Eckerman, Michigan Public Records

The bond and bail process follows Michigan state guidelines, allowing for the release of detainees pending court appearances, with bail amounts set by the courts based on the severity of charges and flight risk.

The 91st District Court, also located at 319 Court Street (same courthouse building), phone (906) 635-6320, handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims up to $6,500, traffic violations, and preliminary examinations for felonies. The Chippewa County Probate Court, phone (906) 635-6340, shares the courthouse facility and handles guardianships, conservatorships, mental health commitments, and wills. Michigan court records can be searched through the Michigan Courts Case Search portal at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search, which provides access to case information from participating courts including Chippewa County. Records available online include party names, case numbers, filing dates, case types, attorneys of record, and some court orders, though complete case files may require in-person review or formal requests. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the respective court clerks; fees typically include $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page for certification, plus copy fees of $1 per page. These fees are set by Michigan Court Rules and may be updated periodically by court administration.

The Michigan Bureau of Investigation also offers resources for Chippewa County residents seeking detailed criminal background information. These records are crucial for legal proceedings, employment screenings, and personal inquiries.

Property tax information and assessments can be searched online through the Chippewa County property tax database, though as of 2025 the county has limited online search capabilities and many requests require phone or in-person inquiry. The Chippewa County Register of Deeds, located at 319 Court Street (Courthouse), Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6310, records and maintains all real property documents including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, mortgage discharges, land contracts, easements, restrictions, liens, and other instruments affecting title to real property. Michigan law requires recording of real estate documents to establish public notice and priority of interests. The Register of Deeds office indexes documents by grantor name, grantee name, and parcel number. Document images dating back several decades have been digitized, but online public access is limited; most searches require contacting the office directly or visiting in person during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM). Recording fees are set by state statute: $30 for the first page of most documents and $3 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $10 for the first page plus $1 for additional pages. The county does maintain a GIS mapping system accessible at some county terminals, but comprehensive online parcel viewer access for the public remains under development. For property searches by address or owner name in Eckerman, residents should contact the Equalization Department with the property's physical address or parcel identification number.

The Tahquamenon Area School District, headquartered in Newberry but serving the Eckerman area, is one of the region's larger public employers. Seasonal businesses include small lodges, bait shops, and recreation outfitters catering to hunters, fishermen, snowmobilers, and tourists visiting Tahquamenon Falls. The Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub, located within the state park, draws thousands of visitors annually. Forestry and timber-related activities remain economically significant, with both state and private forestlands surrounding Eckerman supporting periodic timber harvests. Median household income data specific to Eckerman is not separately reported due to its small size, but Chippewa County's median household income was approximately $48,000 as of recent census estimates, below both state and national averages. The region experiences high seasonal unemployment, with many positions tied to summer tourism and fall hunting seasons. Poverty rates in eastern Chippewa County exceed county and state averages. Recent economic developments have been minimal; the area faces ongoing challenges including population decline, limited broadband infrastructure, and distance from major markets. Eckerman's economy functions as a remote, resource-based and recreation-dependent enclave within the broader Chippewa County economy, which itself is anchored by Sault Ste. Marie's government employment, Soo Locks maritime operations, Lake Superior State University, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians' casino and governmental operations.

Eckerman, as an unincorporated community, does not have its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Eckerman and the surrounding area are provided by the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 112 W Spruce Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6355. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol duties, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response throughout unincorporated areas of Chippewa County including Eckerman. Residents can request police reports and incident records by contacting the Sheriff's Office during regular business hours; requests are subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL 15.231 et seq. Written FOIA requests should be directed to the Sheriff's Office FOIA Coordinator at the Spruce Street address. The Michigan FOIA law requires agencies to respond to public records requests within five business days, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and staff time. For arrest records and current jail bookings, the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office maintains the Chippewa County Correctional Facility at 120 W Spruce Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. An inmate roster is available by calling the jail at (906) 635-6360 or by visiting in person. Information typically includes inmate name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and expected court dates. Michigan State Police also have jurisdiction and maintain the Sault Ste. Marie Post at 777 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 632-2217, which may respond to incidents on state highways like M-123 near Eckerman. All arrest and booking records are public unless sealed by court order, and mugshots are generally available upon FOIA request to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

