Daggett, Michigan Public Records

The 95-2 District Court, also located at 839 10th Avenue, Menominee, MI 49858 (phone: 906-863-7885), has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases up to $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims cases up to $6,500, traffic violations, and preliminary examinations in felony cases. Michigan does not have municipal courts; all judicial proceedings flow through the district and circuit court system. Court records for both courts can be searched online through the Michigan Court System's Case Search portal at www.courts.michigan.gov/case-search, though not all historical records are digitized. The Menominee County Clerk's office maintains physical court files and provides certified copies. As of 2024, fees for certified copies of court documents are typically $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, plus a $1 certification fee, though fees vary by document type. Access to certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile records, and some domestic relations cases, is restricted by Michigan Court Rule and statute. Requests for restricted records require a court order or demonstration of legal standing.

The online database allows searches by owner name, property address, or parcel identification number, displaying current assessed value, taxable value, property characteristics, and tax payment history. The Menominee County Register of Deeds, also located at 839 10th Avenue, Menominee, MI 49858 (phone: 906-863-8851), records and maintains all land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens, easements, land contracts, and other instruments affecting real property title. Michigan law requires recording of property transfers under MCL 565.201. The Register of Deeds provides online access to digitized land records through a subscription service or pay-per-document system; some recent records may be available for free viewing. Documents typically date back to the county's earliest land records from the mid-1800s. Recording fees as of 2024 are $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page for most documents. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $1 certification fee. The county also maintains a GIS parcel viewer with aerial imagery, zoning information, and tax maps, accessible through the county website. Property owners and prospective buyers can conduct title searches through the Register of Deeds office, though title companies typically perform comprehensive searches for real estate transactions.

The nearby Menominee-Marinette metropolitan area, just 15 miles northeast, provides manufacturing jobs in paper products, automotive components, and wood products. Daggett-area employment includes forestry operations, small farms producing hay and livestock, seasonal recreational property maintenance, and home-based businesses. The region's forest products industry remains significant, with private timberlands surrounding Daggett providing logging employment. Tourism and outdoor recreation contribute to the local economy, particularly during hunting and snowmobiling seasons, with Daggett serving as a base for sportsmen accessing nearby public lands. Menominee County's median household income was approximately $49,000 as of recent census estimates, with Daggett's small population likely reflecting similar or slightly lower income levels typical of unincorporated rural areas. The community has experienced gradual population decline consistent with broader Upper Peninsula demographic trends, as younger residents migrate to urban areas for employment and educational opportunities. Property values in Daggett remain modest, with predominantly residential and recreational parcels. The lack of commercial infrastructure—no gas stations, retail stores, or restaurants operate in Daggett proper—means residents depend on services in Menominee and surrounding communities. Economic development challenges include limited broadband internet access, distance from major markets, harsh winter climate, and an aging population, though the area's natural amenities attract retirees and seasonal residents seeking rural lifestyles.

Daggett, Michigan is an unincorporated community with no municipal police department, so law enforcement services are provided exclusively by the Menominee County Sheriff's Office, located at 850 10th Avenue, Menominee, MI 49858. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (906) 863-4441, and operates a website at www.menomineecounty.com. The Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement activities in Daggett including patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response. Residents seeking police reports, incident reports, or accident reports must submit requests directly to the Sheriff's Office either in person, by mail, or by written request under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL 15.231 et seq. Michigan FOIA requires agencies to respond to public records requests within five business days, though extensions are permitted under certain circumstances. There may be fees for copies and staff time for extensive searches. For arrest records and jail bookings in Menominee County, the Sheriff's Office maintains the Menominee County Jail at the same address. Current inmate information can be accessed through the Michigan State Police's Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) at www.michigan.gov/ichat, or by contacting the jail directly at (906) 863-4441. Jail records typically include inmate name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and booking photographs when available. Michigan compiled law MCL 791.229 governs the disclosure of correctional facility records. For criminal history background checks, Michigan residents can request their own records through ICHAT or submit fingerprint-based checks through the Michigan State Police. Third-party requesters have limited access to conviction records only, as arrest records without dispositions are generally restricted under Michigan law.

