Sec. 24.
(1) Upon delivery of an instrument to the register of deeds for the purpose of recording, the register shall note the date, hour, and minute of delivery on the first page of the instrument using a stamp or other method signifying that the date, hour, and minute was affixed by the register or a duly authorized representative of the register. If the instrument is received in bulk with other instruments, the date, hour, and minute of delivery shall be affixed in the manner required by this section as soon as is practical after its delivery. The date, hour, and minute so noted shall be presumed to be the date and time of delivery.
(2) Each instrument delivered to a register shall be accessible for public review. Accessibility shall be satisfied by providing the instrument inscribed in a tangible medium when requested. The requirement of this subsection shall be considered to be satisfied if the length of time between a request to locate a particular document or documents and the time the search is initiated and completed is reasonable in light of the volume of all instruments being recorded and the ability to access the requested documents without undue disruption to the office of the register. A register of deeds also may, but is not required to, do any of the following:
(a) Provide at least the first page of the instrument, stored in an electronic or other medium.
(b) Provide a temporary searchable journal containing at least the date of delivery, title of the instrument, and the names of the parties to the instrument.
(3) Any information created or maintained under subsection (2) may be destroyed when the instrument is entered into the index described in section 28 of this chapter or when the instrument is not accepted for recording.
(4) A register shall not charge a fee for any review or search under subsection (2) unless it involves the search of an original instrument. An original instrument is available for public review only in the presence of the register, deputy register, or a representative of the register appointed for that purpose. When a name search is performed by the register or a representative of the register, a reasonable fee, not to exceed $15.00 for each 15 minutes or fraction thereof, may be charged for any search or review requested.
(5) Subsections (2) to (4) do not apply once the instrument is indexed as required in section 28 of this chapter.
(6) The register of deeds shall post in a conspicuous place in the register's office the general index date and shall maintain a record that memorializes both the calendar date and general index date that was posted on that calendar date. This public record shall be maintained in any reasonable medium that the register of deeds may select in his or her sole discretion. As used in this subsection, "general index date" means that date through which all recorded instruments bearing a delivery date up to and including the general index date have been fully recorded at length and indexed and are available for public inspection.
(7) If a county register of deeds or an officer, employee, or agent of a register of deeds is, or believes he or she is, acting within the scope of his or her authority and in the course of his or her employment when authorizing, conducting, or deciding when or whether to conduct a search under subsection (2), that action is within the exercise or discharge of his or her governmental function, and the register of deeds or the officer, employee, or agent is immune from any claim for liability, including tort liability, that might otherwise entitle any person or other entity or corporation to monetary damages. The civil immunity provided under this section is in addition to any civil immunity provided under law, including, but not limited to, the application of section 7 of 1964 PA 170, MCL 691.1407.
History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 65 ;-- CL 1857, 2743 ;-- CL 1871, 4226 ;-- Am. 1879, Act 262, Eff. Aug. 30, 1879 ;-- How. 5674 ;-- CL 1897, 8979 ;-- CL 1915, 11711 ;-- CL 1929, 13299 ;-- Am. 1941, Act 263, Eff. Jan. 10, 1942 ;-- CL 1948, 565.24 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 357, Imd. Eff. Dec. 23, 2008