Maple City, Michigan Public Records

The 13th Circuit Court (phone: 231-256-8255) serves Leelanau County for felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $25,000, divorce and family law matters, juvenile proceedings, and appeals from District Court. The 13th Circuit Court also functions as the Probate Court for estates, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health proceedings, and trust matters. Both courts maintain offices at the Government Center and are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed noon to 1:00 PM for lunch). Michigan court records can be searched online through the Michigan Court Records Portal at courts.michigan.gov/mifile, though not all historical records are digitized. Case searches are free, but detailed documents may require fees. To obtain certified copies of court documents, requests must be made in person or by mail to the respective court clerk; certified copy fees are $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page in District Court, with similar fees in Circuit Court. Non-certified copies are typically $1 per page. Case files for closed matters are subject to public inspection unless sealed by court order, though certain family law and juvenile records have restricted access under Michigan Court Rules.

Property information can be searched online free of charge through the Leelanau County GIS system at gis.leelanau.gov, which provides interactive mapping and parcel data including owner names, mailing addresses, assessed values, taxable values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, acreage), and sales history. The GIS portal allows searches by address, parcel number, or owner name and displays aerial imagery and tax maps. The Leelanau County Register of Deeds, located at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 104, Maple City, MI 49664 (phone: 231-256-8116, website: www.leelanau.gov/register.asp), records and maintains all land title documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgage documents, mortgage satisfactions, liens, land contracts, easements, and plats. The Register of Deeds office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00-1:00 PM). Recorded documents can be searched online through the Register of Deeds website at www.leelanau.gov/register.asp where digitized images are available for viewing and printing at no charge; the online database includes documents from approximately 1980 forward, with earlier records available by in-person research or request. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. The office accepts document recording in person or by mail, with recording fees set by state statute at $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page for most instruments.

The surrounding Leelanau County economy is heavily oriented toward agriculture (particularly cherry and wine grape production), tourism, and seasonal recreation. Major agricultural employers in the region include cherry processing facilities, wineries, and farms; the area is part of Michigan's renowned wine country with dozens of wineries on the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. Tourism is a dominant economic driver, with significant employment in lodging, restaurants, marinas, and outdoor recreation businesses serving visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Glen Arbor, Leland, Suttons Bay, and other lakeside communities. The median household income for Leelanau County as a whole is approximately $70,000, significantly above the Michigan state average, reflecting the affluent seasonal population and second-home ownership. Year-round employment opportunities are more limited, and many workers commute to Traverse City for healthcare, education, retail, and professional services jobs. The Leelanau Peninsula's economy experiences significant seasonal variation, with summer months bringing peak tourism employment and winter months seeing reduced economic activity. Recent economic developments include continued growth in the wine industry, expansion of farm-to-table dining and agritourism, and increasing property values driven by demand for waterfront and rural residential properties.

Maple City, as an unincorporated community, does not maintain its own police department. Law enforcement services for Maple City and surrounding areas of Leelanau County are provided by the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 110, Maple City, MI 49664. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (231) 256-8800, and their website is www.leelanau.gov/sheriff.asp. The Sheriff's Office provides full law enforcement services including patrol, criminal investigation, traffic enforcement, and jail operations for the entire county. To request police reports or incident records, residents must contact the Sheriff's Office administrative division during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) at the phone number above or submit a written request in person. Requests for accident reports, incident reports, and non-confidential police records are subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL 15.231 et seq. The Sheriff's Office typically processes FOIA requests within five business days and may charge reasonable fees for copying and staff time. Arrest records and jail booking information for Leelanau County can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office inmate roster, available online at www.leelanau.gov/sheriff_corrections.asp or by contacting the jail directly at (231) 256-8802. The online inmate search shows current detainees, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Mugshots may be available upon request but are not typically displayed online. Historical arrest records and case dispositions require a formal FOIA request submitted to the Sheriff's Office. Michigan law exempts certain law enforcement records from disclosure, including active investigation files, confidential informant information, and records that would interfere with law enforcement proceedings under MCL 15.243.

Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909. Birth and death certificates can be ordered online through the state system at www.michigan.gov/mdhhs (VitalChek online ordering service) for a fee of $34 per certified copy plus processing fees, with expedited shipping available. Standard processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks; expedited service is available for additional fees. Only eligible persons may request vital records: for birth certificates, the individual named (if age 18+), parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper authorization; for death certificates, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a direct and tangible interest. Valid government-issued photo ID is required. Michigan birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years unless the requestor is an eligible person. Marriage licenses are issued by the Leelanau County Clerk's Office in Maple City; the license fee is $30 and couples must apply in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. There is no waiting period and the license is valid for 33 days. Certified copies of marriage records cost $15 for the first copy and $5 for additional copies. Divorce records (divorce decrees and judgments) are maintained by the 13th Circuit Court at the same Government Center location, as divorce is a court proceeding; certified copies are available from the Circuit Court Clerk for $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.

Businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must file an Assumed Name ("Doing Business As" or DBA) certificate with the Leelanau County Clerk at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 101, Maple City, MI 49664, phone (231) 256-9824. The DBA filing fee in Michigan is $10 and must be renewed every five years. Corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other formal business entities must register with the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. Entity formation documents, annual reports, and business searches can be accessed through the Michigan business entity search at www.michigan.gov/lara-corporations or www.michigan.gov/corpentitysearch. The database is free and searchable by entity name, identification number, or registered agent, showing active status, formation date, registered agent information, and business address. LLC formation in Michigan costs $50; corporation formation costs $60; annual reports are not required in Michigan for most entities. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are filed with and searchable through the Michigan Secretary of State UCC division at www.michigan.gov/sos. Commercial property owners can search property tax assessments and business personal property tax information through the Leelanau County Equalization Department at (231) 256-8120 or online via the county GIS system at gis.leelanau.gov. Business personal property tax returns are filed annually with the local assessing unit; in unincorporated areas of Leelanau County this is typically the township assessor or county equalization office.

Maple City voters are served by the Leelanau County Clerk's office, which administers elections for all county residents. The Leelanau County Clerk/Register of Deeds office is located at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 101, Maple City, MI 49664, phone (231) 256-9824, website www.leelanau.gov/clerk.asp. The County Clerk oversees voter registration, ballot preparation, absentee voting, early voting, and election administration throughout Leelanau County. Michigan residents can register to vote online at the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote, operated by the Michigan Secretary of State. Online registration requires a valid Michigan driver's license or state ID card. Voters must register at least 15 days before an election to vote by mail, though Michigan now allows same-day voter registration in person at the clerk's office or at polling places through Election Day. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Michigan. Because Maple City is unincorporated, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council; residents vote in Kasson Township elections for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees, as well as county, state, and federal elections. Leelanau County Board of Commissioners elections occur in even-numbered years, with commissioners elected from single-member districts. Maple City area voters participate in these county elections as well as elections for Michigan State Senate (District 37), Michigan State House of Representatives (District 103 or 104 depending on township boundaries), U.S. House of Representatives (Michigan's 1st Congressional District), and statewide offices. In the November 2024 presidential election, Leelanau County recorded turnout of approximately 76-78% of registered voters, with the county favoring Democratic candidates in recent statewide races, though results vary by township. On November 3, 2026, Michigan voters including Maple City residents will decide several important races: the full U.S. Senate seat (Michigan has two Senate seats; the Class II seat currently held by Gary Peters will be on the ballot in 2026), all of Michigan's U.S. House seats including the 1st District, all 110 Michigan House of Representatives seats, 19 Michigan State Senate seats (half the chamber, as senators serve four-year terms), and various Leelanau County offices including County Commissioners, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Treasurer, Prosecuting Attorney, and Sheriff. Voters can look up their specific polling place, sample ballot, and registration status at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and date of birth or by contacting the County Clerk. Michigan offers comprehensive absentee/mail-in voting: any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason (this was approved by constitutional amendment 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. Absentee ballots are mailed approximately 40 days before each election. Completed ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmark does not count; must be received by 8:00 PM), by dropping in an official ballot drop box, or by delivering in person to the clerk's office or polling place. Michigan also offers in-person early voting for nine days before Election Day at designated early voting sites. Public election records in Michigan include voter registration files (available to campaigns and political organizations but restricted for commercial use), precinct-level election results (published by the County Clerk and Secretary of State at www.michigan.gov/sos), campaign finance disclosures for candidates and committees (searchable at www.michigan.gov/sos under the Campaign Finance section), and candidate filings and petitions (available from the County Clerk for local races and the Secretary of State for state races). Voter registration lists show name, address, date of birth, and voting history (which elections the person voted in, but not how they voted), but are not freely available to the general public under Michigan law MCL 168.522 and 168.523.