Find Washtenaw County Public Records

Washtenaw County public records are maintained by the County Clerk and Register of Deeds at 200 North Main Street in Ann Arbor. The office holds land records going back to 1831, vital records from 1867, and court records covering civil, criminal, and family cases. Use the search tool below to access Washtenaw County records.

Washtenaw County Clerk and Public Records Office

Lawrence Kestenbaum serves as the Washtenaw County Clerk and Register of Deeds. The main office is at 200 North Main Street, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 222-6700 or (734) 222-6710. A self-service records area is at 200 North Main Street, Suite 110 with phone (734) 222-6710. Both offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The mailing address is P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645.

The Clerk/Register handles a broad range of records: vital records (birth, death, marriage, business names), military discharges, notary public commissions, concealed weapons permits, and all land records. Land records date to 1831. The office also holds historical grantor/grantee indexes from 1824 to 1968, charters of not-for-profit organizations from 1866 to 1993, and marriage records going back to 1833. Free public access terminals are available at the Register of Deeds office for self-service searches.

The Register of Deeds also administers the Realty Transfer Tax and handles subdivision maps, highway maps, stormwater and rail documents, condo maps, powers of attorney, and secured transactions. The county's online portal at rod.ewashtenaw.org provides property records search. Basic searches are free; certified copies carry additional fees.

The Washtenaw County Register of Deeds online portal at rod.ewashtenaw.org is shown below. This portal provides access to property records and the deed search tool for the county.

The Register of Deeds portal provides property record searches including land documents from 1831. Historical indexes from 1824 to 1968 are also available for genealogical and title research.

Washtenaw County Trial Court Records

The Washtenaw County Trial Court is at 101 E Huron Street, Room 1106, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Main phone: (734) 222-3024. Circuit Court civil and criminal records: (734) 222-3001. Family Court and Probate Court: (734) 222-3990. The Trial Court serves as the 22nd Judicial Circuit and handles felony criminal cases, major civil matters, family law, and probate.

Washtenaw County has its own online trial court records portal at tcweb.ewashtenaw.org. This lets you search local court cases directly. For statewide searches, the MiCOURT case search portal also covers Washtenaw County courts. Both tools provide free access to case information including docket entries and hearing dates. Non-public cases are excluded from both systems.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office at (734) 222-3393 provides local background checks, police reports, and jail information for the county.

The Washtenaw County Trial Court online access portal at tcweb.ewashtenaw.org provides direct case lookups for court records filed in Ann Arbor and across Washtenaw County.

Criminal History Public Records

For criminal background checks tied to Washtenaw County, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the main statewide tool. ICHAT costs $10 per name and covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties. Access at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Traffic records, federal records, juvenile records, and warrants are not included.

For current MDOC supervision records, use the free OTIS database at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2. OTIS shows current prisoners, parolees, and probationers under state supervision. For local jail information in Washtenaw County, contact the Sheriff's Office at (734) 222-3393. The Sheriff handles the Washtenaw County Jail and can confirm inmate status.

Washtenaw County Property Public Records

The Register of Deeds at 200 North Main Street holds all real property records for Washtenaw County. Land records date to 1831. Historical grantor/grantee indexes are available from 1824 to 1968. The online portal at rod.ewashtenaw.org provides free basic search access. Certified copies carry additional fees.

Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, easements, right-of-way, covenants, subdivision maps, condo maps, powers of attorney, and secured transactions. The Equalization Department provides an additional property tax search tool. Free public access terminals are available at the Register of Deeds office at Suite 110, 200 North Main Street. The office also serves as the chief election official and administers campaign finance reporting for Washtenaw County.

Vital Records in Washtenaw County

The Washtenaw County Clerk holds birth records since 1867, death records since 1867, and marriage records going back to 1833. Local vital records fees are $15 for certified copies, which is less than the state fee. The Vital Records Division is at 200 N. Main, Suite 100, P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645. Genealogy request fees vary based on research needed.

For statewide vital records, use the Michigan MDHHS Vital Records portal or VitalChek. State fees are $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for additional copies of the same record. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to the person named, parents, legal guardians, or authorized representatives.

FOIA Requests for Washtenaw County Public Records

Michigan's FOIA law at MCL 15.231 et seq. governs public records access in Washtenaw County. The FOIA Coordinator can be reached at Washtenaw County, P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645. Departments must respond within 5 business days. Extensions up to 10 more days may apply for complex requests.

Requests can be submitted through the county website portal, in person, or by mail. Each county department designates its own FOIA coordinator. Fees cover actual labor and duplication costs. Waivers are available for those receiving public assistance or who can show financial hardship. The county website at ewashtenaw.org provides standard FOIA request forms for most departments.

Cities in Washtenaw County

Ann Arbor is the county seat and largest city in Washtenaw County. It is the only city in Washtenaw County with a dedicated page on this site.

Other communities in Washtenaw County include Ypsilanti, Saline, Chelsea, Milan, and several townships. Public records for all Washtenaw County communities are managed through county offices in Ann Arbor.

Nearby Counties

These Michigan counties border Washtenaw County. Each has its own clerk and register of deeds for public records access.