Naubinway, Michigan Public Records

Ignace, MI 49781, phone (906) 643-7305, has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $25,000, family law matters including divorce and child custody, estate and probate proceedings, and appeals from the District Court. The Mackinac County Probate Court shares facilities with the Circuit Court and handles guardianships, conservatorships, mental health commitments, and estate administration. Michigan offers online court record access through the Michigan Court Records Online system (MCRO), but participation varies by court. Mackinac County courts may have limited online access, and records are typically searched in person at the court clerk's office during business hours Monday through Friday. Certified copies of court documents cost $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page in most Michigan courts. Case searches and docket information may be available by calling the appropriate court clerk's office. Filing fees vary: small claims filing is approximately $40-$80 depending on claim amount, civil case filing is approximately $150-$175, and motion fees are typically $20.

The county offers online property record searches through the Mackinac County GIS system and property tax database, accessible through the county website at mackinaccountymi.gov, where residents can search by owner name, parcel number, or property address to view assessment data, tax history, and property characteristics. The Mackinac County Register of Deeds, located at 100 South Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781, phone (906) 643-7316, records and maintains all land documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, land contracts, mortgages, mortgage discharges, liens, easements, plats, surveys, and other instruments affecting real property title. Michigan Register of Deeds offices are required by law to record documents that meet statutory requirements. The Mackinac County Register of Deeds offers online document searching through a subscription-based system or free index searching, with document images available for a per-page fee. Walk-in customers can search records at the Register of Deeds office during business hours. Recording fees are set by state law at $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $1 certification fee. The county's GIS parcel viewer provides interactive mapping with property boundaries, dimensions, zoning information, and links to assessment data, accessible at no charge through the county website.

Tourism-related businesses such as Engadine Garland Area Motel & Resort, local restaurants including Bear Track Inn and Naubinway Tavern, bait shops, and small retail establishments employ residents seasonally. Timber and forest products continue to play a role in the regional economy. The area benefits from proximity to state forest lands and Lake Superior State Forest. The median household income in Garfield Township, which includes Naubinway, is estimated around $35,000-$40,000, below state averages, reflecting the seasonal nature of employment and the rural character of the area. Recent economic activity includes investments in broadband internet infrastructure to support remote work and small business development. As a small unincorporated community, Naubinway's economy is closely tied to broader Mackinac County economic trends, which emphasize tourism to Mackinac Island, St. Ignace attractions, and outdoor recreation throughout the Upper Peninsula. The community faces challenges common to rural Michigan areas including population decline, limited employment opportunities outside tourism season, and economic dependence on seasonal visitors. However, the area's natural beauty, access to hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and quiet rural lifestyle continue to attract retirees and seasonal residents.

Naubinway is an unincorporated community without its own police department, so law enforcement services are provided by the Mackinac County Sheriff's Office, located at 100 South Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (906) 643-7511 and maintains a website at mackinaccountymi.gov. The Sheriff's Office handles all incident reports, accident reports, and patrol services for Naubinway and surrounding Garfield Township. To request police reports or incident records, residents must submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office either in person, by mail, or through the county's public records request process. The Michigan State Police Sault Ste. Marie Post also has jurisdiction in the area and can be reached at (906) 632-2217 for state highway incidents and major investigations. For arrests and jail bookings, the Mackinac County Jail operates within the Sheriff's Office facility at 100 South Marley Street. The county does not currently maintain an online inmate roster, so current booking information must be obtained by calling the jail directly at (906) 643-7511. Booking records typically include inmate name, charges, bond amount, booking date, and expected release or court dates. All law enforcement records requests in Michigan are governed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq., which requires agencies to respond to public records requests within five business days. Certain records such as ongoing investigation files, confidential informant information, and records that would compromise security may be exempt from disclosure under MCL 15.243.

