Find Public Records in Saginaw County

Saginaw County public records are held at the County Clerk and Register of Deeds at 111 S. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw. The offices manage court records, property documents, vital statistics, and FOIA requests for the county. This page explains how to search and obtain records from each main source.

Saginaw County Clerk and Public Records Office

County Clerk Mildred Dodak runs the main public records office in Saginaw County. The Clerk's office and Register of Deeds are both located at 111 S. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw. Both offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free in-person inspection of records is available at the office, and public access terminals let you search on your own.

The Register of Deeds at the same address maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, property assessments, and plat maps. An online GIS property search is available through the county website, letting you look up parcel information, owner name, property address, and tax data. The county's website at saginawcounty.com links to these tools and all county department pages.

The Saginaw County website shown below provides access to the GIS property search, court information, and online record tools. The FOIA request form is also accessible directly from the county portal.

The county's online GIS system allows you to search property records by address, owner name, and parcel number. The site also links to the Odyssey Portal for court case information.

Saginaw County Circuit Court Public Records

The 10th Judicial Circuit Court serves Saginaw County and handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, and family law. The Circuit Court Records Office is at 111 S. Michigan Avenue and can be reached at (989) 790-5540. Probate Court, also at the same address, handles estates, guardianships, and similar matters. Their number is (989) 790-5279.

Court records from Saginaw County are searchable online through the statewide MiCOURT case search portal. This free tool shows docket entries, case status, hearings, and party information. You can also use the Odyssey Portal for additional case details. Non-public cases, including juvenile, adoption, and mental health matters, do not appear online. For certified copies, contact the circuit court records office directly at (989) 790-5540.

Saginaw County courts maintain both civil and criminal records, as well as family court files. Historical court records go back many decades and are stored at the courthouse.

Criminal History and Inmate Records

Michigan State Police operates the ICHAT system for statewide criminal history lookups. ICHAT includes felony convictions and serious misdemeanors reported from all Michigan counties, including Saginaw. The fee is $10 per search. Access ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Note that ICHAT does not cover federal records, traffic offenses, juvenile records, or warrant information.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS database is free and covers current prisoners, parolees, and probationers under state supervision. Search by name at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2. For people held in the Saginaw County Jail, contact the Saginaw County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff runs the local jail and can confirm current inmate status.

Note: ICHAT results are not certified. For certified criminal history background checks, contact the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center directly.

Saginaw County Property Records

The Register of Deeds at 111 S. Michigan Avenue holds all real property records for Saginaw County. The office maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, property assessments, and plat maps. The online GIS Authority Search through the county website gives access to parcel information, tax data, ownership history, and property characteristics.

You can search by property address, owner name, or parcel number. Older records are available in the office. Public access terminals are on-site for self-service searches. Staff can assist with more complex searches during office hours. The Register of Deeds phone number for property-specific questions is (989) 790-5270.

Vital Records in Saginaw County

The County Clerk's Vital Records Division maintains birth, death, and marriage records for Saginaw County. Contact the clerk at (989) 790-5251 to request local vital records. The office is at 111 S. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602.

For statewide vital records ordering, Michigan MDHHS manages all certified vital records going back to 1867. Order online through MDHHS Vital Records or through VitalChek. The state charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each extra copy of the same record. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to the person named, their parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives.

FOIA Requests for Saginaw County Public Records

Saginaw County follows Michigan's FOIA law under MCL 15.231 et seq. You can submit FOIA requests by mail, email, fax, or in person. A standardized FOIA request form is available on the county website at saginawcounty.com. The county must respond within 5 business days. They may extend this by up to 10 more business days if needed.

Fees for FOIA responses are based on actual labor costs, capped at 6 times the state minimum hourly wage, plus actual duplication costs. Fee waivers are available for people who are indigent or receiving public assistance. Submit your request to the FOIA coordinator for the specific county department that holds the records you need.

Cities in Saginaw County

Saginaw is the county seat and the largest city in the county. No cities in Saginaw County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.

Communities in Saginaw County include Saginaw, Frankenmuth, Bridgeport, and multiple townships. All county-level public records are handled through the offices at 111 S. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw.

Nearby Counties

These Michigan counties border Saginaw County. Each has its own clerk and records office for public records access.