Search Ottawa County Residents Directory

Ottawa County is on the west side of Michigan along Lake Michigan. About 300,000 people call it home. Grand Haven serves as the county seat. This residents directory page pulls together all the public record tools and offices you can use to look up a person in Ottawa County. You will find court records, property deed searches, inmate look ups, and voter file data listed here. The county clerk, Daniel C. Krueger, oversees much of the record keeping. Use the search box below to start a look up, or scroll through the page for direct links to Ottawa County offices and databases.

Ottawa County Court Records

The 20th Judicial Circuit Court serves Ottawa County. Its office is at 12120 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460. Call (616) 994-4541 for help. This court handles felonies, civil cases over $25,000, family law, and appeals from district courts. Court records are public under Michigan law. You can search for a case by name or case number on the court website or through the statewide MiCOURT portal.

Ottawa County also has three district courts. The 58th District Court has locations in both Holland and Grand Haven. The Holland branch can be reached at (616) 393-2600. The Grand Haven branch is at (616) 842-5555. The 59th District Court in Hudsonville handles the southeast part of the county and can be reached at (616) 669-1740. These courts deal with misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and civil disputes. Each one keeps its own set of files. If you need records from a specific case, contact the court where it was heard or try the MiCOURT search first.

Under MCL 15.233, all records that a court prepares, owns, or keeps are open for inspection and copying by any person. There are some exceptions for sealed and juvenile cases, but the default is public access.

Ottawa County Residents Directory Property Search

The Ottawa County Register of Deeds is at 12220 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460. The phone number is (616) 994-4508 and the fax is (616) 994-4509. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Email the office at rod@miottawa.org for questions about a filing.

You can search Ottawa County property records online through the Register of Deeds website. The system lets you look up records by owner name, property address, parcel number, or document type. Document images are available for most filings. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and land contracts are all recorded here. This is a key part of the Ottawa County residents directory because property records show who owns what, when they bought it, and what liens may be on the property. You need to create an account to view document images, but the search itself is free to start.

Ottawa County Sheriff and Jail Records

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office is at 12130 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460. Call (616) 994-4621 for the main line or the jail. The sheriff handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas and runs the county jail.

The Ottawa County residents directory screenshot below shows the sheriff's office page where you can find inmate search tools and public safety information for the county.

Jail records only cover people currently held. Past bookings are not always available online. For state prison records, the OTIS search from the Michigan Department of Corrections is free and covers inmates, parolees, and probationers. You can search by last name and get back the person's MDOC number, facility, sentence dates, and custody status.

Public Records Access in Ottawa County

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act covers all Ottawa County offices. Under MCL 15.231 through 15.246, any person can ask for records that a public body prepares, owns, uses, or keeps. That includes the Ottawa County government, the clerk, the courts, and the sheriff. To make a request, write to the FOIA coordinator for the department that holds the records you need. State what you want as specifically as you can. The office must respond in five business days under MCL 15.235.

Fees for copies vary. Most offices charge between $0.10 and $1.00 per page. A fee waiver is available under MCL 15.234 for people who cannot afford to pay. If your request is denied, the office must cite the specific exemption from MCL 15.243 that applies. You can appeal a denial to the head of the public body or file a lawsuit in circuit court.

Criminal History Look Up for Ottawa County

The ICHAT tool from the Michigan State Police lets you run a criminal history check on any person in the state. It costs $10 and needs a full name plus date of birth. Results cover felonies and misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days. The data comes from all 83 Michigan counties, so Ottawa County cases are included. ICHAT shows arrests, charges, dispositions, and sentencing for each case found.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is free. Search by name or address to find registered offenders in Ottawa County. Each result includes a photo, home address, offense details, and compliance status.

Ottawa County Voter Records

Check voter registration through the Michigan Voter Information Center. You need a first name, last name, date of birth, and zip code. The system shows registration status, registration date, precinct, and district info. The Qualified Voter File holds about 7.3 to 7.9 million records statewide. It includes names, addresses, birth years, and voting history. Full birth dates and phone numbers are kept private under MCL 168.509(q).

Ottawa County Directory Contacts

Cities in Ottawa County

Ottawa County includes Grand Haven, Holland, Hudsonville, Zeeland, Coopersville, and several townships. Wyoming is a nearby city that falls in Kent County but borders the Ottawa County line. No cities within Ottawa County meet the population threshold for a separate page in this residents directory.

Nearby Counties

People in Ottawa County sometimes have ties to neighboring areas. Check these counties if you need to widen your search.