OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. For court records, Michigan's trial-court search is decentralized — you'll usually need to check the specific county's case search.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through county and appellate case search
🔍 Arrest records from county sheriffs and municipal police
📋 Criminal history checks through Michigan State Police ICHAT
🏛️ Vital records, property records, and open-records requests
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county where the record was created

How Records Work in Michigan

Michigan's court and arrest records run across state, county, and arresting-agency levels. The state judiciary under the Supreme Court of Michigan maintains appellate records, while trial-court records live at the county level. Michigan State Police holds statewide criminal history through ICHAT. The Court of Claims handles all civil actions against the state itself — a specialized statewide court. Most local records — deeds, marriage licenses, Circuit and District Court filings — are held at the county level.

Michigan has 83 counties. Each has its own County Clerk, Register of Deeds, sheriff, and Circuit, District, and Probate Courts. Larger metro counties (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent) have robust online case search portals; smaller counties may have limited online access. Because Michigan has no unified trial-court case search, thorough records work often requires checking multiple counties.

Counties in Michigan

Michigan has 83 counties. Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. Michigan has no unified trial-court case search, so records generally live at the county court. Online coverage varies by county. When in doubt, call the clerk's office directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026