Cheboygan County Public Records

Cheboygan County public records are managed by the County Clerk and Register of Deeds at the county building in Cheboygan. You can search court cases, land documents, vital records, and other official files through county offices or online tools. This page covers how to find and request Cheboygan County public records.

Cheboygan County Clerk and Public Records Office

The Cheboygan County Clerk and Register of Deeds are located at 870 South Main Street in Cheboygan. The mailing address is PO Box 70, Cheboygan, MI 49721. The main office number is (231) 627-8866. The Clerk's direct line is (231) 627-8808. Fax is (231) 627-8453. The current Clerk and Register of Deeds is Charlene Novotny. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The county website is at cheboygancounty.net.

This is a combined office, meaning the Clerk and Register of Deeds functions are handled in the same building. That makes it straightforward to handle multiple types of requests in one visit. Board meeting minutes are posted online going back to 2007. A property tax estimator is available on the county website. Equalization and GIS services are combined and accessible through the county site as well.

The site includes a property tax estimator and links to GIS mapping tools useful for property research.

Cheboygan County Court Records

Court records in Cheboygan County are managed by the 53rd Circuit Court, the 89th District Court, and the Cheboygan County Probate Court. The Circuit Court phone is (231) 627-8818. Chief Judge Aaron J. Gauthier presides over the Circuit Court. These courts handle all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters for the county.

The statewide MiCOURT system at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ lets you search case information for free. Look up party names, case numbers, or docket entries without a fee. Certified copies and full case files require an in-person request at the courthouse on South Main Street. Not all cases appear online. Juvenile records, adoptions, mental health files, and personal protection orders are restricted from public online display.

Note: For court record questions, call the Circuit Court directly at (231) 627-8818. For state recorded information on vital records, call the state information line at 517-335-8656.

Criminal History and Offender Searches

You can run a criminal history check on Cheboygan County residents using ICHAT, the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool. Each search is $10 and available at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT/. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 counties. It does not include minor misdemeanors, traffic records, juvenile history, or out-of-state records.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS database is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.aspx. It shows current and former state prisoners, parolees, and active MDOC probationers. Records stay in the system for three years after discharge. The Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office at (231) 627-8855 can answer questions about local jail records and inmate information.

Cheboygan County Property Public Records

The Register of Deeds at 870 South Main Street handles all property document recording for Cheboygan County. The online land records search system covers records from 1935 to the present. It is free to search the index. You pay only for copies, which you can order by credit card through the online system. Search options include name, liber and page number, recording date, document category, document type, and parcel number.

In-person access to older records and full document images is available during business hours. The property fraud alert service is available to help protect owners from fraudulent deed recordings. Equalization and GIS services are combined and available through the county website for property tax and parcel research. Contact the main office at (231) 627-8866 for help with specific property searches or older records not yet available online.

Note: Copy fees are paid by credit card through the online system. Contact the office directly for the current per-page rate.

Vital Records in Cheboygan County

The County Clerk at 870 South Main Street handles birth, death, and marriage records for Cheboygan County. Requests can be made in person during office hours or submitted by mail to PO Box 70, Cheboygan, MI 49721. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for in-person requests. Mail requests need a copy of your ID plus payment. For information about what forms and fees are required, call the office at (231) 627-8808 before sending a request.

Online vital records orders are also available through the state system. Statewide vital records are managed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The state holds birth, death, marriage, and divorce records going back to 1867. The state fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for additional copies of the same record.

FOIA Requests in Cheboygan County

Michigan's FOIA law under MCL 15.231 lets any person request public records from Cheboygan County government offices. Submit a written FOIA request to the County Clerk at 870 South Main Street or PO Box 70, Cheboygan, MI 49721. Describe the records you want in enough detail for staff to find them. The county has 5 business days to respond and can extend that by up to 10 additional days for complex requests.

Copying fees and labor costs may apply. Fee waivers are available under MCL 15.234 for people who receive public assistance or show financial hardship. Free record inspection is an option if you only want to view records without paying for copies. The text of Michigan's FOIA is available at legislature.mi.gov.

Cities in Cheboygan County

Cheboygan is the county seat and the home of all main county public records offices. Other communities in the county include Indian River, Onaway, Wolverine, and Mackinaw City. Records for events in all of these communities are filed through county offices in Cheboygan.

Nearby Counties

Cheboygan County is in northern Michigan's Lower Peninsula near the Straits of Mackinac. It borders several northern counties and sits close to the Upper Peninsula.