Oakland County Public Records

Oakland County public records are maintained by the County Clerk, Register of Deeds, and a network of courts based in Pontiac. Oakland is one of Michigan's most populous counties, and it offers several online portals for searching court cases, property documents, and vital records.

Oakland County Clerk and Public Records

The Oakland County Clerk is Lisa Brown. Her office at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac serves as the main public records office for Oakland County. The clerk maintains vital records, election results, notary public records, business assumed names, military discharge records, and a wide range of official county documents. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Oakland County offers several ways to access records. Online ordering is available for vital records through the county portal. Marriage license applications can be started online. The clerk's office also participates in a Local Office Visits program, bringing services to community centers and senior centers across the county. This is especially helpful for residents who have trouble traveling to Pontiac.

FOIA requests for Oakland County records can be submitted in writing by mail, email, fax, or in person. Each department has a FOIA coordinator. Under MCL 15.231 et seq., the county must respond within 5 business days. The response may grant, deny, or extend the request. Extensions of up to 10 business days are allowed with written notice.

Oakland County Court Public Records

Oakland County has an extensive court system. The 6th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters above $25,000, divorce and family law, and appeals. The county also has multiple district courts: the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 50th, 51st, and 52nd. There is also a Probate Court and a Family Court. Each court has its own records office.

Oakland County Court Explorer is the county's primary online search tool. Available at courtexplorer.oakgov.com, it lets you look up cases by name, case number, or business name. This system covers circuit, district, probate, and family court records. It shows party names, case type, filing date, docket entries, and scheduled hearings. The county also has an E-Services Center at the courthouse with public computers for online filing and case searches.

The statewide MiCOURT portal also includes Oakland County courts. Court records in Oakland County are public as a rule under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, with exceptions for non-public case types including juvenile cases, adoption, mental health matters, and Personal Protection Orders.

Court Explorer covers civil, criminal, family, and probate cases from Oakland County's full court system.

Oakland County Property Public Records

The Oakland County Register of Deeds uses the Super Index portal for online property record searches. You can access this at ocmideeds.com. Records go back to January 1, 1964. The portal lets you search by grantor or grantee name, property address, parcel ID, document type, and recording date range. Results show deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, maps, and subdivision information.

The first document ordered costs $6, and additional documents from the same order are $1 each. Online ordering is available directly through the portal. The county also offers a free Property Records Notification service. You can sign up to receive email alerts whenever a document is recorded under your name or property address. This helps guard against deed fraud.

Property records in Oakland County contain previous ownership history, mortgage and lien details, subdivision plat maps, and tax assessment data. Parcel identification numbers link property records to the county's equalization and tax systems. For in-person searches, go to Building 12E at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac.

The Super Index includes deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents with document images available for purchase.

Vital Records in Oakland County

Oakland County vital records are available from the clerk's office. You can order birth, death, and marriage certificates online, in person, or by mail. The online ordering portal for marriage records is at apps.oakgov.com. Marriage records from 1868 and death records from 1900 are available for free genealogy browsing through the clerk's website.

The standard fee for a birth, death, or marriage certificate is $15 for the first copy. Residents aged 65 and older can get a birth record for $10. Each additional copy of the same record costs $5. Online orders carry a small service fee on top. The county clerk's Local Office Visits program means you may be able to get help at a community location near you rather than driving to Pontiac.

For state-level vital records or records from before Oakland County began keeping them locally, MDHHS at michigan.gov/mdhhs offers statewide records back to 1867. State fees are $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy of the same record.

Oakland County offers online ordering for marriage records along with free genealogy searches for older marriage and death records.

Criminal History Records in Oakland County

For statewide criminal background checks, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system covers Oakland County arrests and convictions. The tool is at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT and costs $10 per search. It covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors. Traffic offenses, juvenile records, and federal cases are not included.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Records Unit is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 38E, Pontiac, MI 48341. Phone: (248) 858-5000. This office handles local jail records, arrest logs, and incident reports. An online inmate search is also available for Oakland County.

The free MDOC OTIS database at mdocweb.state.mi.us covers state prison inmates and parolees. Search by name to see current status, offense history, and release dates. Records stay in the system for three years after discharge. Federal inmates are not included in this database.

Other Oakland County Public Records

Oakland County offers a broader range of public records and online services than many Michigan counties. Concealed Pistol License renewals are handled through the clerk's office. Business assumed names and co-partnerships are recorded there as well. Notary public applications go through the clerk. All of these are public documents.

The county clerk also runs an interactive Election Night reporting system with maps and vote totals. Past election results are a form of public record available through the clerk's office. Military discharge records (DD-214) are recorded at the Register of Deeds and can be retrieved by the veteran or their authorized representative.

Personal Protection Orders filed in Oakland County are court records. Contact the 6th Circuit Court clerk for information on requesting PPO records. Some PPO details may be restricted depending on the type of order and whether the respondent has been served.

Cities in Oakland County

Oakland County has dozens of cities and townships. These qualifying cities have their own public records pages with local court and city records information.

Other cities in Oakland County include Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Novi, and Royal Oak. All circuit and probate court records for these communities are filed at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac.

Nearby Counties

Oakland County borders several other Michigan counties. Check these county pages for records in neighboring areas.