Highland Park, Michigan Public Records

For misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters under $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims up to $6,500, residents use the 30th District Court. The 30th District Court has a division serving Highland Park at the Highland Park Courthouse, 12050 Woodward Avenue, Highland Park, MI 48203 (phone: 313-866-0880). Traffic violations and local ordinance violations are also handled here. Michigan court records can be searched online through the statewide Michigan Courts Case Search portal at courts.michigan.gov/case-search, which provides free access to case information from participating courts including Wayne County circuit and district courts; users can search by party name, case number, or attorney. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, plus a $1 certification fee. Document fees vary by court; the Third Circuit charges $20 for filing a civil complaint and the District Court charges approximately $65-$95 for small claims filings depending on claim amount. Walk-in requests for record copies can be made at the respective court clerk's offices during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Property records can be searched free online through the Wayne County Property Portal at www.waynecounty.com/departments/ita/propertysearch.aspx, where users can search by address, parcel number, or owner name to view assessment data, tax information, and property characteristics for all parcels in Highland Park and throughout Wayne County. The Wayne County Register of Deeds, located at 400 Monroe Street, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 5th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226 (phone: 313-224-5854, website: www.waynecounty.com/elected/register), records and maintains official documents affecting real property including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, land contracts, and discharge of mortgages. Wayne County offers free online access to recorded documents through its Register of Deeds Search at registerofdeeds.waynecounty.com, where users can search and view scanned images of recorded instruments dating back many decades at no charge. The county also provides a GIS property mapping system at gis.waynecounty.com that displays parcel boundaries, ownership, and assessment data on interactive maps. Property searches can be conducted by entering a Highland Park street address (such as those on Woodward Avenue, Hamilton Avenue, or other city streets), owner name, or parcel identification number. Recording fees for new documents vary by document type and page count, typically starting at $30 for the first page.

Today, with a population around 10,000, Highland Park's economy is characterized by small-scale retail, service businesses along Woodward Avenue, social services organizations, and the presence of several charter schools that serve as local employers. The city hosts a mix of longtime neighborhood businesses, nonprofit community organizations, religious institutions, and entrepreneurial startups. Major employers in the immediate area include the Highland Park Public Schools (though the district faced state intervention and later was dissolved with students transferring to charter schools), the Highland Park Police Department, city government offices, and charter school operators. Healthcare workers often commute to nearby Detroit Medical Center facilities and Henry Ford Health System hospitals. The median household income in Highland Park is significantly below Wayne County and state averages, reflecting ongoing economic challenges. However, the city's location entirely within Detroit, its access to major transportation corridors including Woodward Avenue and I-75, proximity to Detroit's Midtown and New Center districts, and its distinctive architectural heritage have attracted interest from community development organizations, artists, and urban revitalization advocates. Recent years have seen efforts to stabilize city services, attract new investment, and leverage Highland Park's unique history and position within the larger Detroit metropolitan economy.

The Highland Park Police Department, located at 12050 Woodward Avenue, Highland Park, MI 48203 (phone: 313-852-7338), serves the city's residents with law enforcement services and maintains local police reports, incident records, accident reports, and case files. Citizens can request copies of police reports by visiting the department in person during business hours or submitting a written request; a valid ID and case number or incident details are typically required, and fees may apply for copies. The department's jurisdiction covers only the 2.97 square miles within Highland Park's boundaries. For matters outside city limits, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 500 Monroe Street, Suite 450, Detroit, MI 48226 (phone: 313-224-5610, website: www.waynecounty.com/elected/sheriff), provides countywide law enforcement, operates the Wayne County Jail, and assists municipal departments. Arrest and jail booking records for individuals detained in Wayne County facilities can be searched through the Wayne County Sheriff's online inmate locator at www.waynecounty.com/departments/sheriff/inmate-search.aspx, which displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots. Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq., public bodies including police departments and the sheriff's office must provide access to public records upon written request within five business days, though they may charge reasonable fees for searching, copying, and redacting exempt information. Certain records such as ongoing investigation files, confidential informant information, and records that would compromise security may be exempted. Requests should be submitted in writing to the FOIA coordinator at the respective agency, specifying the records sought with reasonable detail.

