BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- Berrien County Register of Deeds Lora L. Freehling was honored by the Michigan Association of Registers of Deeds (MARD) at its 110th annual conference, being named Register of the Year.

The conference was held at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island Sept. 15 to 18.

The office of Register of Deeds (ROD) was established for each county by Michigan’s first constitution in 1835.

The ROD is the official recording office for real estate related documents and is the custodian of all historical and current transactional property records.

Freehling was appointed Berrien County’s ROD in 2018 after the passing of then Register Lori Jarvis.

Freehling joined MARD in 2018 and has served as secretary of the association since 2022.

She is currently a member of the MARD Publications Committee, Standardization, and Review Committee, and the Legislative Committee.

Nominations for Register of the Year are submitted by registers and clerk/registers throughout Michigan.

The ROY Committee, which is made up of previous ROY’s, brings the top nominations to MARD for members to vote.

2024's submissions were nearly unanimous therefore, a membership vote was not necessary.

“It was a complete shock to hear my name called,” said Freehling. “I’m very honored to receive this prestigious award and humbled when I think of all the other deserving Registers. I enjoy serving and will continue to serve the residents of Berrien County to my highest ability.”

The criteria to be named Register of the Year includes having five years as an elected official-dues paying member, be actively involved on a MARD committee or serving as an officer or member of the MARD Board of Directors, and having status as an elected official who has made important contributions for the betterment of MARD.

Freehling is the third Berrien County ROD to receive the award. Bernice Trethaway was named MARD’s very first Register of the Year in 1991 and Jarvis was named ROY in 2009 and in 2016.