Kent County Public Records

Kent County public records are maintained by a range of county offices in Grand Rapids, including the County Clerk, Register of Deeds, and Circuit Court. This guide covers how to search and obtain public records in Kent County, from court filings and property documents to criminal history and vital records.

Kent County Public Records Office

The Kent County Clerk serves as the official keeper of public records for the county. The office is located in Grand Rapids and handles a wide range of records, including vital records, election filings, and court documents. Most requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or through the county's online portal.

The Kent County website provides access to many record types and department contacts. Staff at the clerk's office can guide you to the right department depending on what type of record you need. Hours are generally Monday through Friday during normal business hours, and some services are available online.

The county site links to the clerk's office, Register of Deeds, and other departments where you can request or search records directly.

Kent County Circuit Court Records

The 17th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family law matters for Kent County. Court records include case filings, judgments, and docket entries. Many records are searchable online at no cost.

Michigan's statewide case search system, MiCOURT, covers the Kent County Circuit Court. You can look up cases by party name or case number. The system shows basic case information, docket activity, and hearing dates. Visit micourt.courts.michigan.gov to run a search. Note that some case types are not public, including juvenile, adoption, and certain mental health matters.

For certified copies of court documents, you must contact the Circuit Court clerk in Grand Rapids directly. Fees apply for certified records. Uncertified copies are generally less expensive and can sometimes be printed at the courthouse.

Criminal History Public Records in Kent County

Two main tools cover criminal history for Kent County residents. The first is ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police. The second is OTIS, run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. Both are available online.

ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool, costs $10 per search and covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties, including Kent. You search by name and the system returns conviction records maintained by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. ICHAT does not include federal records, juvenile records, or traffic offenses.

The MDOC Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) is free and covers people currently incarcerated, on parole, or on probation under state supervision. If someone you are looking for was sentenced to a state prison term, OTIS is the place to start. Records are removed three years after the person's discharge date.

Property Records and Register of Deeds

The Kent County Register of Deeds maintains all real property records for the county. This office records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments related to real estate in Grand Rapids and across Kent County.

Property records in Kent County go back many decades. The Register of Deeds office provides online search access to recorded documents. You can search by name, document type, or parcel number. Copies of recorded documents are available for a per-page fee. The office is located at the same address as the county clerk in Grand Rapids.

For property tax and assessment records, contact the Kent County Equalization Department or the individual city or township assessor's office where the property is located. These records are separate from the Register of Deeds but are also public.

Vital Records in Kent County

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Kent County are available through two sources: the state office and the county clerk. The Kent County Clerk issues certified copies of marriage records for ceremonies that took place in the county.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services maintains statewide vital records through the Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. Birth records go back to 1867. Death and marriage records also date from 1867. Divorce records start from 1897. The first certified copy costs $34, and additional copies of the same record are $16 each.

You can order vital records online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person. Birth records less than 100 years old have access restrictions. You must be the person named on the record, a parent, legal guardian, or legal representative to request a restricted birth record.

FOIA Requests for Kent County Public Records

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, gives the public the right to request records from government bodies. This applies to Kent County offices, the city of Grand Rapids, and other public agencies in the county.

Each public body in Kent County designates a FOIA Coordinator to handle requests. You must submit a written request that describes the records you want. The agency has 5 business days to respond, with an option to extend by up to 10 additional business days. The agency can charge for labor, duplication, and search costs, but labor is capped at six times the state minimum hourly wage. Fee waivers are available for indigent requesters.

To file a FOIA request with Kent County, submit your written request to the relevant department. For court records, contact the court clerk. For sheriff records, contact the Kent County Sheriff's Office. For other county records, contact the County Clerk or the specific department that holds the records.

Sex Offender Registry for Kent County

The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry is maintained by the Michigan State Police and covers all registered offenders statewide, including those in Kent County. Searching is free.

At mspsor.com, you can search by name, address, ZIP code, or registration number. Results include the offender's name, photo, date of birth, physical description, address, offense information, and vehicle details. The registry also has special lists for non-compliant offenders and those currently incarcerated. Kent County has a significant registered population given its size, so the address-based map search is useful for neighborhood-level lookups.

Cities in Kent County

Kent County is home to Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in Michigan, as well as Wyoming and several other communities. Public records for cities in Kent County are handled through county offices and individual city departments.

Other cities in Kent County include Walker, Kentwood, East Grand Rapids, and Rockford. These communities file public records through Kent County offices in Grand Rapids.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Kent County. Each has its own public records offices and court systems.