Iron County Public Records

Iron County public records are held at the courthouse at 2 South Sixth Street in Crystal Falls, deep in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The County Clerk and Register of Deeds handle records requests for this sparsely populated county with a rich iron mining history. Court files, property records, and vital records are all available through county offices and the MiCOURT statewide system.

Iron County Clerk and Public Records

County Clerk Mark Selmo manages the public records office at 2 South Sixth Street in Crystal Falls. The clerk's office handles vital records, election records, board minutes, and general county records. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk phone is 906-875-3301 and fax is 906-875-3309.

The Register of Deeds, also at the same address, handles all property and land records for Iron County. You can reach the Register at 906-875-3321. Property records go back to 1885 when Iron County was formed. Given the county's mining history, the Register holds a large volume of mineral rights records in addition to standard property documents like deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. Access to records is primarily in person. Call ahead before visiting to confirm what is available and what fees apply.

Iron County borders Wisconsin to the south, so the Register of Deeds also holds some cross-border property documents for parcels near the state line. If you are researching property that may have ties to Wisconsin, you may need to contact Vilas or Florence counties in Wisconsin as well.

The MDOC Offender Tracking Information System provides free statewide inmate lookup covering all Michigan counties including Iron County.

OTIS covers Iron County residents currently in state prison, on parole, or under MDOC supervision at no cost to search.

Iron County Circuit Court Records

The Iron County Circuit Court, District Court, and Probate Court are all located at the courthouse at 2 S. 6th Street in Crystal Falls. The court phone is 906-875-3221. The circuit court handles felony criminal cases, major civil cases, and family law. Probate handles estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings. The district court covers misdemeanors, civil cases under $25,000, and traffic matters.

All Iron County court cases can be searched through the MiCOURT statewide portal. This free tool shows party names, docket entries, and case status for public cases. Sealed records, juvenile cases, adoptions, and mental health matters do not appear in the system. Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, court records are presumed to be public unless a statute or court order says otherwise.

For certified copies of court records, contact the Iron County court clerk at the courthouse in Crystal Falls. You can mail a request or visit in person. Include the case number if you have it. Copy fees apply for certified documents. Upper Peninsula courts tend to have smaller staff, so allow extra time for mail requests.

Iron County Property and Mineral Rights Records

The Register of Deeds at 2 South Sixth Street holds all Iron County land records from 1885 to the present. Iron County's most distinctive record type is mineral rights documentation. Iron ore was mined extensively in this region, and mineral rights were bought, sold, and leased separately from surface rights for over a century. The Register holds a large collection of these mineral rights conveyances going back to the county's earliest years.

Standard documents on file include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, surveys, and land contracts. Searches can be done by property address, owner name, or legal description. For parcels with complex mineral rights histories, in-person research is strongly recommended over mail requests. Bring a legal description or parcel number to speed up the search. The Michigamme Reservoir area also has water management property records tied to historic reservoir development.

Copy fees and certification costs should be confirmed with the Register of Deeds directly before submitting payment. The office closes at 4:00 PM, which is earlier than many Michigan county offices, so plan visits accordingly.

Criminal History and Inmate Records

The Michigan State Police ICHAT system covers Iron County criminal history records. ICHAT searches cost $10 per name and cover felony convictions and serious misdemeanors reported from all 83 Michigan counties. Access ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Results do not include traffic offenses, juvenile records, local misdemeanors, or records from other states or federal courts.

For inmate information, the free MDOC OTIS tool at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 covers current and recently supervised offenders statewide. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com also allows free searching by name, address, or ZIP code.

For local jail records in Iron County, contact the Iron County Sheriff at 2 S. 6th Street in Crystal Falls, phone 906-875-2233. Local misdemeanor records and warrant information are not part of ICHAT and must be requested from the sheriff or through a FOIA request to the county.

Vital Records in Iron County

Iron County vital records go back to 1895 for births, deaths, and marriages, reflecting the county's formation date. Records are held at the County Clerk's office at 2 South Sixth Street in Crystal Falls. Requests can be made in person or by mail. Standard Michigan vital records fees apply. Call the clerk at 906-875-3301 to confirm current fees before mailing payment.

For state-level certified vital records, use the MDHHS portal at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The first certified copy costs $34 and additional copies of the same record cost $16 each. Online ordering through VitalChek adds processing fees. Birth records under 100 years old require proof of a qualifying relationship. Divorce records from 1897 onward are also available through the state vital records office.

FOIA Requests in Iron County

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 covers all public records held by Iron County government. Submit your written FOIA request to the County Clerk at 2 South Sixth Street, Crystal Falls, MI 49920. Describe the records you want with enough detail for staff to find them. The county has 5 business days to respond and can extend by up to 10 more days if needed.

Fees are based on actual copying costs and the labor required to search and review records. Labor is capped at 6 times the state minimum hourly wage. Fee waivers are available for people receiving public assistance or who can show financial hardship. The full FOIA statute text is at legislature.mi.gov under MCL 15.231 et seq.

Cities in Iron County

Iron County's county seat is Crystal Falls. The city of Iron River is the largest community in the county. Other places include Stambaugh, Caspian, and Gaastra. None of these exceed the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All residents access county public records through the clerk and courts at 2 South Sixth Street in Crystal Falls.

Nearby Counties

Iron County is in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula, bordering Wisconsin to the south. These neighboring Michigan counties have their own public records pages.