Ottawa County Phone Directory
The Ottawa County phone directory puts you in touch with public records offices, courts, and government departments across this west Michigan county. Ottawa County has its seat in Grand Haven and includes cities like Holland and Zeeland. You can search for court cases, property records, vital records, and government office phone numbers all through this guide. Whether you need to reach the county clerk, look up a case, or file a FOIA request, this page covers the key contacts and search tools for the Ottawa County phone directory.
Ottawa County Phone Directory Overview
Ottawa County Clerk Phone Numbers
The Ottawa County Clerk is the primary office for vital records, elections, and court filings. Justin Roebuck serves as the FOIA coordinator. You can reach the clerk at (616) 994-4531 or by email at clerk@miottawa.org. This is the central contact in the Ottawa County phone directory for birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, and election info.
Michigan vital records go back to 1867 for births and deaths. Marriage records are also available at the county level. Under MCL 333.2815-333.2861 of the Michigan Public Health Code, birth records less than 100 years old are restricted. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal representative can get a copy. Records over 100 years old are public. Death records and marriage records are generally open to anyone. The Ottawa County clerk can walk you through the forms and fees. County fees tend to be lower than the state rate of $34, but you should call to confirm the current price.
Walk-in requests are handled at the courthouse in Grand Haven. Bring a valid photo ID. You can also send requests by mail. The Ottawa County phone directory can connect you to the right division within the clerk's office if you are not sure where to start.
Ottawa County Circuit Court Records
The Ottawa County Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $25,000, family law, and probate. The court sits in Grand Haven. Search case records for free through the MiCOURT system.
MiCOURT covers all Michigan circuit courts, including Ottawa County. Enter a last name with at least two letters to start a search. You can also use a full case number in the YY-######-XX format. Results show party names, case type, filing date, case status, and docket entries. Case type codes in the Ottawa County phone directory system include CR for criminal, DR for domestic relations, CB for civil, SC for small claims, and PR for probate. The search is free and works around the clock from any device with a browser.
There are limits on what is visible. Juvenile records are sealed. PPO records are restricted. Cases that have been set aside under MCL 780.621 will not show in search results. Document images are typically not available online. You may need to visit the court clerk in Grand Haven for copies of filed documents.
For criminal background checks covering Ottawa County, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system costs $10 per search. It shows convictions from Michigan courts only.
Ottawa County District Court Phone Directory
Ottawa County has district courts that handle traffic violations, misdemeanors, small claims, preliminary exams, and civil cases under $25,000. The 58th District Court covers most of Ottawa County. You can look up cases through MiCOURT by name or case number.
Results from the search show case type, parties, hearing dates, and dispositions. Copies of documents must be requested in person or by phone. The Ottawa County phone directory lists the district court as a top resource for lower-level case searches. Drug charges under MCL 333.7411 for first-time offenders and HYTA youth cases are sealed from public view.
Note: Holland has its own 58th District Court division. Check which division covers the city where the case was filed.
FOIA Requests in Ottawa County
Under MCL 15.231-15.246, anyone can request government records from Ottawa County. You do not have to live in Michigan. Justin Roebuck is the FOIA coordinator. Call (616) 994-4531 or email clerk@miottawa.org to submit a request.
Ottawa County must respond within 5 business days. They can extend the deadline by up to 10 more days if needed. Standard copying fees are $0.10 per page. 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 expected to exceed $50. Fee waivers are available for low-income requesters or when the records serve a public interest. If a request is denied, you can appeal within 180 days to the Office of the Ombudsman or file in Ottawa County Circuit Court. The Ottawa County phone directory has contacts for each department so you can send your request to the right office.
Ottawa County Property Records
Property records in Ottawa County are kept by the Register of Deeds and the county treasurer. You can search for deeds, mortgages, liens, and tax info. The Ottawa County phone directory for property questions starts with the Register of Deeds office in Grand Haven.
Many Ottawa County properties are also searchable through the BS&A Online system. This free tool shows owner name, assessed value, taxable value, building details like square footage and year built, sales history, and zoning classification. It works around the clock. For broader research, the Michigan Open Data Portal has state-level datasets you can download in CSV, Shapefile, GeoJSON, and other formats. All data on the portal is free and open to the public.
The Open Data Portal has datasets from many state agencies. Use it to find data that covers Ottawa County and the rest of Michigan.
Ottawa County Voter Phone Directory
Check voter registration in Ottawa County at the Michigan Voter Information Center. Enter a first name, last name, birth month, birth year, and ZIP code. The result shows registration status, polling place, and voting history for the past 12 months.
You can register online at mi.gov/vote with a Michigan driver's license or state ID. In-person registration is available at the Ottawa County Clerk's office in Grand Haven or at any Secretary of State branch. Mail-in registration must be done at least 15 days before an election. Same-day registration at the polls is available if you bring proof of residency.
Business Records in Ottawa County
The Michigan Secretary of State business entity search lets you look up any LLC, corporation, or partnership registered in the state, including those based in Ottawa County. Search by entity name, officer name, or ID number. Results show business name, status, formation date, registered agent, and principal office address. View filed documents like articles of organization as PDFs. The search is free. Certified copies cost $10 each. This is a useful part of the Ottawa County phone directory for anyone checking on a local business.
Legal Help for Ottawa County
Legal Aid of Western Michigan serves the Ottawa County area. Call (616) 774-0672. Michigan Legal Help at (888) 783-8190 provides statewide assistance. The Michigan Courts website has self-help forms and guides. The State Bar of Michigan runs a lawyer referral line at (800) 968-0738. These services cover family law, housing, and civil matters. They do not handle criminal defense cases.
Nearby Counties
Ottawa County is on the west side of Michigan along Lake Michigan. If you need records from a neighboring area, check these counties.
Cities in Ottawa County
Ottawa County includes cities like Grand Haven, Holland, and Zeeland. None of the cities in this county meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site, but each has its own local clerk and police department you can reach through the Ottawa County phone directory contacts listed above.