Menominee County Public Records

Menominee County public records are held by the County Clerk, Register of Deeds, and the 41st Circuit Court in the city of Menominee. You can search court cases, property documents, criminal history, and vital records through county offices and statewide Michigan databases. This page covers how to find and obtain public records in Menominee County.

Menominee County Clerk and Public Records Office

The Menominee County Clerk maintains official county records and serves as clerk for the 41st Circuit Court. The office holds court records, election documents, vital records, and other public files. You can visit the clerk's office at the Menominee County Courthouse during regular business hours or contact the office ahead of time to learn about available records.

Under MCL 15.231, the Michigan FOIA law, any person has the right to request records from Menominee County public offices. Written FOIA requests go to the coordinator at the specific office that has the records. The standard response time is 5 business days, with a possible extension of up to 10 more days when needed.

The Menominee County official website at menomineeco.com lists county departments, contact information, and links to local public records resources.

Circuit Court Public Records in Menominee County

The 41st Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, major civil matters, and family law cases for Menominee County. Records from these proceedings are public documents. You can look up Menominee County court cases online through the statewide MiCOURT system at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. The system is free and covers circuit, district, and probate courts statewide.

MiCOURT search results show party names, docket entries, case status, and upcoming hearings. You can search by name, case number, or attorney bar number. Juvenile records, adoption cases, mental health matters, and personal protection orders are not available online. Date of birth is no longer shown in search results following a 2022 update to Michigan Court Rule 1.109.

The 95th District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and civil claims under $25,000 for Menominee County. District court records are also searchable through MiCOURT. For certified copies, you must contact the Menominee County Clerk in person or by mail.

Criminal History Records and Searches

Two main tools let you search criminal records linked to Menominee County. ICHAT is run by the Michigan State Police and covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties. Each search costs $10. Run a search at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Results are pulled from the Criminal Justice Information Center and are based on court-reported data.

OTIS is free. The Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System shows people currently under MDOC supervision. This includes those in state prisons, on parole, and on probation. Search at mdocweb.state.mi.us. Records are retained for 3 years after the discharge date before being removed from the system.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry lets you search registered sex offenders in Menominee County by name, address, or ZIP code. The search is free at mspsor.com. The registry is maintained by the Michigan State Police and includes current address, photo, and offense information.

Menominee County Property Records

The Menominee County Register of Deeds records all real property documents for the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plat maps, and easements are stored here and open to the public. Anyone can request copies or search the index at the Register of Deeds office. Contact the office to ask about current online access options for Menominee County property documents.

Property tax and parcel data are managed by the Menominee County Equalization Department. Ownership records, assessed values, and sales history are public. For statewide UCC filings, use the Michigan Secretary of State search at michigan.gov/sos.

Vital Records in Menominee County

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Menominee County are available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. MDHHS holds statewide vital records dating back to 1867. You can order records online, by mail, or in person at the Menominee County Clerk's office. The MDHHS vital records page is at michigan.gov/mdhhs.

The first certified copy costs $34 and each additional copy of the same record costs $16. Online orders through VitalChek add processing fees. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to the named person (age 18 or older), parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Proof of eligibility is required.

Marriage licenses are issued by the Menominee County Clerk. Divorce records from Menominee County circuit court cases are stored at the courthouse and can be requested from the clerk's office.

FOIA Requests and Record Access

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act covers Menominee County government offices. The law is found at MCL 15.231. You must submit written requests to the FOIA coordinator at the specific office that holds the records you want. Requests for county clerk records go to the clerk's office. Requests for sheriff records go to the Menominee County Sheriff.

Fees under MCL 15.234 are limited. Labor costs cannot exceed six times the state minimum hourly wage. You pay the actual cost of copying. Fee waivers apply if you receive public assistance or can show financial hardship. Denials can be appealed internally or in circuit court. The law also gives you the right to know which exemption is being used if records are withheld.

Cities in Menominee County

Menominee is the county seat and largest city in Menominee County. The circuit court and county offices are located in the city of Menominee. Other communities in the county include Stephenson, Carney, and Faithorn.

Nearby Counties

These Michigan counties border Menominee County in the Upper Peninsula. Check the right county for the location where the event occurred or where the property sits.