Search Michigan Residents Directory
Michigan has more than 10 million residents spread across 83 counties. This residents directory helps you find public records for people who live in the state or once did. You can search court case files, voter rolls, property deeds, and other records kept by state and county offices. Most of these records are open to the public under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Use the search tool on this page to start a lookup, or pick a county or city from the lists to find local resources for the area you need.
Michigan Residents Directory Overview
Michigan Residents Directory and Public Records Law
The state runs its public records system under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. This law is found in MCL 15.231 through 15.246 and has been in place since 1977. It gives any person the right to ask for and get copies of records held by a public body. That includes state agencies, county offices, city halls, and school districts. The word "person" in the statute covers individuals, corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other groups.
Records under FOIA include all documents that a public body prepares, owns, uses, or keeps. Hand-written notes, typed reports, printed forms, photos, audio files, and digital data all count. Email counts too. The only thing left out is software. When you put in a FOIA request, the office must give you an initial response in five business days. They can take up to ten more days if they send you a notice that explains the delay.
Not all records are open. MCL 15.243 lists exemptions. Some records stay private to protect personal data or active law enforcement work. But the default is access. If a public body denies your request, they must tell you why in writing and cite the specific exemption they rely on.
Note: FOIA requests cost between $0.10 and $1.00 per page for copies, and a fee waiver is available for people who can show they lack the funds to pay.
Michigan Residents Directory Criminal History Search
The Internet Criminal History Access Tool, known as ICHAT, is run by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. It is one of the most used tools in the Michigan residents directory for looking up a person's criminal past. Each search costs $10 and takes a credit card. You need a full name and date of birth to run it.
ICHAT pulls data from all 83 Michigan counties. It shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors that carry more than 93 days in jail. The results list the person's name, any aliases, date of birth, race, gender, arrest dates, charges filed, and the court where the case was heard. You also get sentencing details and case disposition. It does not show suppressed records, federal charges, tribal records, traffic cases, or crimes from other states. Juvenile records are also left out.
The Michigan residents directory screenshot below shows the ICHAT portal page where searches begin.
If you can't pay the $10 fee, an indigent fee waiver exists. You must fill out an Affidavit of Indigency and have it notarized. Mail it to Michigan State Police, Records Resource Section, PO Box 30634, Lansing, MI 48909. This waiver is limited to two uses per calendar year.
Offender Search in the Michigan Residents Directory
The Offender Tracking Information System, called OTIS, is maintained by the Michigan Department of Corrections. It is free. You can search it at mdocweb.state.mi.us without making an account. OTIS covers people who are in state prison, on parole, or on probation under MDOC watch. It also keeps records for offenders who left supervision within the past three years.
To search OTIS, type a last name with at least three letters. You can add a first name, age range, race, or gender to narrow it down. The system also lets you search by MDOC number if you have one. Results show the person's full legal name, MDOC number, date of birth, current facility, custody status, sentence start and end dates, and parole eligibility. Physical details like scars, marks, and tattoos are listed too.
OTIS does not cover county jail inmates or city lockup holds. It also skips people who were only sentenced to jail time, not prison.
Court Case Search in the Residents Directory
MiCOURT is the statewide court case search system. The Michigan State Court Administrative Office runs it, and it is free to use. No account is needed for basic lookups. You can search by party name or case number across most Michigan courts. The system returns criminal cases, civil suits, traffic cases, domestic relations matters, and probate filings. Each result shows the case number, party names, filing date, status, next hearing date, and the judge assigned to it.
Some courts do not yet participate in MiCOURT. Document downloads may not be available for all case types. Juvenile cases and sealed records will not show up. Still, for a quick check on whether someone has a court case in Michigan, this is the best free tool in the residents directory.
Beyond the state system, many counties run their own case search tools. Wayne County uses the Third Judicial Circuit site. Oakland County has Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com. Genesee County runs searches through the 7th Circuit Court website. These local tools sometimes have more detail than the statewide portal.
Voter Records in the Michigan Residents Directory
The Michigan Voter Information Center is run by the Secretary of State. It lets you check if someone is registered to vote, see their polling place, and find their district info. You need a first name, last name, date of birth, and zip code. The system confirms registration status, shows the date they registered, and lists their precinct and district information.
Michigan also keeps a Qualified Voter File, or QVF. This is a database of roughly 7.3 to 7.9 million voter records. It holds each voter's name, home address, birth year, registration date, and voting history. Social Security numbers, full birth dates, phone numbers, and email addresses are kept private under MCL 168.509(q). The full QVF file is available through a FOIA request to the Michigan Department of State for $23.
Property and Business Records
Every county in Michigan has a Register of Deeds office that records property transfers. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and land contracts all go through this office. Most of the larger counties let you search these records on the web. Oakland County has a free Property Gateway tool at gis.oakgov.com that shows ownership, assessment data, tax info, and sale history. Wayne County offers online records through its recorder portal and a set of free historic index books at kofilequicklinks.com.
Business records for the Michigan residents directory can be found through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Their business entity search lets you look up corporations, LLCs, and partnerships by name, filing number, officer name, or registered agent. Results show the entity's legal name, type, status, formation date, principal address, and officers. This can help you find who is behind a business or confirm that a company is in good standing.
- Deeds and mortgages at the county Register of Deeds
- Property tax data from the county Treasurer
- Assessment records from the county Equalization office
- Business filings through LARA
How to Use This Michigan Residents Directory
Start with the search box at the top of the page. Enter a first name, last name, and pick Michigan from the state list. The tool will check available public records and show you what it finds. This is the fastest way to search the residents directory.
If you want to go straight to a government database, use the links on this page or pick a county or city below. Each county page lists local offices, phone numbers, and search tools that apply to residents of that area. City pages point you to the county that handles records for that city, plus any local resources like police departments and district courts. Important case law decisions like Mager v Dep't of State Police (1999) and Detroit Free Press v Dep't of Consumer and Industry Services (2001) have shaped what records you can and cannot get through these channels.
For records that aren't online, you can make a FOIA request. Put your request in writing. Name the department that holds what you need. Be as specific as you can about the records you want. Include your name, address, and a phone number or email. The office has five business days to respond, with a possible ten-day extension under MCL 15.235.
Browse the Michigan Residents Directory by County
Each of Michigan's 83 counties has its own set of offices that keep public records. Pick a county below to find local search tools, contact info, and resources for that area.
Michigan Residents Directory by City
Major Michigan cities are served by the county courts and offices in their area. Pick a city to find out which county handles records and what local resources are available.