Presque Isle, Michigan Public Records

The Circuit Court serves as Presque Isle County's trial court of general jurisdiction and hears appeals from the District Court. Court records can be searched online through the Michigan Courts One Court of Justice portal at www.courts.michigan.gov/mjieapps, which provides free access to case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, and dispositions for both civil and criminal cases statewide. For certified copies of court documents, the District Court charges $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page; the Circuit Court has similar fees. Copies of judgments, divorce decrees, and case files can be requested in person at the respective court clerk's office or by mail with prepayment. Probate records are maintained by the Presque Isle County Probate Court, also at the courthouse, phone (989) 734-3288, which handles estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings. Traffic ticket payments and case lookups are available through the district court.

The online system provides parcel maps, assessment history, and property characteristics (square footage, year built, acreage). The Presque Isle County Register of Deeds, located at 151 East Huron Avenue, Rogers City, MI 49779, phone (989) 734-2166, records and maintains all land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage discharges, liens, easements, and survey plats. The Register of Deeds office provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription service, with fees for document images. Walk-in searches are free, but copies cost $1 per page for standard documents and $2 per page for certified copies. The office maintains indexes dating back to the county's formation in 1840. Real estate transactions, property transfers, and lien searches can be conducted by visiting the office during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM) or by requesting records via mail. The county also offers a GIS mapping system accessible through the county website, providing aerial imagery, parcel boundaries, zoning information, and infrastructure data for all properties in Presque Isle Township and throughout the county.

Small businesses including vacation rentals, bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants, and gift shops cater to tourists. Forestry and timber industries remain important to the broader county economy, with some residents employed in logging and wood products. Agriculture, primarily small-scale farming and livestock, contributes to the local economy. Public sector employment includes Presque Isle Township government, Presque Isle County government agencies, and public schools (Posen Consolidated Schools and Rogers City Area Schools serve area students). Healthcare services are anchored by MidMichigan Medical Center in nearby Alpena (about 25 miles south). Median household income in Presque Isle Township is estimated at approximately $45,000-$50,000, below the Michigan state median, reflecting the rural character and seasonal employment patterns. The area has limited year-round employment opportunities, with many residents commuting to Rogers City (the county seat, about 10 miles north) or Alpena for work. Population is stable but aging, with many retirees attracted to the peaceful lakeside setting. Recent developments include efforts to improve broadband internet access to support remote work and enhance tourism marketing through digital channels. The Presque Isle Harbor improvements and lighthouse restoration projects have helped sustain tourism growth.

Presque Isle, as an unincorporated community, does not have its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services are provided by the Presque Isle County Sheriff's Office, located at 151 East Huron Avenue, Rogers City, MI 49779, phone (989) 734-2156. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Presque Isle County, including Presque Isle Township, and handles patrol, investigations, and emergency response. Residents seeking police reports, incident records, or accident reports can request them in person at the Sheriff's Office or by submitting a written request citing Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq. The Sheriff's website at www.presqueislecounty.net provides contact information and some public safety updates. Arrest records and jail bookings for Presque Isle County are maintained at the Presque Isle County Jail, also located at the Sheriff's Office address. While the county does not provide a comprehensive online inmate roster, booking information can be obtained by calling the jail directly at (989) 734-2156. Information typically available includes inmate name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and expected court dates. Michigan law requires law enforcement agencies to provide access to public records within five business days of a FOIA request, though fees may apply for copying and research time. Arrest logs, incident reports (excluding exempt investigatory materials), and booking records are generally public unless they involve juveniles or ongoing investigations. For state-level criminal history records, the Michigan State Police maintains the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) at www.michigan.gov/ichat, which provides conviction records for a fee.

