Presque Isle County Public Records

Presque Isle County public records are managed through the County Clerk and Register of Deeds in Rogers City. This page helps you find court records, property documents, vital records, and other official files held by county offices. Use the search tool below to start looking up records right away.

Presque Isle County Public Records Office

The County Clerk and Register of Deeds handles most public records requests in Presque Isle County. The office is located in Rogers City at 151 E Huron Avenue. Register of Deeds Vicky Kowalewsky leads the office, with Chief Deputy Heidi Tulgestke and Deputy Kelly Kazyaka available to help visitors.

The office maintains land records going back to the early 1850s. Online access is available through a GovOS-powered portal for records from November 1, 1978 to present. The portal lets you search by name and purchase document copies directly. For records older than 1978, you need to visit the office in person. The vault is open from 8:15 AM to 4:15 PM Monday through Friday. Document recording is accepted from 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Presque Isle County website at presqueislecounty.org gives access to the online land records portal, FOIA request forms, and contact information for all county departments.

The county website at presqueislecounty.org was captured below. This shows the main portal where residents can access county services and find links to public records resources.

The county site links to the GovOS land records portal, where you can search property documents and purchase certified copies online.

Presque Isle County Circuit Court Records

Presque Isle County is part of the 53rd Judicial Circuit. Circuit court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes, and family law matters. Court records from this county are searchable through the statewide MiCOURT system. You can look up case information by party name, case number, or attorney bar number at no cost.

The MiCOURT case search shows docket entries, case status, and scheduled hearings. Dates of birth are redacted from online results under MCR 1.109, effective April 1, 2022. Non-public cases such as juvenile, adoption, mental health, and PPO matters do not appear in online searches. For certified copies or full case files, contact the County Clerk directly at (989) 734-2676.

Note: MiCOURT provides free basic case information but does not include certified documents. Certified copies must be obtained from the court clerk's office in person or by mail.

Criminal History Public Records

Michigan State Police maintains the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) for statewide criminal history searches. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties, including Presque Isle. The search costs $10 per name and is available at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT.

ICHAT does not include federal records, juvenile records, traffic offenses, or warrant information. If you need to check on someone currently incarcerated or on parole, the Michigan Department of Corrections runs a free search tool called OTIS. Search by name at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2. OTIS covers current prisoners, parolees, and probationers under MDOC supervision.

For local jail information in Presque Isle County, contact the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Joseph Brewbaker oversees the county jail. The Sheriff's Office can confirm whether a person is currently held locally.

Property Records in Presque Isle County

The Register of Deeds records and maintains all real property documents in Presque Isle County. The office holds land records going back to the early 1850s. Computerized records are available from November 1, 1978. The online GovOS portal lets you search land records and purchase document images without visiting the office.

Recording fees are $30 per document. Additional libers cost $3 each. Copies are $1 per page, and certification costs $5 per document. Electronic recording is accepted through CSC, Indecomm Global Services, EPN, and Simplifile.

Presque Isle County also offers a free Property Alert notification service. You can register to receive alerts whenever a new document is recorded in your name. This helps protect against deed fraud. Look for the Fraud Sleuth icon in the online portal to set up monitoring.

Vital Records - Births, Deaths, Marriages

Local vital records for Presque Isle County are available through the County Clerk's office. Call (989) 734-3288 to request birth, death, or marriage certificates. For statewide ordering, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) manages vital records going back to 1867.

State vital records can be ordered online through VitalChek or by mail through MDHHS Vital Records. The first certified copy costs $34 from the state. Additional copies of the same record are $16 each. Birth records less than 100 years old require proof of eligibility such as being the person named, a parent, or a legal representative.

FOIA Requests - Presque Isle County Public Records

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL 15.231 et seq., gives the public the right to request records from government agencies. Presque Isle County departments must respond to FOIA requests within 5 business days. They may take up to 10 additional business days if needed, for a total of 15 business days.

To submit a FOIA request in Presque Isle County, contact the relevant county department directly. Each department has its own FOIA coordinator. You can submit requests by mail or by contacting the office. Fees for FOIA responses cover actual labor costs (capped at 6 times the state minimum wage) and copying costs. Fee waivers are available for people receiving public assistance or facing financial hardship.

Note: The Michigan FOIA law defines a public record as any writing prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function from the time it is created.

Cities in Presque Isle County

The county seat is Rogers City, which is also the largest community in the county. No cities in Presque Isle County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.

Communities in Presque Isle County include Rogers City, Onaway, Posen, and various townships. All public records for these areas are handled through the county offices in Rogers City.

Nearby Counties

Presque Isle County borders these Michigan counties. Each has its own clerk and register of deeds handling local public records.