However, most vital records requests are processed through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, phone (517) 335-8655. Michigan vital records can be ordered online through the state's official vendor at www.michigan.gov/mdhhs (Vital Records section), with processing times of approximately 3-4 weeks for mail requests and expedited service available for additional fees. Birth records in Michigan are confidential for 100 years and only available to the registrant, parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper identification. Death certificates are similarly available from the Chippewa County Clerk for deaths occurring in the county ($34 for first certified copy, $16 for additional copies) or from MDHHS state office using the same fee structure. Death records are public information after they are filed. Marriage licenses must be obtained from the Chippewa County Clerk's Office at 319 Court Street; couples must apply in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. The marriage license fee in Michigan is $20, with an additional $10 fee if couples choose to waive the three-day waiting period. Marriage records are public. Divorce records are court records maintained by the 50th Circuit Court at the Chippewa County Courthouse, phone (906) 635-6300, and certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the circuit court clerk for standard certification fees.

Businesses operating under an assumed name (Doing Business As or DBA) must file with the Chippewa County Clerk at 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6300. Michigan requires assumed name certificates to be filed and published in a local newspaper; the filing fee with the county clerk is approximately $10. Most formal business entity formations—corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other statutory entities—are registered with the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. Michigan business entity records can be searched free of charge through the Corporations Online Filing System at www.michigan.gov/corpentityinfo. The database allows searches by entity name, ID number, or registered agent, and provides information on business status (active, dissolved, withdrawn), formation date, registered office address, resident agent, and officers or members for LLCs. Annual statement filings and good standing certificates can be ordered through the same system. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) 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/sos. For property tax information relevant to commercial real estate in Eckerman, business owners should contact the Chippewa County Equalization Department at (906) 635-6350 to obtain assessment information, taxable values, and payment records for commercial parcels.

Eckerman residents vote in Chippewa County elections and are served by the Chippewa County Clerk's Office, which administers elections from 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6300. The County Clerk serves as the chief election official for all county, township, state, and federal elections affecting Eckerman voters. Michigan residents can register to vote online at the Michigan Voter Information Center, www.michigan.gov/vote, up to 15 days before an election, or in person at their local clerk's office up through and including Election Day with proof of residency. Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Michigan for at least 30 days. Acceptable identification includes a Michigan driver's license, state ID, or other documents showing name and current address. Because Eckerman is unincorporated and has no municipal government, there are no local mayoral or city council elections. Eckerman residents vote in township elections for their respective township boards (Eckerman spans portions of McMillan Township and Lakefield Township); township elections are held in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustee positions. Voters can look up their assigned polling place, sample ballot, and registration status through the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and date of birth or address. In the November 2024 presidential election, Chippewa County reported voter turnout of approximately 64%, with roughly 16,500 ballots cast out of approximately 25,800 registered voters county-wide. Election records that are public in Michigan include voter registration lists (available to campaigns and political organizations), precinct-level election results (available through the county clerk and Michigan Secretary of State at www.michigan.gov/sos), campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable at www.michigan.gov/sos, Campaign Finance section), and candidate filings and petitions. On November 3, 2026, Eckerman and Chippewa County voters will decide several significant races: Michigan does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (next Michigan Senate race is 2028), but voters will elect a Governor (current Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, so 2026 will feature an open gubernatorial race), Secretary of State, Attorney General, and members of the Michigan State House of Representatives (all 110 seats). Locally, Chippewa County voters will elect county commissioners, the Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clerk/Register of Deeds, Treasurer, and other county offices. Additionally, one Michigan Supreme Court seat and several Court of Appeals seats will be on the ballot. Michigan offers no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by mail, or in person at the County Clerk's office. Completed absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. Early in-person voting is available at designated early voting sites beginning nine days before Election Day through the Sunday before Election Day.