Canton Township Public Records

Canton Township public records include court cases, criminal history, property documents, vital records, and township government records. Canton Township is one of the most populous townships in Wayne County. Records are maintained by the township clerk, the 35th District Court, and Wayne County agencies. This guide explains where to find each type and how to request them.

Wayne County Public Records for Canton Township

Canton Township is part of Wayne County. The Wayne County Register of Deeds at 600 Randolph, Suite 406, Detroit, MI 48226 is the official source for property records. Phone: (313) 224-0286. The online portal at waynecountylandrecords.com covers property documents from 1915 to the present. You can search by owner name, address, or instrument number. Records from 1983 forward can also be searched by legal description and section, township, and range.

The Wayne County Clerk at (313) 224-5530 handles vital records and court filings at the county level. FOIA requests for county records use the form at waynecounty.com/county/foia-request-form.aspx. For a complete overview of Wayne County record access, see the Wayne County Public Records page.

Canton Township Court Records

The 35th District Court serves Canton Township, Plymouth, Northville, and the surrounding areas. The court handles misdemeanor cases, civil disputes under $25,000, traffic matters, and small claims for Canton Township residents. Felony cases from Canton go to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit. Both courts are searchable through the MiCOURT system.

Access free court records at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. Enter a party name or case number. Results show docket entries, case type, status, and hearing dates. Sealed records and juvenile cases do not appear online. Third Circuit Court cases can also be searched directly at 3rdcc.org/OPA.aspx. For certified copies of any court document, contact the clerk at the relevant court and pay the applicable fee.

Note: MCR 8.119 governs public access to Michigan court records. Records are presumptively open unless sealed by statute or court order.

Criminal History in Canton Township

The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT is the primary tool for criminal history checks. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanor arrests from Wayne County and all other Michigan courts. Records from the 35th District Court and Third Circuit Court involving Canton Township cases are included if they were reported to the state.

ICHAT does not include traffic offenses, juvenile records, federal court cases, records from other states, local misdemeanors under 93 days, or warrant data. A fingerprint-based check is more thorough and costs $50 to $70 through an approved vendor. For vendor information, visit michigan.gov/msp/services/criminal-history-records. Wayne County jail information is at sheriffconnect.com. State prison inmates are searchable for free at MDOC OTIS, mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.aspx.

Canton Township FOIA Requests

Canton Township processes public records requests under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231 et seq. The Township Clerk is the FOIA Coordinator for all township records. Township offices are at 1150 S. Canton Center Road, Canton Township, MI 48188. The township website at canton-mi.org has FOIA forms and submission instructions. Requests must be in writing and clearly describe the records you want.

The township must respond within 5 business days under MCL 15.235. Extensions of up to 10 more business days are allowed for complex or large requests, but written notice must be given. Fees under MCL 15.234 apply. Copies cost $0.10 per page for standard paper. Labor is charged at the lowest-paid capable employee rate, capped at 6 times the state minimum wage. Deposits of 50% are required when estimated fees exceed $50.

Indigent requesters can get the first $20 waived with a notarized affidavit of indigency. For Canton Township Police Department records, FOIA requests must go directly to the police records division. Wayne County FOIA requests use the county form. Township board meeting minutes and agendas are generally posted online and do not require a FOIA request.

The Michigan Legislature site at legislature.mi.gov has the full text of MCL 15.231 through MCL 15.240a, which are the statutes governing all FOIA requests in Canton Township and across the state.

Canton Township Property Records

Property records for Canton Township parcels are maintained by the Wayne County Register of Deeds. The online portal at waynecountylandrecords.com is searchable by name, address, instrument number, and document type. Real estate documents go back to 1915. For records from 1983 forward, you can also search by legal description. On-demand users pay $5.00 per search and $1.00 per single-page document.

Canton Township has its own Assessor's Office that maintains local property assessment data and tax records. These records show current ownership, assessed values, taxable values, and tax history for each parcel in the township. Assessment data is public and can be viewed online through the township's website or in person. Delinquent property tax data is at waynecounty.com/pta. Michigan law under MCL 565.201 requires recording with the county Register of Deeds for property transfers to be valid against third parties.

Vital Records in Canton Township

Vital records for births, deaths, and marriages in Canton Township are registered with the state through MDHHS. Order certified copies at michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords. The first certified copy costs $34. Additional copies of the same record are $16 each. Online ordering through VitalChek is also available for a small extra fee.

In-person or mail orders can go through the Wayne County Clerk at (313) 224-5530. Birth records under 100 years old are restricted under MCL 333.2888. You must be the named person, a parent, legal guardian, or legal representative to access them. Marriage and divorce records are available through the county clerk and the Third Circuit Court.

Sex Offender Registry - Canton Township

Registered sex offenders in Canton Township can be found on the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com. This free search lets you look up offenders by name, address, or ZIP code. The map feature shows offender locations in any area of the township. Each listing includes the offender's name, photo, address, vehicle information, and complete offense history.

Canton Township Police Department is the registration agency for residents who must register. Michigan's registration law under MCL 28.721 et seq. requires registration based on offense tier. Non-compliant offenders are flagged on the registry and face felony charges. The MSP Sex Offender Registry Unit in Lansing at P.O. Box 30634, phone (517) 241-1806, manages the statewide database.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Canton Township in Wayne County and the surrounding region.