Birth certificates cost $34 for a certified copy ($16 for each additional copy ordered at the same time) and can be ordered online at www.michigan.gov/mdhhs through the state's VitalChek partner, in person at the state office or Wayne County Clerk, or by mail with processing times of approximately 4-6 weeks by mail or 2-3 weeks for online orders with expedited shipping available. Only individuals named on the certificate, parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper identification can request certified copies; Michigan restricts access to birth records for 100 years. Death certificates follow the same process and fee structure through the state vital records office at $34 per certified copy. Marriage licenses are issued by the Wayne County Clerk's office at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 400 Monroe Street, Suite 260, Detroit, MI 48226 (phone: 313-224-5861). Couples must apply in person, pay a $20 license fee ($10 if completing premarital education), and the license is valid for 33 days after a 3-day waiting period. Marriage records dating back over a century are maintained by the County Clerk. Divorce records are obtained through the Third Judicial Circuit Court where the divorce was granted; certified copies cost $10 plus $1 per page. The Wayne County Clerk maintains an index of divorce records but certified copies must be requested from the court. Death records from the past year and birth records from recent years may only be available through the state office while historical records are accessible through both county and state offices.

Fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA) in Michigan are typically filed with the county clerk where the business operates; the Wayne County Clerk's office at 400 Monroe Street, Suite 260, Detroit, MI 48226 (phone: 313-224-5861) handles DBA filings for Highland Park businesses. For formal business entity formation and registration, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) administers all corporation, LLC, limited partnership, and nonprofit entity filings through its Corporations Division. The Michigan Business Entity Search is available free online at www.michigan.gov/corpentitysearch where anyone can search by entity name, ID number, or registered agent to view status, formation date, registered agent information, and filing history. New business entities are formed by filing articles of organization (LLC) or articles of incorporation (corporations) with LARA online or by mail; filing fees are typically $50 for LLCs and $60 for corporations. Annual statement fees of $25 apply. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with and searchable through Michigan LARA. Business personal property taxes are assessed by the Highland Park Assessor through the Wayne County system; commercial property owners can search assessments through the Wayne County property portal. Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, health professionals, etc.) are issued by Michigan LARA and searchable at www.michigan.gov/licensesearch.

Highland Park voters are served by the Wayne County Clerk's Elections Division, located at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 400 Monroe Street, Suite 260, Detroit, MI 48226 (phone: 313-224-5525, website: www.waynecounty.com/elected/clerk/election-information.aspx). Michigan residents can register to vote online through the Michigan Secretary of State at www.michigan.gov/sos by submitting a digital application with a driver's license or state ID; voters can also register in person at the county clerk's office, city clerk's office at Highland Park City Hall (12050 Woodward Avenue), or Secretary of State branch offices up to and including Election Day. Michigan adopted Election Day registration in 2018, allowing residents to register and vote on the same day with proof of residency. Highland Park holds municipal elections for mayor and city council; the mayor and council members serve four-year terms with elections typically held in November of odd-numbered years. The next Highland Park municipal election is scheduled for November 2025, when voters will elect the mayor and city council positions. Candidates for local office file nominating petitions with the Highland Park City Clerk. Highland Park residents find their assigned polling location by using the Michigan Voter Information Center at mvic.sos.state.mi.us, where they can enter their address to see their precinct, polling place address, hours, and sample ballot. Michigan makes extensive election records publicly available: voter registration lists (without birth dates or driver's license numbers) are available for purchase for election-related purposes, campaign finance reports are searchable online through the Michigan Secretary of State's Campaign Finance database, candidate filings and nominating petitions are public records at the respective clerk's office, and precinct-level election results are published by the county clerk and Secretary of State. In the November 2024 presidential election, Wayne County reported approximately 54% voter turnout with over 620,000 ballots cast from more than 1.1 million registered voters; Highland Park's voter participation mirrored county trends. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Highland Park and Wayne County voters will decide several significant races: a U.S. Senate seat (Michigan's junior senator is up for election in 2026), Michigan Governor and Lieutenant Governor (the gubernatorial race is scheduled for 2026), Michigan Secretary of State, Michigan Attorney General, state House of Representatives seats (all 110 districts), state Senate seats (districts in even-numbered cycles), Wayne County Executive, Wayne County Clerk, Wayne County Sheriff, Wayne County Prosecutor, Wayne County Commissioner positions, and potentially judges for circuit and district courts and ballot proposals. Michigan voters can request absentee ballots without providing a reason under a constitutional amendment approved in 2018; applications are available online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, from the Highland Park City Clerk, or from the Wayne County Clerk, and must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day for mail delivery or can be requested in person through 4 p.m. on the Monday before Election Day. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain circumstances. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail (must be postmarked by Election Day and received within six days), deposited in official drop boxes located at clerk's offices and other designated locations, or delivered in person to the clerk's office.