Michigan Warranty & Covenant Deed Preparation
Three deeds, three very different levels of protection. We prepare the one you ask for, with the legal description right and the recording requirements met.
Important: Clear Path Document Services is a non-attorney document preparation service and cannot provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created. Read full disclaimer
Quick Answer
Michigan uses three common deeds. A warranty deed carries the strongest promises — the seller guarantees clear title and will defend it against claims, which is what a buyer in an arm's-length sale usually wants. A covenant deed makes limited promises, generally only about what happened during the grantor's own ownership. A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the signer has with no promises at all, which is why it shows up most often in family transfers, divorces, and corrections. Every deed needs the legal description from the recorded instrument, a notarized signature, county-compliant formatting, and recording with the Register of Deeds, followed by a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local assessor. Clear Path prepares the deed you direct; we don't advise which one to use.
Who qualifies for this service?
This document preparation service is a fit for Michigan residents who match the criteria below. If your situation is different, contact us and we'll tell you whether we can help or whether you should speak with an attorney.
- Sellers and buyers completing a private sale without a realtor
- Family members transferring property to a relative
- Property owners adding or removing a spouse after marriage or divorce
- Owners moving property into a trust or an LLC
- People correcting a name, spelling, or legal description on a prior deed
- Sellers delivering a deed after a land contract has been paid in full
How the process works
Clear, predictable steps from intake to court-ready paperwork.
Tell us the transfer
Property, who's transferring to whom, and which deed you want prepared.
We review your matter
We pull the recorded legal description and confirm signatures and formatting requirements.
Written quote
Flat preparation fee, with county recording fees and transfer taxes listed separately.
Deed prepared
Prepared with correct parties, legal description, and county-compliant formatting.
Signing and notarization
Notarized in office or at your location.
Recording and assessor filing
Recording instructions plus the Property Transfer Affidavit for the local assessor.
Paperwork we organize for you
Document preparation only. We do not represent you in court.
Documents and information you'll need
- Property address and parcel identification number
- A copy of the current recorded deed
- Full legal names and marital status of everyone transferring
- Full legal names and addresses of everyone receiving
- The type of deed you want prepared
- Photo ID for everyone signing
Common mistakes to avoid
Small errors can cost you weeks. Here's what we see most often.
- Using a quitclaim deed in an arm's-length sale, where a buyer normally needs a warranty deed.
- Copying the legal description from a tax bill instead of the recorded deed.
- Forgetting a spouse's signature where it's needed to release a marital interest.
- Skipping the Property Transfer Affidavit, which Michigan requires after most transfers.
- Not checking whether the transfer will uncap the property's taxable value.
- Recording a deed while a mortgage with a due-on-sale clause is still in place, without talking to the lender.
Local Michigan considerations
Deeds are recorded with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located, and each county sets recording fees and formatting standards. Michigan requires a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local assessor after most transfers, and a transfer of ownership can uncap the taxable value and increase the tax bill — several exemptions exist, including certain transfers between close relatives, so confirm with the assessor before signing. State and county real estate transfer taxes may apply to a sale, with exemptions for many non-sale transfers. For an arm's-length purchase, a title search and title insurance protect a buyer in ways a prepared deed cannot, and we'll say so rather than let you skip it.
Key Terms
- Warranty deed
- A deed in which the grantor guarantees clear title and agrees to defend it against all claims.
- Covenant deed
- A deed with limited promises, typically covering only the grantor's own period of ownership.
- Quitclaim deed
- A deed transferring whatever interest the grantor has, with no promises about title.
- Grantor / grantee
- The person transferring the property and the person receiving it.
- Property Transfer Affidavit
- The Michigan form filed with the local assessor after a transfer of ownership.
- Uncapping
- The reset of taxable value following a transfer, which usually raises property taxes.
People Also Ask
Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.
Ready to get your paperwork started?
Start the guided intake, or call or text us — we review every matter before quoting a price, and nothing is purchased online.