Find Public Records in Huron County
Huron County public records are maintained at the county courthouse at 250 East Huron Avenue in Bad Axe. The County Clerk and Register of Deeds handle most records requests for this agricultural "Thumb" area county on the shore of Lake Huron. You can search court cases, property documents, and vital records through county offices and state online tools.
Huron County Overview
Huron County Clerk and Public Records
Huron County Clerk Lori Neal Wonsowicz runs the main records office at 250 East Huron Avenue in Bad Axe. The clerk's office stores vital records, election records, board minutes, and court documents. You can reach the clerk at 989-269-9942. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Register of Deeds is also located at this address and can be reached at 989-269-9941. Property records for Huron County go back to 1867 and include deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. Lake Huron shoreline properties make up a significant portion of the records given the county's extensive coastline. Copy fees are $1 to $2 per page, with a $1 certification fee per document.
Genealogy researchers have a specific time slot available: Wednesdays only, 10:00 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Only one researcher and a companion are allowed at a time due to limited space. Call ahead to confirm availability before visiting.
| Office | Huron County Clerk / Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 250 East Huron Avenue, Bad Axe, MI 48413 |
| Clerk Phone | 989-269-9942 |
| Register of Deeds Phone | 989-269-9941 |
| Fax (Clerk) | 989-269-6160 |
| Fax (Register) | 989-269-8786 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.huron.mi.us |
From the county site you can find contact info for the clerk, courts, equalization, and other departments that handle public records.
Circuit and District Court Records
Huron County has three courts: the 52nd Judicial Circuit Court, the 73B District Court, and the Probate Court. All three are housed at 250 East Huron Avenue in Bad Axe. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases and civil cases above $25,000. Contact the circuit court at 989-269-7112. The Probate Court is in Room 206 and can be reached at 989-269-9944.
Case records for all three courts are searchable through the MiCOURT statewide case search. This free tool lets you search by name or case number. Results show party names, docket entries, and case status. Non-public cases such as juvenile matters, adoptions, and mental health cases do not appear in the system. For certified copies of any court record, contact the clerk of the specific court directly.
The Huron County courts also participate in the Michigan Courts MiFile system for electronic filing. If you need records related to a case filed through MiFile, start with the MiCOURT search portal to find the case number. You can also contact the circuit court clerk at 989-269-7112 to request specific documents by mail.
Huron County Property and Land Records
The Register of Deeds at 250 East Huron Avenue maintains all land and property records for Huron County. The database covers documents from 1867 to the present. Searches can be done by property address, owner name, parcel number, or legal description. Online property data is available through the county equalization department at co.huron.mi.us/departments/equalization.
The Huron County Equalization Department provides property data and tax search tools for the county.
The equalization page gives you tax information and property data that can help identify ownership before you request certified copies from the Register of Deeds.
Huron County has a large number of Lake Huron waterfront and shoreline properties. Wind energy development has also created a more recent category of land records, with wind farm lease agreements and easements filed in recent years. Harbor Beach and other port areas along the lake have port-related property records as well. Copy fees run $1 to $2 per page for standard documents.
Criminal History Public Records
The Michigan State Police operates ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool, which covers felony and serious misdemeanor records from all 83 Michigan counties including Huron. The fee is $10 per search. Visit apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT to run a name-based search. Results include conviction records and arrest data for serious offenses reported to the state since records were digitized.
For current corrections records, the MDOC Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) is free to use. Search active and recently discharged offenders at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2. This covers people in state prisons, on parole, and under MDOC probation supervision. Records stay in the system for three years after discharge.
Local jail and misdemeanor records for Huron County are handled by the Huron County Sheriff. The sheriff's office is at 120 S. Heisterman Street in Bad Axe. Call 989-269-6421 for jail inquiries. These records are not searchable through ICHAT and require a direct request or FOIA submission.
Note: ICHAT does not show traffic offenses, juvenile records, local misdemeanors, or criminal records from other states or federal jurisdictions.
Vital Records Requests in Huron County
Huron County vital records go back to 1867 for births and deaths, and also to 1867 for marriages. The County Clerk's office in Room 201 at 250 East Huron Avenue handles in-person vital records requests. Mail-in requests are also accepted. Standard Michigan vital records fees apply.
The state-level option is through MDHHS at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The first certified copy costs $34. Each additional copy of the same record costs $16. Online ordering is available through VitalChek. For divorce records from 1897 onward, the state vital records office also maintains those files. Birth records under 100 years old require proof of a qualifying relationship to the person named on the record.
The genealogy research window at the county clerk's office is available Wednesdays only, with two time slots: 10:00 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Due to space limits, only one researcher plus one companion may visit at a time. Plan ahead if you need to do in-depth historical record searches.
FOIA Requests in Huron County
Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, any person can request public records from a government agency. This covers written, recorded, or electronic documents that a public body creates or holds in carrying out its duties. Huron County processes FOIA requests through the County Clerk at 250 East Huron Avenue, Bad Axe, MI 48413.
Your request must be in writing and should describe the specific records you want clearly enough for staff to locate them. The county has 5 business days to respond. They may grant, deny, or extend the deadline by up to 10 more business days with notice. Fees are based on copying costs and labor. Labor charges cannot exceed 6 times the state minimum hourly wage per hour. Fee waivers apply to people who receive public assistance or can document financial hardship.
Cities and Communities in Huron County
Huron County's county seat is Bad Axe, which serves as the hub for all county government and public records access. Other communities include Harbor Beach, Pigeon, Sebewaing, and Caseville. None of these communities exceed the threshold for a dedicated city records page. All residents access public records through the county clerk and courts in Bad Axe.
Nearby Counties
Huron County is located at the tip of Michigan's Thumb. These neighboring counties also have public records pages on this site.