Expedited service is available for an additional fee. Birth records are available from 1867 forward, and death records are available from 1867 forward, though early records may be incomplete. Only eligible individuals may request vital records: the registrant (if of legal age), parents listed on the birth certificate, legal guardians with documentation, or individuals with a direct and tangible interest as defined by Michigan law. Valid government-issued photo identification is required for all requests. The Mackinac County Clerk's Office, located at 100 South Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781, phone (906) 643-7305, issues marriage licenses for couples planning to marry in Mackinac County. The marriage license fee is approximately $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents, with a $10 discount for couples who complete premarital counseling. There is no waiting period in Michigan, and licenses are valid for 33 days from issuance. Certified copies of marriage records cost $13 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies ordered at the same time. Divorce records are court records maintained by the 50th Circuit Court and must be requested through the court clerk's office at the address above. Michigan vital records less than 100 years old have restricted access to protect privacy.

Ignace, MI 49781, phone (906) 643-7305, handles fictitious name (Doing Business As/DBA) registrations for businesses operating under an assumed name in Mackinac County. DBA registration fees are approximately $10 and must be renewed periodically. The county clerk maintains a public index of filed assumed names. For formal business entity formation, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Corporation Division maintains the official business entity database. Business owners can search existing corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other entities through the Michigan Business Entity Search at cofs.lara.michigan.gov/SearchApi/Search/Search. The database shows entity status, registered agent information, officers and directors (for corporations), formation date, and annual report filing status. New business entities are registered online through the same portal, with filing fees of $50 for domestic LLCs and $10 for assumed names at the state level. Unified Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are also handled by LARA and can be searched online through the Michigan UCC Online Filing System. UCC searches cost approximately $6 per debtor name. Commercial property owners in Naubinway can look up business property tax assessments through the Mackinac County Equalization Department's online property search system or by contacting the Equalization Department at (906) 643-7303. Michigan does not require general state business licenses, but specific industries require professional or occupational licenses through LARA.

Naubinway voters are served by the Mackinac County Clerk's Office, which administers elections for all residents of Garfield Township and Mackinac County. The Mackinac County Clerk's Office is located at 100 South Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781, phone (906) 643-7305, website mackinaccountymi.gov. Michigan residents can register to vote online through the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote, which allows online registration with a valid Michigan driver's license or state ID. Voters may register up to 15 days before an election, or register in person at their local clerk's office with proof of residency up through and including Election Day. Acceptable identification includes a Michigan driver's license, state ID, federal or tribal ID, or utility bills establishing residency. As an unincorporated community, Naubinway does not hold its own municipal elections for mayor or city council. Residents vote in Garfield Township elections for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustee positions, typically held in November of even-numbered years. The next township elections will occur on November 3, 2026. Naubinway voters also participate in Mackinac County elections for county commissioners, sheriff, prosecutor, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, and other county offices. Polling place assignments for Naubinway residents can be found through the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote by entering your address, which shows your specific polling location, sample ballot, and elected representatives. Election records that are public in Michigan include voter registration lists (excluding birthdates and driver's license numbers), campaign finance disclosure reports searchable through the Michigan Secretary of State at michigan.gov/sos, candidate filings and petitions, precinct-level election results, and absentee ballot application statistics. In the November 2024 presidential election, Mackinac County reported approximately 60-65% voter turnout, with 5,800-6,200 ballots cast out of approximately 9,000 registered voters. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature Michigan's gubernatorial race, as Governor Gretchen Whitmer's second term expires. Michigan voters will also elect a full slate of statewide executive officers including Secretary of State and Attorney General, all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives, 19 seats in the Michigan Senate (even-numbered districts), and potentially one U.S. Senate seat depending on the six-year cycle. Mackinac County voters will elect county commissioners, county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, and sheriff if these positions are scheduled for 2026. Garfield Township offices including supervisor, clerk, and treasurer will be on the ballot. To request an absentee ballot in Michigan, voters may apply online through michigan.gov/vote, by mail, or in person at the Mackinac County Clerk's office. Michigan allows any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without stating a reason, a policy approved by voters in 2018. Absentee ballot applications must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day, but voters may request and submit absentee ballots in person at the clerk's office up until 8 p.m. on Election Day itself.