Paradise, Michigan Public Records

The bond and bail process follows Michigan state guidelines, allowing for the release of detainees pending court appearances, with bail amounts set by the courts based on the severity of charges and flight risk.

Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6300. Both courts share the Chippewa County Courthouse complex. Michigan does not have municipal courts; all court functions are handled at the district and circuit levels. Court records for both civil and criminal cases can be searched online through Michigan's statewide Case Search portal at courts.michigan.gov/case-search, which provides case numbers, party names, case status, and hearing dates for most cases filed since the early 2000s. Older records may require in-person research at the courthouse or a written request to the court clerk. Certified copies of court documents cost $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are typically $1 per page. There is a $6 fee for exemplification (authentication for out-of-state use). Small claims filing fees are approximately $40-$65 depending on claim amount. Civil filing fees range from $150-$300 depending on case type. The Chippewa County Clerk's office at 319 Court Street, phone (906) 635-6300, handles all court record requests and can accept FOIA requests for public court documents.

The Michigan Bureau of Investigation also offers resources for Chippewa County residents seeking detailed criminal background information. These records are crucial for legal proceedings, employment screenings, and personal inquiries.

Property records including parcel identification numbers, ownership information, assessed values (state equalized value and taxable value), property characteristics, acreage, and tax history can be searched online through the Chippewa County GIS and property search portal at www.chippewacountymi.gov under the Equalization Department section. Searches can be performed by owner name, parcel number, or street address. The online database provides detailed property cards, tax information, and sales history. The Chippewa County Register of Deeds, located at 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6620, records and maintains all real estate documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, land contracts, easements, liens, plats, and surveys. The Register of Deeds office provides online document searching and imaging through a subscription-based system; a free name search index is available, but viewing actual recorded documents requires either an account (fee-based for title companies and frequent users) or an in-person visit to the courthouse. Recording fees are $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page for most documents. Copies of recorded documents cost $1 per page, or $5 for certified copies plus $1 per page. The office maintains records dating back to Chippewa County's formation in 1826, with more recent records digitized and accessible online. The county's GIS mapping system provides interactive parcel maps with layers for zoning, flood zones, wetlands, and infrastructure.

Berry Patch Restaurant & Gift Shop, Paradise Pub, and Yukon Inn provide dining and employ seasonal staff. Snowmobile and outdoor recreation outfitters including Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat Tours contribute to employment. Whitefish Township and Tahquamenon Area Schools provide public sector employment, though the school district serves a broader regional area. Median household income for Whitefish Township (which includes Paradise) is estimated at approximately $42,000, below Michigan's state median. The permanent year-round population remains very small—under 500—with economic activity heavily concentrated in the short summer and winter tourism seasons. Many businesses close or operate on limited schedules during shoulder seasons in spring and fall. The broader Chippewa County economy is anchored by Sault Ste. Marie, which has diverse employment in healthcare (War Memorial Hospital), education (Lake Superior State University), tribal gaming (Kewadin Casinos), and the Soo Locks shipping infrastructure. Paradise functions essentially as a remote tourism outpost with limited diversification, highly vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations and dependent on access to public lands and natural attractions.

Paradise, Michigan does not have its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Paradise and all unincorporated areas of Whitefish Township are provided by the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 325 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6355. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated communities in Chippewa County and provides patrol, investigation, and emergency response services. To request police reports, incident reports, or accident reports involving Paradise, residents must contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division at the Court Street address during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM). Written FOIA requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or via the county website at www.chippewacountymi.gov. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq., governs all public records requests and generally requires agencies to respond within five business days. Fees may apply for copies and staff time exceeding basic search parameters. For arrest and jail booking records, the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office maintains the Chippewa County Jail located at 325 Court Street in Sault Ste. Marie. Current inmate information can be searched online through the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office website, which provides an inmate roster showing names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Mugshots may be available upon FOIA request. The jail houses both pre-trial detainees and sentenced misdemeanor offenders. For historical arrest records, warrants, or detailed criminal history, a formal FOIA request must be submitted to the Sheriff's Records Division. Michigan State Police also maintains criminal history records accessible through the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) at www.michigan.gov/ichat for a fee of $10 per name search.

