Comins, Michigan Public Records

The 23rd Circuit Court, located in the Oscoda County Courthouse at 110 West Lake Street, Mio, MI 48647 (phone: 989-826-1110), has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil suits exceeding $25,000, family law matters including divorce and child custody, juvenile cases, probate and estate administration, and appeals from District Court. Both courts serve Alcona, Arenac, Iosco, and Oscoda counties. Michigan's statewide court case search is available through the Michigan Court Access Portal at courts.michigan.gov/case-search, though not all historical records are digitized. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney. For certified copies of court documents, requests must be made in person or by mail to the respective court clerk. Fees for certified copies are typically $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, plus a $10 certification fee. Copies of probate records, including wills and estate inventories, require specific requests to the Probate Register. Passport applications are also processed through the County Clerk's office at the Mio courthouse.

While Oscoda County does not currently offer a comprehensive online property search portal, basic parcel information can be obtained by contacting the Equalization office directly with a parcel number, property address, or owner name. The Oscoda County Register of Deeds, also located at 110 West Lake Street, Mio, MI 48647 (phone: 989-826-1107), records all land transactions including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, land contracts, mortgages, mortgage discharges, easements, liens, and plat maps. Michigan law requires these documents to be recorded to establish legal ownership and priority of interests. The Register of Deeds maintains an index searchable by grantor/grantee name and by legal description. Copies of recorded documents cost $1 per page for standard copies and $5 per document for certified copies. While some Michigan counties offer free online access to recorded documents, Oscoda County currently requires in-person or mail requests. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Researchers seeking title history or chain of ownership should plan to visit the office or hire a title company to conduct searches. Property tax bills and payment status are handled separately through the Oscoda County Treasurer's office.

The nearest significant employers are located in Mio, approximately 15 miles north, including Oscoda County government offices, Mio-AuSable Schools, and small manufacturing operations. Many Comins residents commute to jobs in Grayling, West Branch, or other regional centers. The local economy is supplemented by seasonal residents who own hunting cabins and vacation properties in the heavily wooded region. Small businesses in Comins include a general store, tavern, and service providers catering to outdoor enthusiasts and year-round residents. Median household income in Oscoda County is significantly below Michigan's state average, estimated around $38,000-$42,000, reflecting the rural, resource-based economy and limited industrial development. Recent economic development efforts in Oscoda County have focused on promoting tourism related to the Au Sable River, ORV (off-road vehicle) trails, and hunting, which brings seasonal revenue but limited year-round employment. The region faces challenges common to Michigan's northern rural counties, including population decline, aging demographics, limited broadband infrastructure, and distance from major markets. Forestry management and timber harvesting remain economically important, though employment in that sector has declined from historical peaks during Michigan's lumber era.

Comins, as an unincorporated community, does not have its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services are provided by the Oscoda County Sheriff's Office, located at 311 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763 (the county maintains administrative offices in both Tawas City and the courthouse in Mio). The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (989) 362-3497 and maintains a website at oscodacounty.org. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response throughout Comins Township and all unincorporated areas of Oscoda County. Residents seeking police reports, accident reports, or incident records should contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division directly; requests may require completion of a written FOIA request form and payment of copying fees.

For arrest records and jail bookings, the Oscoda County Sheriff operates the Oscoda County Jail in Tawas City. While the county does not currently maintain a real-time online inmate roster, booking information can be obtained by calling the jail at (989) 362-3497. Information typically available includes inmate name, booking date, charges filed, bond amount, and expected arraignment or release dates. The Michigan State Police also maintains jurisdiction for certain crimes and operates the Houghton Lake Post, which covers northeastern Michigan.

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), found at MCL 15.231 through 15.246, governs public access to law enforcement records. Under FOIA, residents can request incident reports, arrest logs, 911 call records, and certain investigative materials. Requests must be submitted in writing (email or mail accepted), and agencies have five business days to respond. Fees may be charged for search time, copying, and redaction. Certain records, including those involving ongoing investigations, juvenile offenders, or confidential informants, may be partially or fully exempt from disclosure.

