Wayne County Public Records
Wayne County public records are managed through the Register of Deeds, the Third Circuit Court, and the County Clerk in Detroit. As Michigan's most populous county, Wayne County holds extensive property records going back to 1915, a large court records database through the Third Circuit Court, and vital records handled at the state level. Use the search tool below to start looking up records.
Wayne County Overview
Wayne County Register of Deeds and Public Records
The Register of Deeds for Wayne County is Bernard Youngblood. The office is at 600 Randolph, Suite 406, Detroit, MI 48226. Phone: (313) 224-0286. The county website at waynecounty.com links to all county departments, the online land records portal, and the FOIA request form. Wayne County Commission meeting agendas, journals, and videos are also available online through the county site.
Online land records are available through the Wayne County Land Records system at waynecountylandrecords.com. Real estate document images go back to 1915 (Book 50). Records from 1915 to 1982 (Books 50-303) are accessible by book and page only. Records from 1983 to the present can be searched by instrument number, grantor/grantee name, section, township, and range.
Access fees are structured by user type. On-Demand users pay $5 per search and $1 per one-page document ($5 for documents with two or more pages). Commercial users pay a one-time $500 application fee, then $10 per 15 minutes plus $1 per printed page. Credit card passes are available: a one-hour pass costs $30 plus a $1.50 convenience fee, and a three-hour pass costs $70 plus $1.75. Subscription options are available by contacting the Recorder at 573-224-5600 extension 257.
| Register of Deeds | Bernard Youngblood |
|---|---|
| Address | 600 Randolph, Suite 406, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Phone | (313) 224-0286 |
| Land Records | waynecountylandrecords.com |
| FOIA Form | waynecounty.com/county/foia-request-form.aspx |
| FOIA Copy Fee | 10 cents per page (8.5" x 11") |
| Website | waynecounty.com |
The Wayne County website shown below at waynecounty.com is the main portal for county services, public records access, and FOIA requests.
The Wayne County site provides links to the land records system, court case search, FOIA portal, and all county department contacts for Detroit and surrounding communities.
Wayne County Land Records - Property Public Records
Wayne County maintains one of the most extensive online land records systems in Michigan. The official portal at waynecountylandrecords.com provides access to real estate documents from 1915 to present. The SFFlexSuite Web portal is the current access system, with batch download capability available for commercial subscribers.
Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, land contracts, financing statements, liens, and property transfers. Delinquent property tax information is available separately through the county at waynecounty.com/pta, where you can view tax data by parcel ID or address.
The Wayne County Land Records portal at waynecountylandrecords.com gives access to document images from 1915. On-demand users can search and purchase individual documents without a subscription.
Wayne County Third Circuit Court Records
The Third Circuit Court serves Wayne County and is one of the busiest trial courts in Michigan. It handles all felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, and family court matters for the Detroit area and all Wayne County communities. The Third Circuit Court has its own online case search tool at 3rdcc.org/OPA.aspx. This lets you search cases filed in Wayne County directly.
For statewide court searches, the MiCOURT case search portal also covers Wayne County cases. Both tools provide free access to docket entries, case status, and hearing information. Non-public cases are excluded. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Third Circuit Court directly. Multiple district courts also operate throughout Wayne County, handling misdemeanors and civil cases under $25,000.
Criminal History and Inmate Public Records
For criminal history checks tied to Wayne County and Detroit, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system covers all 83 Michigan counties. Searches cost $10 per name and include felony convictions and serious misdemeanors. Access at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Federal records, traffic violations, juvenile records, and warrants are not included in ICHAT.
Wayne County jail inmate searches are available through SheriffConnect at sheriffconnect.com. The system shows booking information and charges. Mugshots are not posted online and require a FOIA request. For people under Michigan Department of Corrections supervision, use the free OTIS database at mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2.
Note: Wayne County mugshots are not publicly available online. You must submit a written FOIA request to the Wayne County Sheriff to obtain booking photos.
Vital Records for Wayne County
Wayne County vital records are handled through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Wayne County residents can be ordered online at michigan.gov/mdhhs or through VitalChek. State vital records go back to 1867. The first certified copy costs $34. Additional copies of the same record are $16 each.
Birth records less than 100 years old require proof of eligibility. Eligible requesters include the person named on the record (if age 18 or older), parents listed on the record, legal guardians, legal representatives, or heirs if the person is deceased. Bring valid photo ID for in-person requests. In-person requests can also be made at local county clerk offices across Michigan.
FOIA Requests for Wayne County Public Records
Wayne County follows Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 et seq. The county has an online FOIA request form at waynecounty.com/county/foia-request-form.aspx. The standard copy fee is 10 cents per page for 8.5-by-11-inch paper. Wayne County departments must respond within 5 business days.
Each Wayne County department designates its own FOIA coordinator. For records from specific departments (Sheriff, Register of Deeds, courts), submit the request to that specific office. Fee waivers are available for people receiving public assistance or demonstrating financial hardship. Electronic requests are deemed received the day after they are sent.
Cities in Wayne County
Wayne County includes Detroit and many large suburban cities. The following cities have individual public records pages on this site.
Other communities in Wayne County include Taylor, Inkster, Romulus, Garden City, Allen Park, Riverview, Wyandotte, and many more. Public records for all of these flow through county offices in Detroit.
Nearby Counties
These Michigan counties border Wayne County. Each has its own public records offices and search tools.