Deputy Register of Deeds

Allegan County has much to offer, with 24 Townships, 9 Cities, and 2 Villages across nearly 900 square miles. The landscapes range from the lakeshore to beautifully wooded lands, our County’s natural resources are a gift to be treasured. Allegan County businesses, citizens, and employees are world-class, and we remain a welcoming, closely-knit community. We are one of the fastest-growing counties in Michigan.
Allegan County Government places high importance on our core values: Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Honesty. A common thread among our leadership, employees and volunteers is a strong desire to serve and be part of something meaningful. We have been recognized by Gallagher as “Best in Class Winner” among mid-size companies for our excellence in optimizing employee and organizational well-being for three years in a row (2023-2025). We have also received the “Impact Award” from M.E.R.S. for excellence in educating our employees about their retirement plans and overall financial wellness. We are looking for dedicated, caring, energetic people to join our team!

Job Summary: 

Receives, examines, indexes and files records and documents pertaining to the ownership and location of real estate in the County and Uniform Commercial Code filings. Perform detailed research and examination of legal documents for conformity to various statutes governing real estate records. Answer telephone calls and provide information to the public about recorded documents, fee schedules, procedures, and other information related to recording property.

Starting Wage: $24.26 per hour, full-time with excellent benefits

Excellent Benefits Plan:  Health benefits begin on the first of the month after your hire date
- Medical, Dental & Vision (3 medical plans to choose from, 2 of which have a $0 premium)
- County-funded Health Savings Account with our two high-deductible medical plans
- County-paid employee life insurance coverage
- County-paid short-term disability coverage, up to 52 weeks
- Generous retirement plan, including a county contribution of 7% of your annual earnings
- Tuition Reimbursement Program for college degree courses
- Generous PTO plan, including front-loaded hours into PTO bank at hire, and annually on January 1.
- 13 paid holidays, in addition to PTO
- FREE use of Allegan County government's two fitness centers 
 

Responsibilities and Duties: 

1. Receives documents such as deeds, mortgages, land contracts, leases and security agreements that convey or encumber title to real estate or personal property. Scans all of these documents into the systems. 
2. Examines documents for the conformance to legal requirements and authenticity. Places proper timing information, numbering sequences, and official signature and seal on each document as required.
3. Sends warranty deeds and land contracts and assigns land contracts that need tax clearances to the Treasurer’s Office for tax certification before document can be recorded.
4. Ensures that recording fees are correct, collects fees, inputs amount into the computer, and issues receipt.
5. Inputs data from all legal documents recorded daily into the computer in order to maintain an accurate grantor-grantee index, including indexing the information so it can be accessed by name, liber and page, kind of instrument, date, and property description.
6. Answers telephone calls and provides information on documents that have been recorded, fee schedules, and other information related to recording property. Conducts file and computer searches, makes record copies, and sends information.
7. Researches information on property, checks on the status of deeds, determines grantor-grantee, mortgagor-mortgagee, survey, and other information.
8. Compares data on the computer with the original recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, and liens for accuracy.
9. Accepts Uniform Commercial code fixture filings, continuations, amendments, assignments, and terminations. Reviews UCC records for recording requirements such as name of debtor, address, signatures, and collateral. Extracts index information and enters it into the computer following format display on screen. Records time, date, file number, party names, and enters a brief description of the filing.
10. Plot property ownership boundaries as needed to assist the public and agencies with various mapping requests.
11. Processes passport applications which include evaluating identity documents, governmental certificates, photographs, and completed applications. Follows protocol for transmitting completed applications and supportive documents to the US Department of State. Ensures the correct fees are collected and sent with the application.

Required Education and Experience: 

• High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) 
• Complete agency training to become a certified US Passport Acceptance Agent once hired. 
• One (1) year of experience that provides familiarity with real estate documents and property descriptions. 
• One (1) year of experience in business information systems and customer relations.