Manistee County Public Records
Manistee County public records are maintained by the County Clerk, Register of Deeds, and the 19th Circuit Court in Manistee. You can search court filings, property documents, vital records, and criminal history through county offices and state-level databases that cover all 83 Michigan counties. This guide walks you through the main sources and how to get the records you need.
Manistee County Overview
Manistee County Clerk and Public Records Office
The Manistee County Clerk serves as the main keeper of public records for the county. This office holds court records, vital records, election records, and many other official documents. The clerk's office is located at the Manistee County Courthouse on Maple Street in the city of Manistee. Staff can help you find records and make copies during regular business hours.
Michigan law requires county clerks to maintain records and make them available to the public. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231 et seq., any person can request access to public records held by county agencies. The Manistee County Clerk acts as the FOIA coordinator for records held by the county. Most requests get a response within 5 business days.
The clerk also works alongside the 19th Circuit Court for Wexford and Manistee counties. Civil, criminal, and family court files are kept at the courthouse. You can visit in person or use the statewide MiCOURT portal to look up case information online.
| Office | Manistee County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 415 Third Street, Manistee, MI 49660 |
| Circuit Court | 19th Circuit Court (Manistee and Wexford Counties) |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Circuit Court Records in Manistee County
The 19th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family matters like divorce and custody for Manistee County. All case records filed with this court are part of the public record unless a judge has sealed them. You can search case information through the statewide MiCOURT system at micourt.courts.michigan.gov.
MiCOURT lets you search by party name, case number, or attorney bar number. The results show docket entries, case status, and hearing dates. Free basic case information is available. Date of birth is no longer displayed in results as of April 2022 under Michigan Court Rule 1.109. Non-public cases such as juvenile, adoption, and mental health matters do not appear in the online system.
District court records for Manistee County are handled by the 85th District Court. This court covers misdemeanor cases, civil claims under $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and traffic matters. Both courts keep records at the courthouse in Manistee.
Note: MiCOURT provides non-certified case information only. For certified court documents, you must request copies directly from the Manistee County Clerk's office.
Criminal History Records
Two main tools let you search criminal history records connected to Manistee County. The first is ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties. A search costs $10 and runs through the Michigan State Police ICHAT portal. Results come back quickly and show conviction data reported by courts statewide.
The second tool is free. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs the Offender Tracking Information System, known as OTIS. You can search current and former MDOC-supervised individuals at mdocweb.state.mi.us. OTIS covers people in prison, on parole, and on probation under state supervision. Records stay in the system for 3 years after the discharge date.
The Michigan State Police also maintains the Sex Offender Registry. You can search registered offenders in Manistee County by name, address, or ZIP code at mspsor.com. This search is free.
The Michigan State Police maintains criminal history records for all counties, including Manistee County, through the ICHAT system and the Criminal Justice Information Center.
Property Records and Register of Deeds
The Manistee County Register of Deeds records and stores all real property documents in the county. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps. These records are public. Anyone can request copies or search the index at the Register of Deeds office in the courthouse.
Property transfers, mortgage filings, and lien releases create records that the Register of Deeds keeps on file. If you want to know who owns a parcel of land, what mortgages are on it, or whether there are any liens, this is the place to look. Many counties in Michigan now offer online search tools. Check with the Manistee County Register of Deeds for current online access options.
For statewide Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings, the Michigan Secretary of State maintains a UCC search system at michigan.gov/sos. The Secretary of State also handles vehicle registration records, driving records, and business filings.
Vital Records for Manistee County
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Manistee County are held at both the county level and by the state. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services handles vital records statewide through the Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics at michigan.gov/mdhhs.
The first certified copy of a vital record costs $34. Additional copies of the same record cost $16 each. You can order records online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the county clerk's office. Birth records less than 100 years old have access restrictions. You must show proof that you are the person named, a parent, legal guardian, or legal representative.
Michigan vital records dating back to 1867 are available through MDHHS, covering Manistee County births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.
Marriage records are also kept at the Manistee County Clerk's office. Divorce records from Manistee County circuit court proceedings are stored at the courthouse and are available from the clerk's office. State records go back to 1897 for divorce and 1867 for marriages.
FOIA Requests in Manistee County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request records from Manistee County offices, the county sheriff, and other local government bodies. The law is found at MCL 15.231. Most public records must be provided within 5 business days. An extension of up to 10 more days is allowed when needed.
To submit a FOIA request to Manistee County, send your written request to the FOIA coordinator at the specific office that holds the records you want. For county clerk records, contact the County Clerk. For sheriff records, contact the Manistee County Sheriff's Department. Your request should describe the records clearly enough for staff to locate them.
Fees for FOIA requests in Michigan are capped under MCL 15.234. Labor costs cannot exceed six times the state minimum hourly wage. Copy costs reflect the actual cost of duplication. Fee waivers are available if you receive public assistance or can show financial hardship.
Note: State agencies have their own FOIA coordinators. For Michigan State Police records, contact MSP directly rather than the county office.
Cities in Manistee County
Manistee is the county seat and largest city in Manistee County. All circuit court filings for the county go through the courthouse in Manistee. Other communities in the county include Bear Lake, Onekama, and Kaleva.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Manistee County. If you need records from a neighboring area or are not sure which county to contact, check the county where the event occurred or where the property is located.