Michigan vital records can be ordered online through the state's official vendor at www.michigan.gov/vitalrecords, by mail with a completed application form, or in person at county clerk offices. Processing time is typically 3-4 weeks by mail or 1-2 weeks for expedited service with additional fees. Birth records in Michigan are confidential for 100 years; only the individual named, parents, legal representatives, or those with court orders may obtain certified copies. Death records are public after 50 years. The Menominee County Clerk, located at 839 10th Avenue, Menominee, MI 49858 (phone: 906-863-9968), issues marriage licenses for couples planning to marry in Menominee County. The marriage license fee is $30, and couples must apply in person with valid photo identification. Michigan law requires a marriage license application at least three days before the ceremony. Marriage records are public and copies can be obtained from the County Clerk for $10 per certified copy. Divorce records are court records maintained by the 41st Circuit Court at the same address; certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the County Clerk for the standard certified copy fee. Michigan began statewide vital records registration in 1867, though earlier records may exist at the county level. Requesters must provide valid government-issued photo ID and proof of relationship or legal authority for restricted records.

The filing fee is $10, and the certificate must be renewed every five years under MCL 445.1. Michigan does not maintain a centralized searchable database of DBA filings; these must be searched at the county level. For corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other formal business entities, registration and annual filings are handled by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. Business entities can be searched through the Michigan Business Entity Search at www.michigan.gov/corpentitysearch, which provides information on entity name, status (active, dissolved, withdrawn), registered agent, formation date, and principal office address. The database is free to search and includes all corporations and LLCs registered in Michigan. Formation fees are $50 for LLCs and $60 for domestic corporations as of 2024. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Michigan Department of State and searchable at www.michigan.gov/ucc. UCC searches can be conducted by debtor name for a fee. Commercial property assessments and business personal property taxes are handled by the Menominee County Equalization Department; businesses must file annual personal property statements (Form 632) listing equipment, fixtures, and inventory. Property records can be searched through the county's online property database at www.menomineecounty.com.

Daggett voters participate in elections administered by the Menominee County Clerk, Elections Division, located at 839 10th Avenue, Menominee, MI 49858. The office can be reached at (906) 863-9968, and election information is available at www.menomineecounty.com. Michigan residents can register to vote online through the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote, by mail using a Michigan Voter Registration Application, in person at the county clerk's office or Secretary of State branch office, or through automatic registration when obtaining or renewing a driver's license. Michigan offers same-day voter registration, allowing eligible residents to register and vote up through Election Day at their local clerk's office or at their polling place with proof of residency. Voters must provide a Michigan driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering. As an unincorporated community, Daggett has no municipal government, no mayoral elections, and no city council elections. Daggett residents vote in Menominee County elections, Michigan state elections, and federal elections. Voters in Daggett are assigned to specific precincts within Menominee County townships; residents can find their assigned polling place by entering their address at the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote or by contacting the County Clerk. The November 4, 2024 general election in Menominee County saw voter turnout of approximately 68% of registered voters, consistent with Upper Peninsula turnout rates in the presidential election. Michigan voters cast ballots for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House (Daggett is in Michigan's 1st Congressional District), Michigan Supreme Court justices, county offices, and various ballot proposals. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Daggett and Menominee County voters will decide races for Michigan Governor, U.S. Senate (Michigan's Senate seat is up in 2026), U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan Attorney General, Michigan Secretary of State, State Senate District 38, State House District 108, Menominee County commissioners, Menominee County Clerk, Menominee County Treasurer, Menominee County Register of Deeds, Menominee County Sheriff, and various township offices. Michigan allows no-reason absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing justification under Michigan Constitution Article II, Section 4(1)(g) as amended in 2018. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by mail, or in person at the County Clerk's office; voters may request absentee ballots up to 75 days before an election. Michigan election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for a fee to qualified requesters under MCL 168.522 and 168.523), campaign finance reports searchable at www.michigan.gov/cfr, candidate filings available through the County Clerk or Secretary of State, and precinct-level election results published by the County Clerk and Secretary of State at www.michigan.gov/electionresults. Voter history (whether an individual voted, but not how they voted) is public information in Michigan.