Bridgewater, Michigan Public Records

The 15th District Court (phone: 734-484-6690) handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases up to $25,000, landlord-tenant matters, and small claims cases up to $6,500. Traffic violations and most infractions are also processed through district court. Court records can be searched online through Michigan's statewide case search system at www.courts.michigan.gov/case-search, which provides access to case information, party names, case status, and hearing dates for most public court records in Washtenaw County. Certain confidential cases such as juvenile matters, adoption records, and some family law cases are not available in public searches. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the court clerk's office; fees for certified copies are typically $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, plus a $1 certification fee. Case filing fees vary: civil case filing in circuit court costs $175-$200, district court civil filing is approximately $60-$90, and small claims filing is around $35-$55 depending on the claim amount. Traffic citation fees vary by violation.

Washtenaw County provides a free online property search tool at www.washtenaw.org/PropertyPortal where residents can search by property address, parcel number, or owner name to view current assessment data, tax information, and property characteristics. The Washtenaw County Register of Deeds, located at 200 North Main Street, Suite 150, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (phone: 734-222-6610, website: www.washtenaw.org/356/Register-of-Deeds), is responsible for recording and maintaining legal documents affecting real property, including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage discharges, liens, easements, land contracts, and other instruments. These records are indexed by grantor (seller), grantee (buyer), and property description. The Register of Deeds provides free online access to recorded land records dating back to the 1820s at www.washtenaw.org/DocumentSearch. Users can search by name, document type, date range, or legal description and view scanned images of recorded documents at no charge. Washtenaw County also offers a comprehensive GIS mapping system at www.washtenaw.org/GIS with parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, zoning information, and property data layers. Recording fees for new documents are $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page for most instruments.

The proximity to Ann Arbor's diverse economy—including major employers such as the University of Michigan Health System, Toyota Technical Center, Google Ann Arbor, and numerous automotive suppliers and tech startups—allows Bridgewater residents to maintain rural lifestyles while accessing higher-wage employment. The township itself has minimal commercial development, with most retail and service needs met in nearby Manchester (the township's mailing address community) or Clinton, and increasingly in Saline and Ann Arbor. Median household income in Bridgewater Township is estimated at approximately $75,000-$85,000, above the statewide median, reflecting the professional employment of many residents. The township has seen modest growth in recent decades as individuals and families seek affordable land and rural character within the Ann Arbor metropolitan area. Bridgewater Township's tax base consists primarily of residential and agricultural property, with limited commercial or industrial development. The township's economic future is closely tied to broader Washtenaw County trends, including preservation of farmland and natural areas, careful management of residential growth, and maintaining the rural character valued by current residents while ensuring sustainable township services.

Bridgewater Township does not maintain its own police department; law enforcement services for the township are provided by the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 2201 Hogback Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (phone: 734-971-8400, website: www.washtenaw.org/sheriff). The Sheriff's Office provides patrol services, responds to calls for service, conducts criminal investigations, and maintains incident reports for Bridgewater Township. Residents seeking copies of police reports, accident reports, or incident records should contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division directly, either in person at the Hogback Road location or by submitting a written request. The Washtenaw County Sheriff also operates the Washtenaw County Jail, located at 2201 Hogback Road in Ann Arbor, where arrestees from Bridgewater Township are processed and detained. Residents can search for current inmates and recent arrests through the Washtenaw County Jail online inmate roster at www.washtenaw.org/1384/Inmate-Search. This database typically shows inmate names, booking photos (mugshots), charges filed, bond amounts, booking dates, and projected release dates. Information is updated regularly as arrests are processed. Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL 15.231 et seq., public records including police reports, arrest logs, and investigative records are generally accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. Requests must be submitted in writing to the custodian of the records (the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement records), and agencies have five business days to respond. Fees may be charged for copying and labor costs associated with locating and redacting exempt information. Michigan FOIA provides broad public access while protecting privacy interests in ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and certain personal information.

Vital records can be ordered online through Michigan's official vendor at www.michigan.gov/mdhhs under Vital Records, by mail with a completed application, or in person at the state office in Lansing. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, with expedited service available for additional fees. Online orders through VitalChek are processed within 5-10 business days. Only eligible individuals can request vital records: the person named on the record (if of legal age), parent or legal guardian, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent, legal representative, or someone with a court order or other legal authority. Marriage licenses are issued by the Washtenaw County Clerk, located at 200 North Main Street, Suite 160, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (phone: 734-222-6655, website: www.washtenaw.org/346/County-Clerk). The marriage license fee is $20 if an online premarital education course is completed, or $30 without the course. There is no waiting period, and the license is valid for 33 days. Marriage records dating back to the 1800s are maintained by the County Clerk and can be searched in person. Certified copies of marriage records cost $13. Divorce records are maintained by the circuit court where the divorce was granted; for Bridgewater residents, this is typically the 22nd Circuit Court at the Washtenaw County Courthouse. Certified divorce decrees can be obtained from the circuit court clerk for approximately $10 per certified copy.

