How to Search Michigan Public Records

Michigan's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained across state agencies and the 83 counties listed below. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.

  • Courts: The Michigan Supreme Court sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Circuit Court (57 circuits), District Court, Probate Court. Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
  • Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
  • Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and may also be available locally.
  • Property & recorded documents: Maintained at the county level by the Assessor, Recorder, or Clerk's office.
  • Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
Population
10,140,459
Households
4,023,700
Median Income
$68,505
Median Home Value
$199,100

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Population Estimates Program; 2022 ACS 5-year)

Licenses Databases

25 official Michigan licenses sources.

Licenses

Acupuncture
Official Free
The meaning of SITE is the spatial location of an actual or planned structure or set of structures (such as a building, town, or monuments). How to use site in a sentence. Cite, Sight, and Site
Adult Foster Care
Official Free
Licensed Michigan Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged facilities.
Appraisers
Official Free
Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council records of appraisers licensed in Michigan.
🌐 asc.gov
Asbestos
Official Free
Michigan OSHA database of asbestos related licensees, including contractors, abatement workers, supervisors, inspectors, management planners.
Attorneys | State Bar
Official Free
State Bar of Michigan membership directory.
Banks & Agents
Official Free
Michigan state-chartered banks and savings banks and bank resident service of process agents.
Camps
Official Free
Michigan licensed child residential, day, and travel camps, and adult foster care camps.
Charities & Fundraisers
Official Free
Michigan Attorney General's office search for licensed charities, professional fundraisers, and public safety professional fundraisers.
Child Day Care Centers
Official Free
Licensed Michigan child day care centers, family homes, and group homes.
Child Welfare Facilities
Official Free
Licensed child welfare facilities in Michigan, including child care institutions, child placing agencies, and residential care facilities.
Grain Dealers
Official Free
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development lists of licensed grain dealers.
Liquor
Official Free
Michigan Liquor Control Commission active and escrow liquor licenses.
Mammography Facilities
Official Free
Michigan licensed mammography facility search.
Notaries
Official Free
Secretary of State search for notary public registrations in Michigan.
Nurseries
Official Free
Michigan Department of Agriculture licensed nursery growers and dealers.
Pesticide Application
Official Free
Pesticide application businesses currently licensed to do business in Michigan.
Required Business Licenses
Official Free
Use this index to find all businesses that are required to have a state license in Michigan.
Salvage Vehicle Inspectors
Official Free
Browse the Michigan Department of State database by county for Certified Salvage Vehicle Inspectors.
Teacher Certification
Official Free
Teacher licensure means the official recognition by the State Board of Education that an individual has met state requirements and is approved to.
Funeral & Mortuary Science
Official Free
Michigan Mortuary Science licensees, including funeral homes, funeral directors, and trainees.
Lobbyists & Lobbyist Agents
Official Free
Registered lobbyists, lobbyist employees, and lobbyist Agents in Michigan, also financials and expenditures.
Nurse Aides
Official Free
Michigan nurse aide registry search.
Nurses
Official Free
Michigan licensed nurses, including registered nurses, license practical nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and trained attendants.
Electrical
Official Free
Michigan licensed electrical contractors, master electricians, journeymen, apprentices, and electrical non-contractors.
Telecommunications
Official Free
Michigan Public Service Commission registered Intrastate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSP).

Michigan Counties

83 Michigan counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Frequently Asked Questions

Michigan's official criminal-history repository is operated by the state law-enforcement agency. Free public access to a complete criminal history is generally not available; an official background check typically requires fingerprints and a fee. Countie-level court records can be searched at no cost through individual court websites.

Michigan's court system is headed by the Michigan Supreme Court. Trial-court business is handled by the Circuit Court (57 circuits), District Court, Probate Court. Many Michigan courts publish docket searches and case lookups online — see the Court Records tab above for direct links.

The Michigan Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) operates the official business-entity search. You can typically search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other registered entities by name or registration number. See the Licenses or Business tab above.

The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some county offices combine these roles, others keep them separate. Check the specific county page for details.

Michigan vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates) are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and, in many cases, by local county clerks. Fees and ID requirements are set by the issuing agency.

Most county-level property and recorded-document searches are free for basic information through the Assessor or Recorder website. Certified copies of deeds typically have a per-page fee. Direct links are in the Property Records tab above.

The Michigan sex offender registry is maintained by the state law-enforcement agency under the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act. The registry is searchable by name, ZIP code, or address.

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