Mason County Phone Directory Search

The Mason County phone directory gives you contacts and search options for public records held in this west Michigan county on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Ludington is the county seat, and the courthouse there holds court records, vital documents, and property files. This phone directory covers the circuit court, district court, county clerk, and register of deeds. You can search Mason County court cases online through MiCOURT for free, or visit the Ludington courthouse for in-person requests. Below you will find the key numbers and record search details you need.

Mason County Clerk Phone Directory

The Mason County Clerk works out of 304 E. Ludington Avenue in Ludington. Call (231) 843-8202 for the clerk's office. This is where you go for birth, death, and marriage certificates, court filings, and election services. The office is open weekdays during regular business hours.

Michigan vital records rules apply in Mason County. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to eligible applicants under MCL 333.2815. This means the person named on the certificate, a parent, or a legal representative. Death and marriage records are public. County fees are typically lower than the $34 charged by the state office in Lansing. The Mason County phone directory for the clerk is the fastest way to check current fees and what documents you need to bring.

The clerk's office also processes passport applications. Call ahead to schedule an appointment for passport services.

Court Records Search in Mason County

Mason County shares the 51st Circuit Court with Lake County. The circuit court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, family law, and probate. Search for circuit court records through MiCOURT at no cost. Type at least two characters of a last name or enter a case number. Results show party names, case type codes, filing dates, docket entries, and outcomes.

The 79th District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, and civil matters under $25,000 in Mason County. District court records also appear in MiCOURT. Use case type codes to sort your results. CR is criminal. CB stands for civil. TR is traffic. DR means domestic relations. You can search MiCOURT at any time from any web browser. Document images are not usually available online, so contact the Mason County court clerk in Ludington for copies of specific filings or orders.

Note: Juvenile records and expunged cases are excluded from all public phone directory searches in Mason County.

Mason County Property Records

The Mason County Register of Deeds records property documents at the courthouse in Ludington. Deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, and easements are all on file. Search by owner name, parcel ID, or address. Call (231) 843-8202 for fees. Standard copies are about $1 per page. Certified copies cost around $10.

The county treasurer in Mason County tracks property tax bills, payments, and delinquent amounts. Township assessors set local property values. Appeals go to the Board of Review in March. Under MCL 15.231-15.246, most property records held by Mason County offices are available to the public through FOIA requests if not already accessible over the counter. The phone directory for property questions starts with the register of deeds and treasurer.

State Search Resources

State-level tools can help you search for Mason County records remotely. The ICHAT criminal history check is $10 and shows Michigan convictions with a full name and date of birth. The Voter Information Center confirms registration status. The Secretary of State provides free business entity searches for all Michigan companies.

Statewide vital records are available from MDHHS at $34 per copy. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person in Lansing. The Michigan Open Data Portal has downloadable datasets from state agencies that work as an extra phone directory resource for Mason County research.

The Michigan Treasury website shows how state-level searches connect to local county data like property taxes.

This state portal provides financial data and tax information relevant to Mason County property owners.

How to Search Mason County Records

Mason County keeps its records at the courthouse in Ludington. The county clerk handles vital records and court filings. The register of deeds stores property documents. The treasurer manages tax data. All these offices are in the same building, which makes it easy to handle multiple requests in one trip.

Court records are best searched through MiCOURT online. For vital records, try the county clerk first since fees are lower than the $34 state rate. Property searches go through the register of deeds, and the treasurer covers tax questions. The Mason County phone directory helps you reach the right office quickly.

FOIA in Mason County

File a FOIA request with Mason County by writing to the FOIA coordinator at 304 E. Ludington Avenue, Ludington, MI 49431. Describe the records you want. The response time is 5 business days, with up to 10 more days allowed. Copies cost $0.10 per page. Large requests may require a deposit over $50.

Fee waivers are available for low-income requesters or public interest needs. Denied requests can be appealed within 180 days to the Office of the Ombudsman or Circuit Court.

Mason County Legal Help

Legal Aid of Western Michigan at (616) 774-0672 covers the Mason County area. Michigan Legal Help at (888) 783-8190 offers statewide phone directory assistance. The Michigan Courts website provides forms and self-help tools. The State Bar referral service at (800) 968-0738 can connect you with attorneys in the Ludington area.

Counties Near Mason

Mason County is on the Lake Michigan coast in western Lower Michigan. These nearby counties have phone directory pages too.