Requests can be submitted by mail using a downloadable application from www.michigan.gov/mdhhs, in person at select county health departments (not available in Chippewa County), or online through VitalChek at www.michigan.gov/birthcertificate and www.michigan.gov/deathcertificate with additional processing fees of approximately $10-$12. Processing time is typically 3-4 weeks for mail requests and 5-10 business days for online orders. Michigan birth records are available from 1867 forward; death records from 1897 forward. Only eligible individuals (person named on record, parents, legal representatives, or those with direct and tangible interest) may request certified copies; valid government-issued photo ID is required. Marriage licenses for Paradise residents are obtained from the Chippewa County Clerk, 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6300. Marriage license fee is $20; there is no waiting period, and the license is valid for 33 days from issuance. Both applicants must appear in person with valid photo ID and social security numbers. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $15 and can be obtained from the County Clerk. Divorce records (Judgments of Divorce) are court records maintained by the Chippewa County Circuit Court Clerk at 319 Court Street, phone (906) 635-6300. Certified copies cost $10 plus $1 per page and require proof of eligibility.

Assumed name (Doing Business As/DBA) registrations in Michigan are filed with the county clerk where the business operates. For Paradise businesses, DBAs are filed with the Chippewa County Clerk, 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6300. The filing fee is $10, and registrations are valid for five years. The County Clerk maintains a public index of assumed names that can be searched in person. Michigan corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other business entities must register with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations Division. Entity searches including business name, status, registered agent, formation date, and principal office address can be performed free of charge at www.michigan.gov/corpentities. The database is updated regularly and includes active, dissolved, and merged entities. Annual statement filing fees are $25 for LLCs and nonprofit corporations, $50 for domestic profit corporations. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien searches for secured transactions and business collateral are filed with and searchable through the Michigan Department of State at www.michigan.gov/ucc. Commercial property tax assessments for Paradise businesses can be searched through the Chippewa County Equalization Department's online property database at www.chippewacountymi.gov, using the business property address or parcel number. Commercial properties are assessed at 50% of true cash value, and tax rates vary by township and local millages.

Paradise voters are served by the Chippewa County Clerk's Office, which administers all elections for the unincorporated community. The Chippewa County Clerk is located at 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, phone (906) 635-6300, website www.chippewacountymi.gov. Michigan residents can register to vote online at www.michigan.gov/vote up to 15 days before an election, or in person at the clerk's office or Secretary of State branch office up to and including Election Day with proof of residency. Acceptable ID includes a Michigan driver's license, state ID, utility bill, bank statement, or government check showing name and current address. Paradise has no municipal government and therefore holds no city elections; voters participate in Whitefish Township, Chippewa County, state, and federal elections. Whitefish Township holds township board elections in even-numbered years during the August primary and November general elections for supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustee positions. The next township elections will be held on August 5, 2026 (primary) and November 3, 2026 (general). To find their assigned polling place, Paradise residents can use the Polling Place Locator at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their residential address; most Paradise voters cast ballots at the Whitefish Township Hall, located at 7052 M-123 in Paradise. In Michigan, voter registration lists are public records available for purchase for political and election purposes through the county clerk; individual voter history (whether someone voted, not how they voted) is also public. Campaign finance reports for local, county, and state candidates are accessible through the Michigan Secretary of State at www.michigan.gov/campaignfinance. Precinct-level election results are published by the county clerk following certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Chippewa County reported approximately 55% voter turnout with roughly 17,000 ballots cast from approximately 31,000 registered voters. On November 3, 2026, Paradise and Chippewa County voters will decide races including Michigan Governor (incumbent Gretchen Whitmer's term expires; governors serve four-year terms), all 110 Michigan House of Representatives seats (two-year terms), Michigan State Board of Education seats, University of Michigan Board of Regents, and various Chippewa County offices including County Commissioners, Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, and Drain Commissioner (most county offices are four-year terms). The U.S. Senate seat held by Gary Peters is not up for election in 2026 (his term expires in 2028); Michigan's other Senate seat held by Elissa Slotkin will face election in 2030. Michigan offers no-reason absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by submitting an application to the Chippewa County Clerk either online at www.michigan.gov/vote, by mail, or in person. Absentee ballot applications must be received by 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day, though ballots themselves must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. Emergency absentee ballots are available until 4:00 PM on Election Day for voters with unexpected circumstances.