This guide will help you find information about individuals, businesses, corporations, and other entities required by law to file with governmental agencies in Michigan.
This guide INCLUDES all periods of time, all formats (online and print; published and archival), and all levels of government (state, county, township, city or other municipality).
This guide EXCLUDES other kinds of public documents that may contain very useful information about individuals, business, corporations, and other entities, such as court reports, statutes, regulations, or legislative hearings; and the multitude of “secondary sources” such as newspapers, magazines, and books that may also have valuable information; and records of federal agencies. It also EXCLUDES the process of requesting information from public entities using the State’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); for that see http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/access-public-records-michigan
This guide is developing over time and will cover:
- PROPERTY TRANSFER INFORMATION: deeds, mortgages and other instruments that include information such as buyer, seller, and purchase price.
- PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND TAX RECORDS: what is the assessed value? what is the taxable value? how current are the tax payments?
- LAWSUITS AND JUDGMENTS: Has a person or business entity been involved in a lawsuit, with what result?
- MARRIAGE:
- DIVORCE:
- BIRTH:
- PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES:
- ELECTION CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND REPORTS
- ESTATE AND PROBATE RECORDS
- CRIMINAL RECORDS
- BUSINESS ENTITIES:
For each type of record you will find, usually in a chronological sequence:
- Location of historical print records; the access points; and any other relevant information
- Location of online records with links.
- Location of archival records, if any.
How to find public records in Michigan 