Clare County Public Records

Clare County public records are managed by the combined County Clerk and Register of Deeds office in Harrison, Michigan. You can request court records, land documents, vital records, and other official files through county offices or statewide online databases. This guide covers how to find and obtain public records in Clare County.

Clare County Clerk and Public Records Office

The Clare County Clerk and Register of Deeds is a combined office at 225 West Main Street in Harrison, MI 48625. The phone number is (989) 539-7131. Fax for the Register is (989) 539-6616. The current County Clerk is Carol McAulay. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The county website is at clareco.net. Because the Clerk and Register share an office, you can handle most records requests in a single visit to 225 West Main Street.

Clare County is in central Michigan and serves a mix of year-round and seasonal residents. The combined office structure is common in smaller Michigan counties and keeps all clerk and property record functions in one place. Online property search is limited; most searches for older documents require an in-person visit or written request. Staff can assist you in finding records by name or legal description during business hours.

ICHAT searches cost $10 each and return results for felony and serious misdemeanor records from all 83 Michigan counties including Clare.

Clare County Court Records

Clare County has its own Circuit Court, District Court, and Family and Probate Court. The Circuit Court and Clerk can be reached at (989) 539-7131. The District Court is at (989) 539-7173. Probate and Family Court is at (989) 539-7109. The Sheriff's Office and jail are located nearby at 255 W. Main in Harrison, reachable at (989) 539-7166. Court records in Clare County cover civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate matters.

For online case lookups, use the statewide MiCOURT system at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/. This free tool searches by party name or case number and shows basic docket information. Full case files and certified copies require a visit to the courthouse or a written request to the court clerk. Not all case types appear online. Juvenile files, adoptions, and mental health records are restricted from public online access.

Note: The Family and Probate Court in Harrison handles guardianships, estates, and family law cases for Clare County.

Criminal History Records

You can search criminal history for Clare County through Michigan State Police ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT/. Each search costs $10 and returns results for felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties. ICHAT does not include minor misdemeanor records, traffic records, juvenile history, or records from other states.

For corrections records, the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS database is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.aspx. OTIS shows current state prisoners, parolees, and active MDOC probationers. Records are removed three years after discharge. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is free at mspsor.com and searchable by name, ZIP code, or address. The Clare County Sheriff at (989) 539-7166 can help with local jail and inmate questions.

Clare County Property Public Records

The Register of Deeds at 225 West Main Street in Harrison handles all property document recording for Clare County. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, easements, and subdivision plats. Online search is limited for Clare County. Most property record searches for documents not available online must be done in person at the Harrison office or by written request.

For in-person searches, public access to the records office is available during business hours. Contact the office at (989) 539-7131 before visiting to confirm what is available online and what requires an in-person request. Staff can search by owner name or legal description. Copy fees at most Michigan county offices run $1 per standard page and $5 for certified copies, though rates can vary. Confirm current fees with the office directly before submitting a request.

Note: Clare County is one of several Michigan counties where online property records access is limited, making in-person or phone contact especially helpful when starting a property search.

Vital Records in Clare County

The County Clerk at 225 West Main Street handles vital records for Clare County. The office holds birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for events in the county. Requests can be made in person during office hours or by mail. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for in-person requests. Mail requests need a copy of your ID plus payment.

For state-level vital records requests, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services maintains records at michigan.gov/mdhhs. Michigan state records cover births, deaths, marriages, and divorces going back to 1867. The state fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy of the same record. Contact the Clare County Clerk at (989) 539-7131 for current county-level fees and request forms.

FOIA Public Records Requests

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records. In Clare County, submit a written FOIA request to the County Clerk at 225 West Main Street, Harrison, MI 48625. Describe the records you need clearly. The county has 5 business days to respond and can extend that by up to 10 more days if the request is complex. Copying and labor fees may apply. Fee waivers are available for those receiving public assistance or who demonstrate financial hardship under MCL 15.234.

Each department handles FOIA requests for its own records. Court records are handled by the Circuit or District Court Clerk. Sheriff records go through the Sheriff's Office at (989) 539-7166. Free record inspection is available if you do not need printed copies. The Michigan Legislature website at legislature.mi.gov has the full FOIA statute text.

Cities in Clare County

Harrison is the county seat of Clare County and the location of all main public records offices. Other communities in Clare County include Clare, Farwell, Beaverton, and Lake. All court, property, and vital records for events in these communities are filed through county offices in Harrison.

Nearby Counties

Clare County is in central Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It borders several mid-Michigan counties and sits roughly in the middle of the state.