Find Public Records in Dearborn

Dearborn public records cover court cases, criminal history, property documents, vital records, and city government files. Dearborn is Wayne County's second largest city. Records are maintained by the City of Dearborn clerk's office, the 19th District Court, and Wayne County agencies. This guide shows you how to find what you need.

Wayne County Public Records for Dearborn

Dearborn is part of Wayne County, and the Wayne County Register of Deeds at 600 Randolph, Suite 406, Detroit, MI 48226 maintains all property records for Dearborn parcels. Phone: (313) 224-0286. The online portal at waynecountylandrecords.com allows searches by owner name, address, instrument number, and document type. Real estate documents go back to 1915.

Wayne County Clerk handles vital records and court filing records. Phone: (313) 224-5530. The Wayne County Courts Case Search for felony cases is available at 3rdcc.org/OPA.aspx. For a full overview of county record access, see the Wayne County Public Records page.

Dearborn Court Records

The 19th District Court in Dearborn handles misdemeanor cases, civil matters under $25,000, small claims, and traffic violations for the city. The court is at 16077 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126. You can find more details about Dearborn's district court at dearborn.gov/government/19th-district-court.

Felony cases from Dearborn go to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit. Both the 19th District Court and the Third Circuit Court can be searched using MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. The search is free. Enter a party name or case number to view docket entries, case type, and hearing dates. Sealed cases and juvenile records are not available online. For certified copies, submit a written request to the clerk at the relevant court.

The Dearborn 19th District Court website provides online case lookup, traffic records, and contact information for getting certified copies of Dearborn court records.

Note: Michigan Court Rule MCR 8.119 establishes that court records are presumptively public unless specifically sealed or exempted by statute or court order.

Criminal History in Dearborn

Michigan State Police ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT is used for criminal history searches covering Dearborn and all of Wayne County. Cost is $10 per search. ICHAT reports felony convictions and serious misdemeanor arrests filed with the state from Michigan courts. Records from the 19th District Court and Third Circuit Court involving Dearborn cases will be included if they were properly reported.

ICHAT does not show traffic violations, juvenile records, federal cases, records from other states, local misdemeanors under 93 days, or warrant information. For a fingerprint-based background check, which is more complete, contact an approved live scan vendor. These cost $50 to $70. See michigan.gov/msp/services/criminal-history-records for a vendor list and details.

Wayne County jail inmate information is available at sheriffconnect.com. For state prison inmates, the MDOC OTIS system is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.aspx.

Dearborn Public Records Requests (FOIA)

Dearborn city records are subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231 et seq. The City Clerk's office is the FOIA Coordinator for city records. City Hall is at 13615 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126. The city's main website at dearborn.gov has FOIA forms and contact information. Requests must be in writing and describe the records specifically enough for staff to locate them.

The standard response time is 5 business days. Extensions of up to 10 more business days are allowed with written notice. Fees are set under MCL 15.234. Standard paper copies are $0.10 per page. Labor is charged at the lowest-paid capable employee rate. Deposits of 50% are required when the estimated fee exceeds $50. Indigent requesters can get the first $20 waived with a notarized affidavit of indigency.

For police records, submit FOIA requests to the Dearborn Police Department records division. Wayne County FOIA requests go to the Wayne County FOIA Coordinator at waynecounty.com/county/foia-request-form.aspx. County copies are $0.10 per page standard size.

Dearborn Property Records

Property records for Dearborn parcels are maintained by the Wayne County Register of Deeds. The online portal at waynecountylandrecords.com lets you search by owner name, address, or instrument number. Documents from 1915 to the present are available. Searches for 1983 and later records can be done by name, instrument number, or address. Older records require a book and page search.

On-demand users pay $5.00 for a search and $1.00 for single-page documents. Multi-page documents cost $5.00. Delinquent property tax information is available through the Wayne County Treasurer at waynecounty.com/pta. The City of Dearborn Assessor keeps local assessment records and tax rolls. These show current ownership, assessed value, and tax history for any Dearborn parcel.

Vital Records in Dearborn

Vital records for births, deaths, and marriages in Dearborn are registered with the state through MDHHS. Order certified copies at michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords. The first certified copy is $34, and additional copies of the same record are $16 each. Online ordering through VitalChek at vitalchek.com adds a small processing fee.

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

Sex Offender Registry - Dearborn

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com lists registered sex offenders in Dearborn. Searches are free by name, address, or ZIP code. The map view shows offenders in any area of the city. Each listing includes a photo, home address, offense details, and registration tier. You can also download the full registry or view lists of incarcerated and non-compliant offenders.

Dearborn residents who must register do so at the Dearborn Police Department. Michigan's sex offender registration law, MCL 28.721 et seq., sets three tiers. Tier 1 requires 15 years of registration. Tier 2 requires 25 years. Tier 3 is lifetime. Non-compliance is a felony. The MSP Sex Offender Registry Unit in Lansing manages the statewide list.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Dearborn in Wayne County and southeast Michigan.