Guide
Where to Look in Michigan
A Michigan search can start with these six state offices: prison and parole records, criminal history, court cases, business filings, deeds by county and vital records.
- OTIS, Michigan Department of CorrectionsPrisoners, parolees and probationers under MDOC supervision
- Michigan State Police criminal history (ICHAT)Name search of public state criminal history, for a fee
- MiCOURT Case SearchTrial court cases from participating courts
- MiBusiness Registry business entity searchLARA records of corporations, LLCs, partnerships and trade names
- Register of Deeds list by Michigan countyContacts and websites of all 83 county registers of deeds
- MDHHS Vital RecordsBirth, death, marriage and divorce certificates from 1867 on
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About Michigan Public Records
Governed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231 et seq.), the state generally promotes transparency. However, Michigan is unique in that the Governor and state legislature are currently exempt from FOIA. At the local level across 83 counties, public records are highly accessible.
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Official State-Level Sources
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Court Records in Michigan
Michigan utilizes a structured tier system: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts (57 general jurisdiction circuits), District Courts, and Probate Courts. The 36th District Court in Detroit is one of the busiest in the nation.
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Property and Tax Records
Common Mistake: In Michigan, property deeds are handled by the Register of Deeds, which is often a completely separate office from the County Clerk.
To build a timeline of where a person lived, check the register of deeds of the county for deeds and mortgages; the state list of registers is linked in Where to Look.
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Business and Licensing Records
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Corrections and Inmate Records
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Vital Records
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are housed at the State Vital Records Office. Access to birth records is restricted to the individual or parents for 100 years.
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Voter Registration
The Michigan Voter Information Center lets you check your own registration. The statewide voter file can be requested from the Bureau of Elections.
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Archives, Genealogy, and Obituary Resources
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Major County and City Resources
Wayne County (Detroit) is the most populous county, and its Third Circuit Court is the largest circuit court in Michigan. The other large counties are Oakland, Macomb, Kent (Grand Rapids), Genesee (Flint), Washtenaw (Ann Arbor) and Ingham (Lansing).
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People Search Tips for Michigan
Researcher Tip: OTIS shows only people who are or were recently under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision. For a state criminal history by name, use the State Police ICHAT search, linked in Where to Look.
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Privacy, Legal Framework, and FCRA Compliance
Always adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Michigan public records provide raw data, but using them for housing or employment decisions outside of FCRA parameters is illegal.
Straight answers
Michigan People Search, questions
Can I search Michigan court cases by name online?
Use MiCOURT Case Search from the Michigan courts and choose the trial court to search. Some courts show criminal convictions only when sentencing happened within seven years of the date of your search.
How do I find someone in Michigan prison or on parole?
Search OTIS, the Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System. It lists prisoners, parolees and probationers under supervision, plus people discharged within the last three years. Anyone discharged longer ago is not shown.
Can I check someone's Michigan criminal record?
Yes. ICHAT from the Michigan State Police searches public criminal history by name. It covers felonies and misdemeanors punishable by over 93 days. Suppressed records, warrants, juvenile, traffic, federal, tribal and out of state records are not included.
How do I search the Michigan sex offender registry?
The Michigan State Police keeps the Public Sex Offender Registry under the Sex Offenders Registration Act. Some details, such as address and physical description, come from the offenders themselves, so report errors to the local police or sheriff.
How do I order a Michigan death record?
MDHHS Vital Records in Lansing holds Michigan death records back to 1867. No photo ID is needed for a certified death record. The search fee for a standard record is $34, and you must give the person's name and year of death.
How do I get a Michigan marriage or divorce record?
MDHHS Vital Records holds marriage records back to 1867 and divorce records back to 1897. No photo ID is needed for a certified copy. You can order by mail, online, by phone, by drop box or by appointment.
How do I find who runs a Michigan business?
Search the MiBusiness Registry Portal from the LARA Corporations Division. LLCs and corporations report their resident agent and registered office every year, and corporations also report the names of their officers and directors.
How do I search Michigan unclaimed property by name?
The Michigan Department of Treasury runs Michigan's Unclaimed Property website. Search your name, a maiden name, or a business or nonprofit name. There is never a charge to search for or claim property.