28. In Michigan, a warranty deed must be recorded in the county register of deeds office. Which of the following is required?
Answer: D
The buyer's signature must be notarized.
In Michigan, for a warranty deed to be effectively recorded, it is required that the buyer's signature is notarized. This notarization ensures the authenticity of the signature and is a critical step in the recording process.
A) The date of the deed.
While the date of the deed is important for establishing when the transfer of property took place, it is not a requirement for the deed to be recorded. Therefore, this option is incorrect as it does not meet the necessary conditions for recording a warranty deed in Michigan.
B) Two witnesses.
Michigan law does not mandate that a warranty deed be signed in the presence of two witnesses for it to be valid or recorded. This option is incorrect as the requirement for recording does not include the presence of witnesses.
C) It must be the original deed.
While the original deed is typically required for recording purposes, the statement is misleading as it does not specify that the buyer's signature must also be notarized, which is the crucial requirement in this context. Hence, this option is not the best choice.
D) The buyer's signature must be notarized.
This option correctly identifies a critical requirement for the recording of a warranty deed in Michigan. Notarization of the buyer's signature provides legal assurance of the signature's authenticity, making it a necessary step in the process.
Conclusion
The requirement that the buyer's signature must be notarized is essential for the validity and recording of a warranty deed in Michigan. Other options either misinterpret the requirements or do not address the critical aspect of notarization, thereby confirming that option D is definitively correct. This highlights the importance of proper documentation in property transactions.