Westland Public Records

Westland public records are managed by the City of Westland clerk's office, Wayne County agencies, and Michigan state systems. Residents can access court records, property documents, criminal history, and vital records through several online and in-person channels. This page explains the main sources for public records in Westland, Michigan.

Wayne County and Westland Records

Westland is part of Wayne County, so county offices in Detroit hold many records tied to the city. The Wayne County Register of Deeds manages all property documents for Westland. Court filings for serious cases go to Wayne County Circuit Court. For a complete list of Wayne County resources, visit the Wayne County public records page.

Wayne County land records are searchable online. The Wayne County Land Records system at waynecountylandrecords.com lets you search deeds, mortgages, and liens by name or address. The Wayne County courts case search at 3rdcc.org covers the Third Circuit Court and related courts in Wayne County.

Westland City Clerk and FOIA

The Westland City Clerk's Office handles FOIA requests, business licenses, vital records, and election administration. The office is at 36601 Ford Road, Westland, MI 48185. Phone: (734) 467-3185. Fax: (734) 467-3195. You can submit FOIA requests by email to cityclerk@cityofwestland.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. City Clerk Eileen DeHart serves as the FOIA Coordinator.

Under MCL 15.231, the city must respond to your FOIA request within 5 business days. They can extend that by 10 more days with written notice. Westland's copying fees are $1 per page, which is higher than some other Michigan cities. Labor is billed at approximately $45.61 per hour. If you believe a fee is too high or a denial was improper, you can file a written appeal.

Westland launched a transparency portal in 2020 with police data for 2019 and 2020. This online tool reduces the need for FOIA requests on certain commonly-requested datasets. The portal has been expanding over time to include more records. For records not in the portal, a written FOIA request to the city clerk is required.

The screenshot below shows the Westland city website, which is the starting point for local FOIA requests and city services.

City council meeting minutes and agendas are maintained by the clerk's office and are available online or in person. Archives go back many years and can be requested through FOIA if not posted on the website.

Court Records for Westland

The 16th District Court serves Westland and surrounding communities in western Wayne County. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes up to $25,000, small claims, traffic violations, and landlord-tenant matters. Felony charges from Westland are handled by the 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit after preliminary examinations.

You can search court records for Westland cases online through the Michigan Courts statewide portal at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. Search by name or case number and select the appropriate Wayne County court. Case status, docket entries, and hearing schedules are available free of charge. The portal does not show juvenile, adoption, or mental health cases.

For certified copies of court documents, contact the district court clerk in person or by mail. Fees vary by document type. Wayne County Circuit Court records for Westland felony cases or civil matters over $25,000 are searchable through the Wayne County courts portal at 3rdcc.org.

Note: Non-certified case information from MiCOURT is for informational purposes only and cannot be used as an official legal document.

Westland Police Public Records

Westland Police Department records are accessible through a FOIA request. The department is at 36701 Ford Road, Westland, MI 48185. Non-emergency line: (734) 722-9600. Records requests should be submitted to the city clerk's office, not directly to the police department. The clerk processes all FOIA requests for Westland, including police reports, incident records, and accident reports.

Police reports cannot be provided by email under FOIA. You will need to pick them up in person or have them mailed to you. The response window is 5 to 15 business days depending on the complexity of the request. Westland's transparency portal includes some police data from 2019 forward, which may reduce the need for formal FOIA requests for high-level crime statistics.

Fingerprinting services and gun permit applications are also available through the Westland Police Department. Contact the non-emergency line to schedule an appointment.

Criminal History and Offender Search

Michigan's ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT lets you search criminal history records for Westland residents or anyone with ties to Wayne County. The cost is $10 per name search. ICHAT pulls felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 counties in Michigan. It does not cover juvenile records, traffic offenses, or federal cases.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us. It shows current and recently discharged offenders under state supervision. Records are removed three years after an offender's discharge date.

Search the Michigan Sex Offender Registry for free at mspsor.com. This tool lets you search by name, address, or ZIP code and returns photos, offense history, and current registered address for offenders living or working in Westland.

Property Records in Westland

Deed records and property documents for Westland addresses are recorded with the Wayne County Register of Deeds. You can search these online at waynecountylandrecords.com. This system covers deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents. Most records from the past few decades are available online. Older documents may require an in-person visit to the county office in Detroit.

The Westland Assessor's Office holds property assessment data for all parcels within city limits. Assessment records are public and include owner names, property addresses, assessed values, and tax information. These records are available at City Hall or through the Westland city website at cityofwestland.com.

Vital Records for Westland

Birth and death records for events in Westland are available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The first certified copy costs $34. Additional copies of the same record are $16 each. Orders are accepted online, by mail, and in person. You need to prove eligibility for recent birth records.

The Westland City Clerk also provides some vital records services. For marriage licenses, go to the Wayne County Clerk in Detroit. Divorce records are held by the 3rd Circuit Court or available through MDHHS for records going back to 1897.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities are also in Wayne County and have their own public records pages.