Businesses must comply with township zoning ordinances, which regulate home-based businesses, agricultural operations, and commercial uses. Washtenaw County may require health permits for food service establishments and other regulated activities through the Washtenaw County Environmental Health Division at 705 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (phone: 734-222-3800). For business entity formation and registration, Michigan businesses must register with the State of Michigan through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. Business name searches, corporation and LLC filings, and entity status verification can be accessed free online through the Michigan Business Entity Search at www.michigan.gov/corporations. This database allows searches by business name, registered agent, or file number and shows the entity type, status (active/dissolved), formation date, registered office address, and names of officers or members for most business entities. Assumed name (DBA or "doing business as") registrations are filed with the county clerk where the business operates. For Bridgewater Township businesses, assumed names are filed with the Washtenaw County Clerk, 200 North Main Street, Suite 160, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (phone: 734-222-6655); the filing fee is approximately $10 and must be renewed every five years. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are filed with the Michigan Department of State and can be searched at www.michigan.gov/sos under UCC Services. Business property in Bridgewater Township is assessed by the township assessor and taxed based on the state equalized value and local millage rates. Commercial property assessments can be searched through the Washtenaw County property search portal mentioned in the property records section.

Bridgewater Township voters are served by the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office and Elections Division, located at 200 North Main Street, Suite 160, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (phone: 734-222-6730, website: www.washtenaw.org/387/Elections). This office administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Bridgewater Township residents, maintains voter registration records, processes absentee ballot applications, certifies election results, and provides information on candidates and ballot proposals. Michigan voters can register to vote online at www.michigan.gov/vote through the Secretary of State's online voter registration system, or in person at the county clerk's office, township clerk's office, Secretary of State branch offices, or at designated state agencies. Michigan offers Election Day registration, allowing eligible residents to register and vote on the same day at their city or township clerk's office during early voting or at their polling place on Election Day with proof of residency. Bridgewater Township is governed by an elected township board consisting of a supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and four trustees, all elected to four-year terms in partisan elections held in even-numbered years during the August primary and November general election. The most recent township elections were held in November 2024, with the next township board elections scheduled for November 2028. Township board meetings are held monthly, typically on the second Monday at 7:00 PM at Bridgewater Township Hall. Bridgewater Township voters cast ballots at their assigned precinct polling location; the township operates one precinct, with the polling place typically located at Bridgewater Township Hall, 10989 Clinton-Macon Road, Manchester, MI 48158. Voters can verify their polling place, view sample ballots, and check registration status at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and date of birth. In the November 2024 presidential election, Washtenaw County recorded voter turnout exceeding 75%, with approximately 115,000 ballots cast out of approximately 265,000 registered voters county-wide. Bridgewater Township's turnout was consistent with county rural averages. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Bridgewater Township and Washtenaw County voters will decide several key races: Governor of Michigan (incumbent Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited), Michigan Attorney General, Michigan Secretary of State, all 110 Michigan House of Representatives seats (including the district covering Bridgewater, currently the 47th District), Washtenaw County Commission seats, Washtenaw County Sheriff, Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds, and Bridgewater Township board positions if the 2026 election falls in their cycle. Michigan does not have a U.S. Senate race in 2026. Candidate filings, campaign finance reports, and ballot proposal information are available through the Michigan Secretary of State at www.michigan.gov/sos and the Washtenaw County Clerk's Elections Division. Michigan offers no-reason absentee voting; any registered voter can request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Applications are available at www.michigan.gov/vote or through the county or township clerk, and must be received by 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day (or voters can request an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office through 8:00 PM on Election Day). Michigan also offers early in-person voting for nine days prior to Election Day at designated early voting sites. Public election records in Michigan include voter registration lists (available for purchase for election-related purposes), precinct-level election results (published online after certification), campaign finance disclosure reports for candidates and political action committees (searchable at www.michigan.gov/sos), and candidate filings and nominating petitions. Voter history (whether an individual voted in a particular election, but not how they voted) is also public record.