A free tool to alert you to possible property fraud is available for Hillsdale County Landowners from the Register of Deed's Office. In addition to statutes that are in place to protect Michigan residents, you may also utilize the Property Alert service.

This office regularly fields calls regarding a subscription based real estate title alert service advertised on television that includes a monthly fee.  The ads are alarming but you should know that title fraud is very rare and as the name implies…fraud.  The transfer is fraudulent and void from the outset.  There are statutes in place that protect Michigan residents from fraudulent liens and transfers, additionally no reputable bank would allow an individual to mortgage property without a full title search performed by a licensed title insurance company.  Please know that Hillsdale County offers a free version called Property Alert that will alert you, based on your criteria, via email.  Simply create an alert by entering your name or names or set an alert on a document; the Property Alert link will walk you through both processes.  When there is activity based on your criteria, you will receive notification to your email. Like the fee-based alert, you will only receive notification after the document has been recorded. 

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SERVICE IS NOT DESIGNED TO ALARM IT IS A FREE, USER FRIENDLY TOOL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AT A TIME AND A PLACE THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR HILLSDALE COUNTY LAND OWNERS.

Bambi Somerlott

Hillsdale County Register of Deeds