Requests can be submitted online at michigan.gov/mdhhs, by mail, or in person at county clerk offices. The fee is $34 for a certified copy with an additional $16 for each extra copy ordered simultaneously. Expedited processing costs an additional $12. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail or same-day at the Lansing office. Marriage licenses for Comins residents must be obtained from the Oscoda County Clerk's office at 110 West Lake Street, Mio, MI 48647 (phone: 989-826-1107). Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. The license fee is $30, and there is a three-day waiting period after application before the license is valid (this can be waived for an additional $10 fee). Marriage licenses are valid for 33 days after issuance. Certified copies of marriage records cost $10 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies. Divorce decrees are not issued by the County Clerk but must be obtained from the 23rd Circuit Court, as they are court judgments. Certified copies of divorce judgments cost $10 plus $1 per page. Michigan death certificates issued after 1897 and marriage records after 1867 are available through the state, while older records may be found in county archives or the Michigan State Archives in Lansing.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LIRA) oversees professional licenses, building codes, and occupational safety. Business entity registration in Michigan is handled by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations Division. The Michigan Corporations Online Filing System at cofs.lara.state.mi.us allows free searching of business entities including corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and assumed names (DBAs). Users can search by entity name, ID number, or registered agent. The database shows entity type, status (active/dissolved), formation date, registered office address, resident agent, and sometimes officer names. Filing fees are $50 for an LLC Articles of Organization and $60 for a Corporation Articles of Incorporation, plus $25 for an assumed name certificate. Annual statements and updates can be filed online. Assumed name certificates ("Doing Business As" or DBA filings) for sole proprietors and partnerships must be filed with the County Clerk where the business principally operates. For Comins-based businesses, this means filing with the Oscoda County Clerk at 110 West Lake Street, Mio, MI 48647 (phone: 989-826-1107). The filing fee is $25, renewable every five years. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which establish security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Michigan Department of State and searchable online at michigan.gov/sos. Property tax assessments on commercial real estate are handled by the Oscoda County Equalization Department and are based on state-equalized value; these records are public and can be researched to determine business property ownership and tax burden.

Comins voters are served by the Oscoda County Clerk, which administers elections for all unincorporated areas and townships in Oscoda County. The County Clerk's office is located at 110 West Lake Street, Mio, MI 48647, phone (989) 826-1107. Official election information, sample ballots, and results are available through the county website at oscodacounty.org. Michigan's statewide voter registration system is managed by the Michigan Secretary of State, and Comins residents can register to vote online at michigan.gov/vote, in person at the County Clerk's office, at Secretary of State branch offices, or by mail. Michigan offers same-day voter registration through Election Day at the clerk's office or polling place. Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and residents of Michigan for at least 30 days. Valid photo ID is required at the polls, or voters may sign an affidavit affirming their identity.

Comins has no municipal government, so there are no city council or mayoral elections specific to the community. Residents vote in Comins Township elections for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees, typically held in even-numbered years during the August primary and November general election. Oscoda County voters also elect county commissioners, sheriff, prosecutor, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, and other county officers in four-year cycles.

For the November 3, 2026 general election, Michigan voters will decide several significant races. Michigan does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (Senators Stabenow and Peters' terms expire in different cycles), but voters will elect all 110 members of the Michigan House of Representatives for two-year terms and state senators in certain districts for four-year terms. Comins falls within Michigan's 1st Congressional District and votes for that U.S. House seat every two years. Oscoda County voters will likely decide county offices such as county commissioners, and potentially county clerk, treasurer, or sheriff depending on term expirations. School board elections for Mio-AuSable Schools and Comins Township offices may also appear on the ballot. Additionally, statewide ballot proposals on constitutional amendments or legislative referendums frequently appear in Michigan general elections.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Oscoda County reported voter turnout of approximately 65-68% of registered voters, consistent with rural Michigan patterns. The county has historically leaned Republican in presidential and statewide races. Comins Township itself typically sees 60-70% turnout in presidential years and lower turnout in midterm elections. Voters can look up their specific polling location, view their sample ballot, and track absentee ballot status at michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and birth date. Comins Township maintains polling places within the township; exact locations are published by the County Clerk before each election.

Michigan allows no-reason absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing justification. Requests can be made online through the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote, by contacting the Oscoda County Clerk directly, or by submitting a written application. Absentee ballots for the November 2026 election can be requested beginning in late summer 2026, and voters may return ballots by mail (must be postmarked by Election Day and received within six days) or by depositing them in the clerk's ballot drop box by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Michigan also offers early in-person voting at clerk's offices beginning nine days before Election Day. Public election records in Michigan include voter registration lists (available to campaigns and political organizations, not for commercial purposes), campaign finance disclosures filed with the Michigan Secretary of State or county clerks, candidate filings and petitions, precinct-level election results, and canvass reports. These records are accessible through county clerk offices or the Michigan Secretary of State website at michigan.gov/sos.