Assignment of Land Contract with warranty clause

Note that the Treasurer’s office is responsible for tax certifying documents that require tax certification. The Treasurer’s hours of over-the-counter certification are from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. (Closed noon to 1:00pm daily.)

Michigan Real Estate Transfer Tax:

County Transfer Tax Fee $1.10 per thousand dollar sale amount stated on deed
State Transfer Tax Fee $7.50 per thousand dollar sale amount stated on deed

Copy Fees

Copy, real estate records, per page: $1.00
Copy, State or Federal Tax Lien, per page $1.00
Fee for certification of any of the above copies, per document $1.00

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien in person at the St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office located at:

200 Grand River Avenue, Suite 103
Port Huron, MI 48060

Phone: (810) 989-6930
Fax: (810) 985-4795

Copy fees are as follows:

Copy, real estate records, per page: $1.00
Copy, State or Federal Tax Lien, per page $1.00
Fee for certification of any of the above copies, per document $1.00

You can also search for St. Clair County’s land records from 1984 to present online at: http://publicdeeds.stclaircounty.org/

To request a copy, you can call the St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office at (810) 989-6930 or email them here: https://www.stclaircounty.org/Main/contact.aspx?id=register_of_deeds

Copy charges are $1.00 per page. Web accounts are available for $150.00 per year. You will be able to view and print copies at $1.00 per page.

You can get the property’s legal description from the St. Clair County Register of Deeds Office in person.

You can search for St. Clair County’s land records from 1984 to present online at: http://publicdeeds.stclaircounty.org/

You can also search for property legal descriptions online with the St. Clair County Equalization Department at: https://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/equalization/search.aspx