Access Lenawee County Public Records
Lenawee County public records are kept by the County Clerk, Circuit Court, Register of Deeds, and other county offices in Adrian. This guide explains how to find and request public records in Lenawee County, covering court documents, property records, criminal history, vital records, and FOIA requests from county and state-level offices.
Lenawee County Overview
Lenawee County Clerk and Public Records
The Lenawee County Clerk in Adrian handles public records for the county, including vital records, elections, and county board minutes. The clerk's office is the starting point for most record requests at the county level. Staff can help identify which department holds a specific record type and what the request process involves.
The Lenawee County website provides links to county departments and some online records tools. The site lists contact information for the clerk, Register of Deeds, Circuit Court, and other offices. For most record types, you can initiate a request online, by phone, or by mail. Complex requests or certified copies often require an in-person visit or a formal written submission.
The official Lenawee County website is where you will find department contacts, forms, and links to online records systems.
The county site gives you direct access to department contacts and helps you find the right office for your public records request in Adrian.
| Office | Lenawee County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 N. Main Street, Adrian, MI 49221 |
| Phone | (517) 264-4599 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | lenawee.mi.us |
Lenawee County Circuit Court Public Records
The 39th Judicial Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, and family law proceedings for Lenawee County. Court records are generally public. They include case filings, judgments, orders, and docket histories.
Michigan's MiCOURT case search at micourt.courts.michigan.gov includes Lenawee County Circuit Court cases. You can search free of charge by party name or case number. The results show case status, docket entries, and party details. To get certified copies of court documents, contact the Circuit Court clerk's office in Adrian. The 2nd District Court handles misdemeanor, traffic, and small civil cases in Lenawee County and its records are also searchable through MiCOURT.
Note: Juvenile, adoption, mental health, and PPO cases do not appear in the public MiCOURT search results due to privacy protections under Michigan law.
Criminal History Public Records in Lenawee County
Criminal history records for Lenawee County are available through two statewide online systems. These tools provide access to conviction data and current supervision status for individuals connected to the county.
ICHAT, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool, costs $10 per search. Run by the Michigan State Police, it covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties, including Lenawee. You search by name and the system returns records from the state's criminal records database. Traffic offenses, juvenile records, and records from other states are not included.
The free OTIS system from the Michigan Department of Corrections covers people currently incarcerated, on parole, or on state probation. It includes Lenawee County offenders serving or having served state prison sentences. Records remain in the system for three years after the person's discharge from supervision.
Lenawee County Property and Land Records
The Lenawee County Register of Deeds in Adrian records all property instruments for the county. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other documents affecting real property. The office is the official source for chain-of-title research in Lenawee County.
Recorded land records in Lenawee County can be searched in person at the courthouse or through available online tools. Copy fees apply for document requests. For tax and assessment records, the county equalization office holds parcel data separately from the Register of Deeds. Both offices work out of the county complex in Adrian and can be reached by phone during regular business hours.
For statewide UCC filing searches, the Michigan Secretary of State maintains a UCC search tool at michigan.gov/sos that covers all Michigan counties, including Lenawee.
Vital Records in Lenawee County
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Lenawee County are available through the state. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services holds these records going back to 1867. Some records may also be obtained locally through the Lenawee County Clerk.
Request certified copies from the MDHHS vital records division online via VitalChek, by mail, or in person at a local office. The first certified copy of any vital record is $34. Each additional copy of the same record is $16. Birth records under 100 years old are restricted to the named person, their parents, a legal guardian, or a legal representative. You must provide proof of eligibility when requesting these records.
The Lenawee County Clerk can issue certified copies of marriage records for ceremonies that happened in the county, which may be more convenient for recent events.
FOIA Requests for Lenawee County Records
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, applies to all public bodies in Lenawee County. This includes the county government, the sheriff, road commission, local townships, and other public agencies. Any person can make a written request for public records.
Submit your written request to the Lenawee County department that holds the records you need. The agency must respond within 5 business days and can extend by up to 10 more days for complex requests. Fees are based on actual labor, duplication, and search costs. Labor is capped at six times the state minimum wage per hour. Fee waivers are available for those who receive public assistance or demonstrate financial hardship.
If your request is denied, you can appeal to the agency head within 10 business days. If the agency head upholds the denial, you can file a complaint in Lenawee County Circuit Court. The agency must provide written reasons for any denial and cite the specific statutory exemption that applies.
Sex Offender Registry: Lenawee County
The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lists registered offenders in Lenawee County and throughout the state. The Michigan State Police maintains this registry at mspsor.com and the search is free.
You can search by name, address, ZIP code, or registration number. Results include the offender's photo, date of birth, physical description, current address, offense history, and vehicle details. The registry also shows non-compliant offenders and those currently incarcerated. The Lenawee County Sheriff's Office coordinates with state police to keep local registrations updated.
Communities in Lenawee County
Lenawee County's county seat is Adrian. No cities in Lenawee County meet the population threshold for individual pages on this site. Adrian, Tecumseh, Blissfield, and Morenci are among the larger communities that use county offices in Adrian for public records.
Nearby Counties
Lenawee County is in southeastern Michigan and borders several counties. Check the relevant county page for records involving nearby jurisdictions.