Frederic, Michigan Public Records

The 82nd District Court, phone (989) 344-3216, has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases under $25,000, landlord-tenant matters, small claims up to $6,500, and traffic violations. District Court also conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases before they proceed to circuit court. The 82nd District Court serves all of Crawford County including Frederic, Grayling, and surrounding townships. Michigan court records can be searched through the Michigan Court Case Search portal at courts.michigan.gov/case-search, though online access varies by court and case type. Some courts provide full docket information online while others require in-person searches at the court clerk's office. Certified copies of court documents are available from the appropriate clerk's office for a fee of $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, plus a $1 certification fee per document. Case file copies are typically $1 per page. The Crawford County Clerk's Office at (989) 344-3206 can provide information about fees for specific document requests and filing requirements.

Property tax and assessment data can be searched online through the Crawford County property search portal accessible via the county website at www.crawfordco.org, allowing searches by owner name, parcel number, or property address. The system displays current and historical assessment data, property classification, acreage, and tax information. The Crawford County Register of Deeds, also located at 200 West Michigan Avenue, phone (989) 344-3207, is responsible for recording and maintaining official land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage discharges, land contracts, easements, liens, and other instruments affecting real property title. The Register of Deeds office provides public access to recorded documents dating back to Crawford County's formation in 1879. Many recorded documents can be searched and viewed online through a subscription-based system or free index search at the county website, though some historical records require in-person research. Document copies cost $1 per page for standard copies and $5 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page for certified copies. Crawford County also maintains a GIS mapping system accessible online that integrates assessor parcel data with aerial photography and zoning information.

Many Frederic residents commute to larger employment centers in Grayling (approximately 12 miles south) where major employers include Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital, Grayling High School and the Crawford AuSable School District, and Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, one of the largest National Guard training facilities in the United States. The broader regional economy depends heavily on tourism and outdoor recreation, with thousands of visitors annually drawn to the Au Sable River for canoeing, kayaking, and trout fishing, as well as hunting in the extensive Huron-Manistee National Forest lands surrounding Frederic. Timber harvesting and forest products, while diminished from the 19th century lumber boom, remain economically relevant. According to U.S. Census data, Crawford County's median household income is approximately $45,000-$50,000, below the Michigan state median, reflecting the rural character and seasonal employment patterns of the region. Frederic's population has remained relatively stable over recent decades, with modest residential development and minimal commercial expansion. The village's economic future is closely tied to maintaining access and services for I-75 travelers and supporting the workforce for employers in Grayling and surrounding Crawford County communities.

The Village of Frederic does not maintain its own police department; law enforcement services for the village and surrounding Frederic Township are provided by the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 2581 M-93 (Michigan Avenue), Grayling, MI 49738, phone (989) 348-7500. The Sheriff's Office website at www.crawfordcosheriff.com provides general information about services and contact information for various divisions. Residents seeking police reports, incident records, or accident reports must submit requests directly to the Sheriff's Office either in person, by mail, or by phone. Michigan State Police also patrols I-75 through Frederic and maintains a post in Grayling that handles state highway incidents and investigations. Arrest and jail booking records for individuals detained in Crawford County are accessible through the Crawford County Jail inmate roster, which can be searched online at the county website or by contacting the jail directly at (989) 348-7540. The online inmate search typically displays current inmates with information including name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and expected release date, though mugshots may or may not be included depending on system configuration. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231-15.246, establishes the legal framework for requesting public records from law enforcement agencies. FOIA requests must be submitted in writing describing the records sought with reasonable specificity. Agencies have five business days to respond, and may charge fees for document search, copying, and redaction. Certain records such as active investigation files and personal information may be exempt from disclosure under MCL 15.243.

Records can be ordered online through the VitalChek service at michigan.gov/vitalrecords with additional processing fees, by mail with a completed application and payment, or in person at county clerk offices. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail or 10-15 business days for online orders. Birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old are restricted to eligible requestors including the registrant, immediate family members, or legal representatives who must provide valid photo identification. The Crawford County Clerk's Office at 200 West Michigan Avenue, Grayling, MI 49738, phone (989) 344-3206, issues marriage licenses for couples planning to marry in Crawford County. The marriage license fee is $20 for Michigan residents who complete premarital education or $30 without education. Licenses are valid for 33 days after the three-day waiting period. Marriage records and divorce decrees are public records available through the county clerk for marriages and through circuit court records for divorces. Historical vital records dating to the late 1800s may be available through the county clerk or state archives depending on the record type and date.

Fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA filings) in Michigan are filed with the county clerk where the business operates. The Crawford County Clerk at 200 West Michigan Avenue, phone (989) 344-3206, accepts DBA filings for businesses using names other than the owner's legal name; the filing fee is typically $10 and filings must be renewed every five years. Michigan corporation, LLC, and other business entity formations and searches are handled by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. The Michigan business entity search is available free online at www.michigan.gov/corpentitysearch, allowing searches by business name, identification number, or registered agent. The database shows entity status (active, dissolved, etc.), formation date, registered agent and office address, and officers/directors for corporations. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches in Michigan are also filed with and searchable through LARA at www.michigan.gov/ucc. Business property owners in Frederic can search commercial property tax assessments through the Crawford County Equalization Department online property search system, which displays taxable values, assessed values, and property classification codes for all real property including commercial parcels.

Frederic voters are served by the Crawford County Clerk, Elections Division, located at 200 West Michigan Avenue, Grayling, MI 49738, phone (989) 344-3206, website www.crawfordco.org. The County Clerk serves as the chief election official for all Crawford County municipalities including the Village of Frederic and Frederic Township. Michigan residents can register to vote online at michigan.gov/vote through the Michigan Voter Information Center, in person at the county clerk's office or Secretary of State branch office, by mail, or at designated state agencies. Michigan offers Election Day registration, allowing eligible residents to register and vote on the same day at their clerk's office or polling place with proof of residency. Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Michigan and their city or township for at least 30 days. The Village of Frederic holds municipal elections for village council positions in odd-numbered years, typically in November, with the next regular village election scheduled for November 2025. Village council terms are staggered, and candidates file nominating petitions with the village clerk at 109 Fourth Street. Frederic residents also vote in Frederic Township elections for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees. Frederic voters can find their assigned polling location using the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and birth date, or by contacting the Crawford County Clerk. The Frederic Township Hall and Frederic Township Fire Station typically serve as polling locations for various precincts. Michigan election records that are public include voter registration lists (available to qualified requestors for election purposes), campaign finance disclosures filed by candidates and committees (searchable at www.michigan.gov/sos), candidate filings and ballot language, and precinct-level election results published by the county clerk and Secretary of State. In the November 2024 presidential election, Crawford County reported approximately 60-65% voter turnout with detailed results available on the county website. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Frederic and Crawford County voters will decide races including Michigan Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, U.S. Representative for Michigan's 1st Congressional District, state senator for District 37, state representative for District 104, Crawford County commissioners, Crawford County Sheriff, county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, and various township and village positions depending on term schedules. Michigan allows no-reason absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by submitting a written request to their city or township clerk, or in person at the clerk's office. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the clerk by 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day, though voters may request and submit an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office until 8:00 PM on Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the clerk by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted.