Search Washtenaw County Records
Washtenaw County is in southeast Michigan with Ann Arbor as its county seat and a total population above 370,000 people. A Washtenaw County people search draws on court records, criminal history files, vital records, property documents, and other public records held by local offices and state agencies. The county clerk, the 22nd Circuit Court, the sheriff, the register of deeds, and the treasurer all keep searchable records. This page walks through the main sources and tools for finding people and public records in Washtenaw County.
Washtenaw County at a Glance
Washtenaw County Clerk Records
The Washtenaw County Clerk is the main office for vital records and many other public documents in the county. You can search for birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses through this office. The clerk also handles court filings for the 22nd Circuit Court. Their website at washtenaw.org/County-Clerk lists the records available, fees, and how to submit requests. Most vital record copies cost between $15 and $25. You can visit the office in Ann Arbor or mail a written request.
The Washtenaw County Clerk page at washtenaw.org is the starting point for vital records and court filings.
From this page you can find forms, fee schedules, and contact details for requesting records in person or by mail.
The clerk keeps vital records that go back many decades. If you are searching for someone and need to confirm a birth, death, or marriage, this is the local source. The state MDHHS office also has these records, but a request to the county clerk in Ann Arbor often gets processed faster. Under Michigan law, vital records are public after certain waiting periods, and the clerk can tell you what is available for the person you are looking for. Bring as much detail as you can when you visit. A full name plus a date range helps the staff pull the right files.
The vital records section of the clerk's site at washtenaw.org/Vital-Records has specific details on ordering copies.
This page covers birth, death, and marriage record requests along with current fees and required forms.
| Office | Washtenaw County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
| Phone | (734) 222-6730 |
| Website | washtenaw.org/County-Clerk |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM |
Note: Washtenaw County vital record copies typically cost $15 to $25, and in-person requests at the Ann Arbor office are usually processed the same day.
Search Washtenaw County Court Cases
The 22nd Circuit Court handles major cases in Washtenaw County. This includes felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits over $25,000, family law matters like divorce and custody, and appeals from lower courts. Court records are public under MCL 600.1420. Anyone can look up a case. You do not need to be a party to the case and you do not need to give a reason for your search. The county courts page at washtenaw.org/Courts has links to court divisions, schedules, and case search tools.
The Washtenaw County Courts page at washtenaw.org/Courts lists all court divisions and services.
Use this page to find the right court division and access case information for your Washtenaw County people search.
The 14A District Court also serves Washtenaw County. It covers misdemeanors, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims. These records are public too. For a people search, district court records can show minor offenses and civil disputes that do not appear in circuit court files. The probate court handles estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. All three court levels feed into the state MiCOURT system at micourt.courts.michigan.gov, where you can search Washtenaw County cases online for free.
Note: MiCOURT lets you search Washtenaw County court cases from all three court levels without visiting the courthouse in Ann Arbor.
Washtenaw County Criminal History
Criminal records for Washtenaw County come from local and state sources. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office at washtenaw.org/Sheriff holds arrest records, booking logs, and inmate data. You can check their site for current inmates and recent bookings. The sheriff also serves civil papers and keeps records of those transactions. If someone was arrested or booked in Washtenaw County, the sheriff's office is the local source for those files.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff page at washtenaw.org/Sheriff covers law enforcement services and inmate lookup tools.
Check this page for inmate search tools, booking records, and contact info for the sheriff's office.
The inmate search tool at washtenaw.org/Sheriff shows who is currently in the Washtenaw County Jail.
Results include booking date, charges, and bond amount for each person held in the county jail.
For statewide criminal history, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the main tool. It costs $10 per search under MCL 28.261a. ICHAT pulls conviction records from agencies across Michigan, including Washtenaw County. Visit apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT to search by name. The OTIS system from the Department of Corrections is free and shows people who are or were in state prison, on parole, or on probation. The sex offender registry at mspsor.com is also free and covers all of Michigan.
Washtenaw County Property Records
Property records are a useful part of any people search because they show where someone lives or has owned land. The Washtenaw County Register of Deeds at washtenaw.org/Register-of-Deeds keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents on file. You can search by name to find all properties tied to a person in the county. These are public records under MCL 15.231 and the register of deeds office makes many of them available online.
The Washtenaw County Register of Deeds at washtenaw.org/Register-of-Deeds holds all recorded property documents.
Search deeds, mortgages, and liens by name to find property records tied to people in Washtenaw County.
The Washtenaw County Treasurer at washtenaw.org/Treasurer handles property tax records. Tax records show who owns a property and whether taxes are current. They also show assessed values and payment history. For a people search, tax records help confirm addresses and property ownership. The treasurer's site has an online search tool where you can look up parcels by owner name or address.
The property tax search at washtenaw.org/Treasurer lets you look up parcels and tax status by owner name.
Enter an owner name or address to find property tax details and parcel information in Washtenaw County.
The county also runs a GIS mapping tool at washtenaw.org/Mapping-and-GIS that shows property boundaries, ownership data, and parcel details on a map.
The GIS tool layers property data over maps so you can see parcel boundaries and ownership info visually.
Note: Property records from the register of deeds and treasurer are both free to search online in Washtenaw County.
Public Records Access in Washtenaw County
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 applies to all Washtenaw County government offices. You have the right to request records from the clerk, the courts, the sheriff, the register of deeds, the treasurer, and any other public body. FOIA requests must be in writing. The office has five business days to respond. They can charge reasonable fees for copying and labor, but they cannot deny access without a valid legal exemption.
The Washtenaw County main site at washtenaw.org is the central hub for all county departments and online services.
Start here to find links to every county department, online tools, and contact information for FOIA requests.
The Washtenaw County Treasurer page at washtenaw.org/Treasurer also handles tax foreclosure records and other financial documents that may come up in a people search.
Tax records, payment history, and foreclosure data are all available through the treasurer's office.
Court records fall under MCL 600.1420, which makes most case files open to the public. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and some family court matters may be restricted. But for most people search needs, Washtenaw County court records are freely available. The combination of local online tools, the MiCOURT state system, and in-person access at the Ann Arbor courthouse gives you several ways to find what you need.
Find People in Washtenaw County
A thorough Washtenaw County people search uses multiple sources. Start with the free online tools. MiCOURT covers court cases. The register of deeds has property records. The treasurer has tax data. The GIS tool shows ownership on a map. These are all free and do not need an account. For criminal history, ICHAT costs $10 but is thorough. OTIS and the sex offender registry are free state tools that cover the whole state including Washtenaw County.
For vital records, visit the county clerk in Ann Arbor or submit a request by mail. Bring the person's full name and any dates you have. The more details you provide, the faster the staff can find the right files. Certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records are available for a fee. The clerk office is at 200 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor and is open weekdays.
If you want records that are not online, a FOIA request is the way to go. Write to the specific department that holds the records. State what you want clearly. The office must respond within five business days under MCL 15.231. Some records may require a small fee for copies, but the search itself should not be blocked. Washtenaw County offices are generally responsive to public records requests.
People Search in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is the county seat and largest city in Washtenaw County. All public records for Ann Arbor residents are kept by the same Washtenaw County offices covered on this page. Court cases, criminal records, vital records, and property filings for people in Ann Arbor go through the county clerk, the 22nd Circuit Court, the sheriff, and the register of deeds. If you are searching for someone in Ann Arbor, the Washtenaw County tools and offices listed above are the right place to look.
Nearby Counties
Washtenaw County is surrounded by several other Michigan counties. If your people search reaches beyond Washtenaw, these nearby counties each have their own clerk offices and courts with public records.