Montgomery, Michigan Public Records

The 15th District Court, located at 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036, phone (517) 279-4337, has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal offenses, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims disputes up to $6,500, landlord-tenant matters, and preliminary examinations for felony cases. Traffic violations and local ordinance violations for Montgomery residents are also processed through District Court. Michigan court records can be searched online through the Michigan Court Portal at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/icCourt/Home.xhtml, which provides access to case information from both Circuit and District Courts statewide, though some sensitive records such as adoption and certain juvenile matters are restricted. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney to access dockets, case histories, and filing information. The Branch County Clerk's Office, phone (517) 279-4302, processes court filings and maintains official records. Standard fees include $10 for non-certified document copies and $20 for certified copies of court documents. Passport copies of official records cost $1.00 per page. The Circuit Court charges filing fees of approximately $175-$275 for civil actions depending on case type, while District Court civil filing fees range from $40-$80. Small claims filing fees are typically $35-$70 based on the amount in dispute.

The county provides a free online property search tool at https://www.countyofbranch.com/equalization where Montgomery residents can search by owner name, address, or parcel number to view current assessment data, property tax information, sales history, and parcel maps. The system displays State Equalized Value (SEV), Taxable Value, property classification codes, and square footage details. The Branch County Register of Deeds, located at 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036, phone (517) 279-4304, website https://www.countyofbranch.com/deeds, is the official repository for recorded land documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, property liens, easements, land contracts, and other instruments affecting real property titles. Michigan law requires these documents to be recorded to establish priority and provide public notice. The Register of Deeds provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription-based system, with free index searching available but document images requiring either a paid account or in-person visit with per-page copying fees of $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for subsequent pages. The office also maintains a GIS (Geographic Information System) parcel viewer that allows users to view property boundaries, zoning information, aerial imagery, and related spatial data for Montgomery and all of Branch County.

The nearest substantial employers are located in Coldwater, approximately 15 miles southwest, including Industrial Steel Treating Company, Federal-Mogul Powertrain (now Tenneco), and Mort's Manufacturing, which provide manufacturing jobs for area residents. The Branch Intermediate School District and ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital also employ considerable numbers of Branch County workers. Montgomery itself has minimal commercial infrastructure, with residents typically commuting to Coldwater, Bronson, or even Angola, Indiana for retail goods and services. According to U.S. Census data estimates for Gilead Township, the median household income is approximately $52,000-$58,000, slightly below Michigan's statewide median but consistent with rural agricultural communities. The area has seen modest residential growth as individuals seeking affordable rural living have purchased properties, though the overall population remains stable and small. Montgomery's economy remains intertwined with Branch County's broader agricultural base, with farming operations, agricultural service providers, and related industries forming the economic foundation. The community has limited commercial development due to its unincorporated status and rural character, with most economic activity occurring on individual farm properties or through home-based businesses.

Montgomery, Michigan is an unincorporated community without its own police department. Law enforcement services for Montgomery and the surrounding Gilead Township area are provided by the Branch County Sheriff's Office, located at 325 E. Chicago Street, Coldwater, MI 49036, phone (517) 279-4571, website https://www.countyofbranch.com/sheriff. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Branch County, responding to calls for service, conducting investigations, and maintaining patrol presence throughout Montgomery. Residents can request police reports and incident records by contacting the Sheriff's Office Records Division during regular business hours; requests may require completion of a written FOIA request form and payment of copying fees. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 through 15.246, governs access to law enforcement records, with certain exemptions for ongoing investigations and confidential informant information. To search for arrests and jail bookings affecting Montgomery residents, the Branch County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster at https://www.countyofbranch.com/sheriff, which displays current detainees held at the Branch County Jail located adjacent to the Sheriff's Office in Coldwater. The inmate search typically shows booking photographs, charges filed, bond amounts, booking dates, and expected release dates. Records requests under Michigan FOIA must be submitted in writing to the Sheriff's Office FOIA Coordinator, either in person, by mail to 325 E. Chicago Street, Coldwater, MI 49036, or via the department's online request system. The agency has five business days to respond to FOIA requests and may charge reasonable fees for document copies and staff time for extensive searches.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, phone (517) 335-8655, website https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keeping-mi-healthy/vitalrecords, maintains statewide birth records from 1867 forward and offers online ordering through VitalChek at an additional processing fee. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail or 2-3 weeks for online orders. Death certificates follow the same process, available from the Branch County Clerk at $15 for the first certified copy and $7 for each additional copy, or through the state vital records office. Michigan law restricts birth and death certificate access to the individual (if of legal age), parents, legal representatives, and others with documented tangible interest. Marriage licenses for Montgomery residents must be obtained from the Branch County Clerk's Office at the Coldwater location; the license fee is $20 and requires both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. There is no waiting period, but licenses are valid for 33 days from issuance. Marriage records are public and searchable at the Clerk's Office. Divorce records are maintained as part of Circuit Court case files and can be accessed through the 15th Circuit Court at (517) 279-4305, with certified copies available for $20 from the County Clerk. Branch County records date back to the county's formation in 1829, with earlier records potentially available through state archives.

Fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA filings) in Michigan are handled at the county level through the Branch County Clerk's Office, 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036, phone (517) 279-4302. Business owners using a name other than their legal name must file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the County Clerk, with fees typically around $10, renewable as required by statute. The filing becomes part of public record and can be searched at the Clerk's Office. Michigan business entity formation and registration is managed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. The Michigan Business Entity Search is available free online at https://cofs.lara.michigan.gov/SearchApi/Search/Search, where users can search for corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other registered entities by business name, entity ID number, or registered agent. The database displays entity status (active, dissolved, administratively dissolved), formation date, registered office address, registered agent information, and filing history. New LLC formation costs $50 and can be completed online. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien searches for secured transactions and business financing are conducted through the LARA UCC Database at https://apps.michigan.gov/ucc/, which allows free searching of UCC-1 financing statements filed against business assets. Property tax information for commercial real estate in Montgomery is accessible through the Branch County Equalization Department's online parcel search at https://www.countyofbranch.com/equalization, showing assessed values and tax obligations for business properties.

Montgomery, Michigan voters are served by the Branch County Clerk's Office, which administers elections for all unincorporated communities and townships within the county. The Branch County Clerk/Register of Deeds, located at 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036, phone (517) 279-4304, website https://www.countyofbranch.com/clerk, oversees voter registration, ballot preparation, absentee voting, and election result certification. Montgomery residents can register to vote online through the Michigan Voter Information Center at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us, which allows eligible citizens to register, update their registration, or check their voter status. Michigan offers same-day voter registration, allowing residents to register and vote on Election Day at their polling place or at the local clerk's office with proof of residency. Acceptable documents include a Michigan driver's license, state ID, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document showing name and current address. As an unincorporated community, Montgomery does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council. Instead, Montgomery residents vote in Gilead Township elections for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees, typically held in even-numbered years during the August primary and November general elections. The next Gilead Township election for local offices will be determined by the township's election cycle. Montgomery voters can locate their assigned polling place using the Michigan Voter Information Center at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us by entering their address; Gilead Township voting typically occurs at the Gilead Township Hall. Michigan election records that are publicly accessible include voter registration lists (available for purchase for election purposes under MCL 168.522), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable at https://cfrsearch.nictusa.com/committees), candidate filing information, and precinct-level election results posted by the County Clerk after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Branch County reported approximately 16,500 ballots cast out of roughly 27,000 registered voters, representing approximately 61% turnout. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Montgomery and Branch County voters will decide several significant races. Michigan's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Gary Peters is not up for election in 2026 (Class I senators vote in 2024 cycle), but voters will elect a Governor as incumbent Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited. State House of Representatives seats (all 110 districts) will be on the ballot, with Montgomery voting in whatever district encompasses Gilead Township following 2020 redistricting. County-level offices on the 2026 ballot typically include Branch County Commissioners, Sheriff (four-year term), Prosecutor, Clerk/Register of Deeds, Treasurer, and Drain Commissioner. Gilead Township offices may also appear depending on term schedules. Michigan voters can request absentee ballots through the Michigan Voter Information Center online, by mail, or in person at the County Clerk's office. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason, per Michigan's no-reason absentee voting law approved by voters in 2018. Absentee ballot applications must be received by 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day, though voters may request emergency absentee ballots under certain circumstances closer to Election Day.