Kalamazoo County Public Records
Kalamazoo County public records are maintained at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue in Kalamazoo. The County Clerk and Register of Deeds office, led by Meredith Place, handles court records, property documents, and vital records for this southwest Michigan county. Online search tools and in-person access are both available for many record types.
Kalamazoo County Overview
Kalamazoo County Clerk and Public Records
The Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds office at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue is run by Meredith Place. This combined office handles property records, vital records, election records, and board documents. The main phone is 269-383-8840. For vital records specifically, call 269-383-8998. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Fax is 269-383-8685.
Property records in Kalamazoo County go back to 1824, with some documents from 1831. Documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, surveys, and UCC filings. Online document searches are available and public access terminals are located at the clerk's office for in-person use. The county's records portal at kalcounty.gov provides links to online services and department information.
Kalamazoo County has a robust public records infrastructure compared to smaller Michigan counties. The presence of Western Michigan University, major pharmaceutical companies, and a significant urban population means a high volume of property filings and court records activity each year.
| Office | Kalamazoo County Clerk / Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 |
| Clerk/Register Phone | 269-383-8840 |
| Vital Records Phone | 269-383-8998 |
| Fax | 269-383-8685 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | kalcounty.com |
The county site at kalcounty.com connects you to the clerk, courts, sheriff, and other departments that maintain public records.
Kalamazoo County Circuit and District Court Records
The 9th Circuit Court is located at 227 W. Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo, phone 269-383-8952. This court handles felony criminal cases, major civil matters, and family law including divorce and custody. The 8th District Court is at 150 E. Crosstown Parkway in Kalamazoo, phone 269-383-8938. Probate Court is at 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue, Room 213, phone 269-383-8666. The Family Division operates from 1536 Gull Road in Kalamazoo.
All Kalamazoo County court cases are searchable through MiCOURT. This free statewide tool lets you search by party name or case number. Results show party names, docket entries, and case status. Non-public cases such as juvenile matters, adoptions, and mental health proceedings do not appear. Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, court records are presumed public unless a court order or statute restricts them.
The Clerk and Register portal at kalcounty.gov also provides online services for court records and property filings. For certified copies of any court document, contact the clerk at the specific court location listed above.
The Kalamazoo County Clerk Register of Deeds portal provides online access to county services including court and property records.
The clerk portal links to document searches, vital records ordering, and online FOIA request submission for Kalamazoo County.
Kalamazoo County Property and Deed Records
Kalamazoo County property records date back to 1824. The Register of Deeds at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue holds deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, surveys, and UCC filings. Online document searches are available through the county's online services portal. Public computer terminals at the clerk's office allow in-person searches. Fees vary by service type; contact the office at 269-383-8840 to confirm current rates.
The Kalamazoo County real estate market includes a wide mix of commercial, industrial, residential, and agricultural properties. Western Michigan University owns a significant amount of land in the city of Kalamazoo, adding institutional property records to the database. The historical presence of pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer means commercial property filings and industrial easements are also part of the long-term record set. Agricultural parcels cover much of the rural eastern and northern parts of the county.
For a basic property lookup before requesting certified documents, try searching by owner name or parcel number through the county's online tools. The equalization department may also have a GIS property search available. Once you find a document number, you can order certified copies by mail or in person at the clerk's office.
Criminal History Public Records
ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT is the primary tool for criminal history checks in Kalamazoo County. The search costs $10 per name and covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties. The system does not include traffic records, juvenile history, local misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or less, or federal criminal records.
For current inmate information, the free MDOC OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2 covers people in state prisons, on parole, or under MDOC supervision statewide. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff handles local jail records. Sheriff Richard Fuller's office is at 1500 Lamont Avenue in Kalamazoo, phone 269-383-8821. Jail inmate search may also be available through the county website.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com allows free name and address-based searches for registered offenders. This covers all Michigan counties including Kalamazoo and is updated regularly by the Michigan State Police.
Note: Kalamazoo County FOIA requests for public safety records should go directly to the specific agency involved, such as the sheriff's office or a city police department.
Vital Records in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County vital records go back to 1867 for births and deaths, and to 1831 for marriages. The Vital Records Division at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue handles in-person and mail requests. Reach the division at 269-383-8998. Online ordering is also available. Call ahead for current fee information, as the county may set different rates from the state schedule.
State-level certified vital records can be ordered through MDHHS at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The state charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for additional copies. VitalChek handles online orders with added fees. Divorce records from 1897 onward are also available through the state vital records office. Restricted birth records require proof of eligibility before release.
FOIA Requests in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County offers an online public records center through the county website for FOIA request submission. Registration is required to submit requests through the online system. You can also submit written FOIA requests by mail or in person to the County Clerk at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue. The county must respond within 5 business days, with a possible 10-day extension.
Michigan's FOIA statute at MCL 15.231 covers all public records maintained by Kalamazoo County agencies. Fees are based on actual copying costs and labor at no more than 6 times the state minimum wage per hour. Fee waivers are available to those on public assistance or facing financial hardship. If your request is denied, you can appeal under MCL 15.240.
Cities in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County includes the city of Kalamazoo, which has its own public records page on this site, along with Portage, Galesburg, and several townships.
Other communities in Kalamazoo County include Portage, Galesburg, Richland, and Schoolcraft. All county-level records for these areas are handled through the clerk's office at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue.
Nearby Counties
Kalamazoo County is in southwest Michigan. These neighboring counties also have public records pages on this site.