Michigan Phone Directory
The Michigan phone directory connects you to public records held by state and local offices across all 83 counties. You can search for court case data, property records, vital record details, and contact info for clerks, police departments, and district courts. Michigan runs a mix of state and county systems that hold these records. The MiCOURT case search system covers courts statewide, while county clerks and city offices each keep their own files. This guide walks you through where to look, what you can find, and how to get the records you need from Michigan phone directory sources.
Michigan Phone Directory Overview
Michigan Phone Directory State Databases
Michigan runs several statewide databases that let you look up public records from any county. These are the best place to start when you need to find someone or check a record. Most are free to use and work from any device with a web browser.
The MiCOURT case search is the main court records tool for the whole state. It covers circuit courts, district courts, and probate courts in all 83 counties. You can search by last name with just two letters, or use a full case number in the YY-######-XX format. The system shows party names, case type, filing date, status, docket entries, and hearing outcomes. Case type codes tell you what kind of case it is. CR means criminal. CB is civil. DR stands for domestic relations. TR is traffic. Results go back years and are free to view. Document images are not available online for most courts, so you may need to visit the clerk in person for copies.
You can search the Michigan phone directory for people through the Michigan Voter Information Center too. Enter a first name, last name, birth month, birth year, and ZIP code. It shows registration status, polling place, and voting history for the past 12 months.
The Secretary of State business entity search lets you look up any LLC, corporation, or partnership filed in Michigan. Search by entity name, officer name, or ID number. Results show the business name, status, formation date, registered agent, and principal office address. You can view filed documents like articles of organization and annual reports as PDFs. The search is free. Certified copies cost $10 each.
Criminal History in the Michigan Phone Directory
The Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the state's official tool for criminal background checks. It costs $10 per search and needs the person's full legal name and date of birth. Results show up right away. You get convictions from Michigan courts, active warrants in some cases, and sex offender registry status. ICHAT only covers Michigan records, not other states. It shows convictions only. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are left out. Juvenile records and expunged records do not show up either. Under MCL 15.231-15.246, the Michigan Freedom of Information Act sets rules for how the public can access government records, and criminal history falls under these guidelines.
Keep in mind that ICHAT results are valid for 30 days. You can print or save the PDF for your own files.
Phone Directory for Michigan Property Records
Property records in Michigan are kept at the county level by the Register of Deeds and the county treasurer. Each county runs its own search system. Some are free. Others charge viewing fees. Wayne County, for example, charges $30 for a one-hour document viewing session through its public search system. You can look up deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents going back to 1915. Search by property address, parcel number, or owner name.
The Wayne County property tax search is a separate tool. Enter a street name with at least three characters, and it shows the property owner, assessed value, taxable value, tax amounts, and payment status. You can pay taxes online with an e-check for $0.50 or by credit card with a 2.5% fee. Oakland County has its own Register of Deeds search with quick and advanced search options. Kent County runs a property search tool where you can look up parcels and assessment data. These county phone directory tools are the best way to find property ownership and tax info in Michigan.
Many cities also run property search tools through BS&A Online. Detroit's system at bsaonline.com shows owner name, mailing address, assessed values, building details like square footage and year built, sales history, and zoning info. It is free and works around the clock.
Michigan Phone Directory for Vital Records
Vital records in Michigan are handled by the MDHHS Vital Records division at the state level, and by county clerks at the local level. Birth, death, and marriage certificates from 1867 to present are available. Divorce records go back to 1897. The state charges $34 for the first copy and $16 for each extra copy of any vital record. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail to PO Box 30721 in Lansing, or in person at 333 S. Grand Avenue in Lansing.
County clerks often have lower fees. Wayne County charges $22 per vital record. Oakland County charges $15 to $25 depending on how old the record is. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to the person named, parents, or legal representatives under MCL 333.2815-333.2861 of the Michigan Public Health Code. Records over 100 years old are open to anyone. Death records, marriage records, and divorce records are generally public. Each county phone directory page has specific contact info and fees for vital records in that area.
How FOIA Works in the Michigan Phone Directory
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231-15.246 gives anyone the right to request government records. You do not need to be a Michigan resident. Any person, company, or organization can submit a FOIA request. The agency must respond within 5 business days. They can grant the request, deny it with an explanation, or ask for up to 10 more days.
Standard FOIA fees are $0.10 per page for copies. Electronic copies cost the price of the media. Labor charges apply for requests that take a lot of time to search or redact. A deposit is required for requests that will cost more than $50. Fee waivers are available if you can show you have low income or that the records serve a public interest. If a request is denied, you can appeal within 180 days to the Office of the Ombudsman or to Circuit Court.
Each city, county, and state department has its own FOIA coordinator. The Michigan phone directory for your area will have the right contact info. Wayne County's FOIA coordinator is Maria Miller at (313) 224-6378. Oakland County's is Mitch Lapham at (248) 858-0565. Detroit processes non-police FOIA requests through the Law Department at FOIA@detroitmi.gov, while police records go to DPDFOIA@detroitmi.gov.
Michigan Open Data and Phone Directory Tools
The Michigan Open Data Portal is a free resource with datasets from state agencies. You can download data in CSV, Shapefile, GeoJSON, and other formats. Detroit runs its own open data portal with over 100 datasets covering parcels, property sales, blight violations, crime incidents, building permits, and more.
Detroit's data portal also has tools like the Parcel Viewer for interactive maps with zoning overlays, a Land Value Tax Estimator, and a Business Data Explorer. All data is free and open to the public. The phone directory for each city and county in Michigan includes links to local databases and search tools where they are available.
Legal Aid Resources in Michigan
Several groups offer free or low-cost legal help across the state. Legal Aid of Western Michigan serves the western part of the state and can be reached at (616) 774-0672. The Legal Aid and Defender Association covers the Detroit area at (313) 967-5800. Michigan Legal Help at (888) 783-8190 provides statewide assistance. The Michigan Courts website has self-help resources and court forms. The State Bar of Michigan runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 968-0738.
Browse Michigan Phone Directory by County
Each of Michigan's 83 counties has its own clerk, register of deeds, and court system. Pick a county below to find local phone directory contact info and record search tools for that area.
Michigan Phone Directory by City
Major Michigan cities have their own clerks, police departments, and district courts with searchable records. Pick a city below to find phone directory info and local resources.