The COVID-19 virus shutdown is affecting courts and county clerks statewide. Registers of deeds are also affected. The issue is being handled on a county-by-county basis with some counties only accepting mailed documents for recording and a few counties accepting high-priority recording only by appointment, though there appears to be some uniform practices developing. Also, e-recordings are not being allowed in some cases. Similarly, title companies are developing policies on closings and recording as the situation develops, including requests for more expansive indemnities related to gap coverage from parties in some instances. Time-sensitive recordings (construction lien claims, for instance) require special thought.
On the federal level, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD declared a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until the end of April, affecting about 1.8 million households.
Links to a few county registers of deeds are listed below. This fluid situation requires timely inquiry about recording well before submission.
Wayne County
Oakland County
Washtenaw County
Kent County
Bay County
St. Clair County
Hillsdale County
Clare County
Clinton County
** This post was originally a Bulletin issued by the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan
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