The Michigan Vital Records office in Lansing also issues birth certificates statewide; residents can order online through www.michigan.gov/mdhhs with a $34 base fee plus service charges, or by mail to Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909. Only individuals with a direct and tangible interest (parents, legal guardians, the person named on the certificate if 18+, or legal representatives) may request birth certificates. Death certificates follow the same fee structure and eligibility requirements and are available from both the County Clerk and state vital records office. Marriage licenses must be obtained from the Presque Isle County Clerk's Office before the ceremony; the application fee is $30, and there is no waiting period or blood test required in Michigan. Both parties must appear in person with photo identification and Social Security numbers. Certified copies of marriage records cost $15 and can be requested by either party, legal representatives, or family members. Divorce records are maintained by the 26th Circuit Court at 151 East Huron Avenue, Rogers City, MI 49779, as divorce is a court proceeding. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $10 for the first page and $1 per additional page. Michigan vital records before 1867 are incomplete; comprehensive statewide registration began that year, though county-level records exist earlier.

For state-level business entity registration, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) oversees corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and assumed name (DBA) filings. Business entity searches can be conducted free of charge through the Michigan Business Entity Search at www.michigan.gov/corpentitysearch, which provides information on entity name, registration status, file number, registered agent, formation date, and principal office address. Forming an LLC costs $50 online, while corporation formation costs $60. Assumed name (DBA) registration for sole proprietorships and partnerships is filed with the County Clerk at 151 East Huron Avenue, Rogers City, MI 49779, phone (989) 734-3288, with a fee of $10 for registration valid for five years. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are filed with and searchable through the Michigan Department of State at www.michigan.gov/sos; UCC searches cost $6 online. Property owners in Presque Isle can look up commercial property assessments through the Presque Isle County Equalization Department's online property search at www.presqueislecounty.net, which displays assessed values, taxable values, and property classifications. Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, health professionals) are issued by LARA and searchable at www.michigan.gov/lara. Sales tax permits for retailers are obtained through Michigan Treasury at www.michigan.gov/taxes.

Presque Isle voters are served by the Presque Isle County Clerk, who administers elections for the county. The County Clerk's office is located at 151 East Huron Avenue, Rogers City, MI 49779, phone (989) 734-3288, website www.presqueislecounty.net. 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, Secretary of State branch office, or designated voter registration agencies up to and including Election Day. Michigan offers Election Day registration with proof of residency. Voters need a Michigan driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Presque Isle, as an unincorporated community within Presque Isle Township, does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council. Township elections for supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees are held in even-numbered years during the August primary and November general elections. Presque Isle Township voters can find information on local candidates and township ballot issues through the County Clerk or by contacting the Presque Isle Township Clerk at 10827 East Grand Lake Road, Presque Isle, MI 49777, phone (989) 595-2242. Polling place assignments for Presque Isle voters can be found using the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote, which allows lookup by name and date of birth or address. Presque Isle Township residents typically vote at the Presque Isle Township Community Building. In the November 2024 presidential election, Presque Isle County reported approximately 75% voter turnout, with about 9,500 of the county's 12,700 registered voters casting ballots. The 2026 general election on November 3, 2026, will feature Michigan's gubernatorial race (Governor Gretchen Whitmer's term expires), statewide offices including Secretary of State and Attorney General, all Michigan House of Representatives seats (110 districts), approximately half of Michigan Senate seats (19 of 38 districts on rotating cycles), Presque Isle County positions (Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clerk/Register of Deeds, Treasurer, and County Commissioners), and potentially judicial seats for the 26th Circuit Court and 88th District Court. The U.S. Senate seat held by Gary Peters is not up in 2026 (next election 2026); the seat held by Debbie Stabenow (retiring 2024) will be filled in 2024 for a term through 2030. Michigan voters can request absentee ballots without stating a reason, either online through www.michigan.gov/vote, by mail, or in person at the County Clerk's office; applications must be received by the Friday before the election for mail delivery, or in person up until 4 PM the day before Election Day. Emergency absentee voting is available until 8 PM on Election Day. Election records available to the public in Michigan include the Qualified Voter File (voter registration lists, with some personal information redacted under MCL 168.522), campaign finance disclosures searchable at www.michigan.gov/sos, candidate filing documents, and precinct-level election results published by the County Clerk and Secretary of State. Voter history (whether someone voted, not how they voted) is public record. Presque Isle County posts unofficial election results on election night and certifies results within two weeks.