Midland County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Midland County?

Public records in Midland County, Michigan, are defined under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL § 15.231 et seq., as any writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these documents from the appropriate county office. The following categories of records are currently maintained and available through various Midland County departments:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Midland County Circuit Court and the 75th District Court, which handles civil claims, landlord/tenant matters, and misdemeanor proceedings.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land transfers are recorded and maintained by the Midland County Register of Deeds.
Vital records — Birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records are issued through the Midland County Clerk's office; members of the public may access birth, death, and marriage records through that office.
Business records — Assumed name (DBA) filings, business licenses, and permits are processed through the County Clerk and relevant municipal offices.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Midland County Equalization and Treasurer's offices.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are administered by the Midland County Clerk's Elections Division.
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions are publicly available through the County Clerk.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are maintained by the Midland County Finance Department.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Midland County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and planning documents are maintained by the Midland County Planning Department.

Is Midland County an Open Records County?

Midland County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework, which governs public access to government documents. Under MCL § 15.233, a public body is required to disclose public records upon receipt of a written request, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Michigan's FOIA establishes that all persons, regardless of residency, are entitled to inspect or receive copies of public records. Key provisions of the law include the requirement that a public body respond to a FOIA request within five business days of receipt, with a possible extension of up to ten additional business days under specified circumstances. Midland County public bodies, including the County Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and all county departments, are subject to these requirements. Michigan's Open Meetings Act, MCL § 15.261 et seq., further requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that minutes be made available for inspection. At present, Midland County does not maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance beyond the requirements established by state law.

How to Find Public Records in Midland County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Midland County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process currently in effect:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department maintains the record. Property records are held by the Register of Deeds; vital records by the County Clerk; court records by the Circuit or District Court; and law enforcement records by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a written FOIA request. For most county records, a written request addressed to the designated FOIA Coordinator of the relevant public body is required. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email where accepted.
Use online search tools. Court case information may be searched through the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which provides online access to case records statewide. Property records may be searched through the Register of Deeds online index.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant county office during regular business hours without submitting a formal FOIA request in many instances.
Request certified copies. For vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, requestors must complete the appropriate application form and provide required identification and applicable fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Midland County?

Current fees for public records in Midland County are governed by MCL § 15.234, which limits the charges a public body may impose for fulfilling FOIA requests. Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies: A public body may charge no more than the actual cost of duplication, which is typically $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies at many county offices.
Labor costs: A public body may charge for the labor cost of searching, examining, reviewing, and separating exempt from non-exempt material, calculated at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task.
Mailing costs: Actual postage and packaging costs may be charged when records are delivered by mail.
Certified copies of vital records: The Midland County Clerk charges a standard fee per certified copy of birth, death, or marriage certificates, consistent with state schedule.
Register of Deeds recording fees: Fees for recording documents and obtaining certified copies of property records are set pursuant to state statute and are subject to periodic adjustment.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, and credit card. Under MCL § 15.234, a public body must provide a fee waiver or reduction if the requester demonstrates that the public interest in disclosure substantially outweighs any commercial benefit to the requester.

Does Midland County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Michigan law, which does not require payment solely for the act of inspecting records on-site. The following resources are currently available at no charge:

In-person inspection: Members of the public may inspect non-exempt public records at the relevant county office during business hours without incurring a fee, provided no copies are requested.
Online court records: Case information is accessible at no cost through the MiCOURT Case Search portal maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court.
Property record index searches: The Midland County Register of Deeds provides online index searches for real property documents at no charge through the county's official website.
Meeting minutes and agendas: County Board of Commissioners minutes and agendas are posted on the Midland County official website and are accessible to the public without charge.
Election and voter information: Voting records and election results are publicly available through the Midland County Clerk's Elections Division at no cost.

Who Can Request Public Records in Midland County?

Under Michigan's FOIA, any person is entitled to submit a public records request to a Midland County public body. The statute does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Specifically:

Residency: Requestors are not required to be residents of Midland County or the State of Michigan.
Identification: A public body may not require a requestor to identify themselves or state the purpose of the request as a condition of fulfilling a FOIA request, except in limited circumstances involving specific record types.
Purpose: Members of the public are not required to explain why they are seeking records under standard FOIA procedures.
Restrictions for specific records: Certain record types, such as certified copies of vital records, require the requestor to demonstrate a qualifying relationship to the subject of the record or provide valid government-issued identification. Pursuant to Michigan law, access to birth and death certificates is restricted to eligible individuals including the registrant, immediate family members, and legal representatives.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves may be entitled to access additional information that would otherwise be withheld when requested by a third party, particularly in the context of law enforcement and court records.
Non-residents: Non-residents retain the same rights as residents under Michigan FOIA and may submit requests by mail, email, or in person.

What Records Are Confidential in Midland County?

Michigan law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure under FOIA. Pursuant to MCL § 15.243, the following types of records are currently exempt from public disclosure in Midland County:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Michigan law.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are protected from disclosure.
Medical records: Health and medical records are protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Records pertaining to adoption proceedings are sealed and accessible only under specific statutory conditions.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective services are confidential under Michigan's Child Protection Law.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for certain public employees' compensation and disciplinary records.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to a public body in confidence is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details: Records containing vulnerability assessments or security plans for public facilities are withheld to protect public safety.

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to separate and disclose the non-exempt portions, redacting only the protected content.

Midland County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Midland County Register of Deeds serves as the official custodian of all real property records within the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments. The office is open to the public during regular business hours for in-person record inspection, document recording, and copy requests.

Midland County Register of Deeds 220 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland, MI 48640 (989) 832-6820 Register of Deeds

Midland County Clerk – Vital Records Division 220 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland, MI 48640 (989) 832-6739 Vital Records – Midland County Clerk

Midland County 75th District Court 301 W. Main Street, Midland, MI 48640 (989) 832-6855 75th District Court

Midland County Sheriff's Office 2727 Rodd Street, Midland, MI 48640 (989) 839-4600 Midland County Sheriff's Office

Public counter hours for principal county offices are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Members of the public are advised to confirm current hours directly with the relevant office prior to visiting, as hours may be subject to change.