Ogemaw County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Ogemaw County in 2026

OgemawRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Ogemaw County, Michigan. Members of the public may use this resource to locate data across a range of record categories, including court filings, property documents, vital records, and government meeting minutes. The information presented reflects what is available through official channels and may not represent a complete index of all records held by county or state agencies.

Record categories accessible through official sources include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax and property assessment records
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records

Online Access: Members of the public may search court case information through the Michigan Courts case search portal, which includes records from the Ogemaw Circuit Court, Ogemaw Juvenile Division, and related courts. Property records may be accessed through the county's online land records system. Some records require account registration or payment of applicable fees prior to retrieval.

In-Person Requests: Individuals seeking records in person may visit the Ogemaw County Clerk's Office, located at 806 W. Houghton Avenue, West Branch, MI 48661. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and a written description of the records sought.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Ogemaw County Clerk's Office at 806 W. Houghton Avenue, West Branch, MI 48661. Requests must include the requestor's full name, contact information, a specific description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL § 15.235, a public body must respond to a request within five business days of receipt, with a possible extension of up to ten additional business days.

Phone/Email: The Ogemaw County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (989) 345-0215. Email inquiries may be directed through the county's official website contact form.

What Are Public Records in Ogemaw County?

Public records in Ogemaw County are defined under Michigan law as any writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function. Under MCL § 15.232, the term "public record" encompasses a broad range of documents, data compilations, and electronically stored information created or received by a government agency.

The following record types are currently maintained by Ogemaw County agencies:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family): Maintained by the Ogemaw County Circuit Court and Probate Court. Members of the public may search Ogemaw County court records through the Michigan Courts online system.
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments): Maintained by the Ogemaw County Register of Deeds. The Michigan Register of Deeds directory provides contact information for each county office.
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce): Birth and death records are maintained by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Marriage and divorce records are held by the County Clerk.
Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious names): Maintained by the County Clerk and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
Tax records (property tax, assessment records): Maintained by the Ogemaw County Treasurer and Equalization Department.
Voting and election records: Maintained by the Ogemaw County Clerk, Elections Division.
Meeting minutes and agendas: Maintained by the Ogemaw County Board of Commissioners.
Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports): Maintained by the Ogemaw County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions.
Land use and zoning records: Maintained by the Ogemaw County Planning and Zoning Department.

Is Ogemaw County an Open Records County?

Ogemaw County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.231 et seq., all public bodies in the state, including county agencies, are required to disclose public records upon request unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

As stated in the Act: "It is the public policy of this state that all persons, except those persons incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and public employees."

The Michigan Attorney General's office further affirms that "the FOIA reflects a strong public policy in favor of disclosure," and that exemptions are to be interpreted narrowly. Ogemaw County public bodies are required to designate a FOIA Coordinator responsible for processing requests and maintaining a written public summary of the county's FOIA procedures and guidelines. This summary must be available at no charge and posted on the county's official website where one exists.

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

The fee structure for public records in Ogemaw County is governed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act and applicable county fee schedules. Current standard fees are as follows:

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.10 per page (black and white)
Certification of records	$1.00 per document (varies by office)
Electronic format copies	Labor and media costs may apply
Search/labor fees	Actual cost of labor above the first hour
Mailing/delivery fees	Actual cost of postage or delivery

Inspection fees: Members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. A fee may not be charged solely for the act of inspection.
Copy fees: Under MCL § 15.234, a public body may charge a fee that does not exceed the actual cost of copying, which includes labor, material, and overhead costs directly associated with duplication.
Fee waivers: A public body may waive fees if the requester is indigent and submits an affidavit to that effect, or if the public interest in disclosure is determined to outweigh the cost of processing.
Accepted payment methods: The Ogemaw County Clerk's Office accepts cash, check, and money order. Individual offices may also accept credit or debit card payments.

Fees vary by record type and the office maintaining the record. The Register of Deeds, Circuit Court, and Probate Court each maintain separate fee schedules for certified copies and document retrieval.

Does Ogemaw County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public at the offices maintaining those records. Under Michigan FOIA, no fee may be charged for the inspection of a public record at the public body's office during normal business hours.

Free or low-cost access to certain records is available through the following official resources:

Michigan Courts Online Case Search: Members of the public may search cases, opinions, and orders from Ogemaw County courts at no charge through the Michigan Courts portal.
Ogemaw County Clerk's Office: Voters' registration information and certain election records are available for inspection at no cost.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: The Ogemaw County MDHHS office provides access to certain public health and social services records in accordance with applicable law.
County Assessor/Equalization Office: Property assessment records are available for public inspection at no charge during regular business hours.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies of records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Ogemaw County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Ogemaw County. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act does not restrict access to residents of the state; non-residents retain the same right to request public records as Michigan residents. Under current law, a requestor is not required to:

Be a Michigan resident
Provide a government-issued identification (for most record types)
State the purpose of the request

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. For example, individuals requesting their own criminal history records through the Michigan State Police must provide identification and pay applicable fees. Requests for records containing personal identifying information about third parties may be subject to redaction prior to release.

Persons incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities are expressly excluded from FOIA rights under MCL § 15.231. All other members of the public, including legal entities such as corporations and nonprofit organizations, retain full rights to submit requests. Requestors seeking their own records held by MDHHS or law enforcement agencies may be subject to identity verification requirements specific to those offices.

What Records Are Confidential in Ogemaw County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from disclosure under Michigan law and are not available to the general public. The Michigan FOIA enumerates specific exemptions that public bodies in Ogemaw County are required to apply when processing requests. Exempt records include:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not subject to public disclosure.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Michigan court rules and state statute.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt where disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure.
Medical records: Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Michigan health privacy statutes are exempt.
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Michigan law.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by MDHHS relating to child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to a public body in confidence is protected.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Records that, if disclosed, would endanger public safety or security are exempt.

As stated in the Michigan FOIA, a public body claiming an exemption bears the burden of establishing that the withheld information falls within a specific statutory exemption. Partial disclosure is required where exempt and non-exempt information can be separated.

Ogemaw County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Ogemaw County Register of Deeds
806 W. Houghton Avenue, Room 104
West Branch, MI 48661
(989) 345-0117
Michigan Register of Deeds – County Directory

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Ogemaw County Clerk's Office
806 W. Houghton Avenue
West Branch, MI 48661
(989) 345-0215
Ogemaw County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Ogemaw County Circuit Court
806 W. Houghton Avenue
West Branch, MI 48661
(989) 345-0145
Ogemaw County Circuit Court – Michigan Courts

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Ogemaw County MDHHS Office
2049 Fox Run
West Branch, MI 48661
(989) 345-5100
Ogemaw County MDHHS