Mott Named 2027 Michigan Register of Deeds Association President

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Clare County Clerk and Register of Deeds Lori Mott was inducted as the 2027 Michigan Register of Deeds Association President. Mott served as the organizations 1^st Vice President in 2026, 2^nd in 2025, 3^rd in 2024 leading up to her election as President this year. At any point if you are not fulfilling your vice president duties, the association can elect someone else so it's not a one and done election.

In her speech to her colleagues Mott outlined her goals for her term.

“As your 2027 President, I am committed to moving MARD forward in a positive, purposeful direction. I want to protect Registers of Deeds and strengthen our association. I want to make a real difference – not just for the next twelve months, but for many years to come.

Here is how I intend to do that.

First, we will continue and build upon our strong commitment to education and preparedness. Our mission calls us to provide excellent training and to keep timely legislative updates flowing so that every county office can record accurately, consistently, and with confidence. In the year ahead, I will work with our committees to expand practical, relevant training – especially in areas that protect us and the public: cybersecurity, fraud prevention, electronic recording best practices, and emerging legislative changes. Knowledge remains one of our strongest forms of protection.

Second, I will focus on protecting the office of Register of Deeds and the strength of this association. We face ongoing challenges – technological, legislative, and resource-related. One area I am especially committed to is reviewing and updating statutes that may conflict with more current statutes adopted by other organizations, while always safeguarding the integrity of our records and the authority of our offices. We must stay unified, informed, and proactive. I will work closely with our legislative committee, our partners, and each of you to ensure our collective voice is clear and effective. When we stand together, we protect not only our individual offices but the trust Michigan residents place in the records we keep.

Third—and this is especially close to my heart – I want to help the leaders who will come after me. One year as president is not enough if the progress ends when the term does. I intend to continue the strong tradition of leadership development and mentoring that already exists in this association. I want to build on that foundation by offering additional pathways and practical tools so that future presidents – whether they are just beginning to serve on committees or stepping into higher roles – feel supported, prepared, and never alone. Good leadership should leave the organization stronger than it found it. That is the difference I want to make.

I also want us to continue building resources that outlast any single term: shared best practices and stronger connections across our districts so that consistency and excellence become easier for every office, large or small.”

MARD or Michigan Register of Deeds Association is a professional organization to optimize educational and networking opportunities for the registers of the State of Michigan. Their mission is to safeguard public records, ensure transparency, and uphold the integrity of property rights across Michigan.