Huron County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Huron County in 2026

HuronRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Huron County, Michigan. Members of the public seeking court filings, property documents, vital records, or law enforcement reports may locate relevant data through official county offices, state-level portals, and authorized online tools. The categories of records that may be accessible include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Property tax and assessment records
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
Land use and zoning records

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The MiCOURT Case Search portal allows members of the public to search court case information statewide, including records from Huron County courts. As noted by the Michigan courts system, "the information available here is presented on-line for informational use only and does not replace the official record on file with the court."
The Michigan Courts case search tool provides access to Huron Circuit Court, Huron Juvenile Division, and Huron Probate Court records.
Property deed and land records may be located through the Michigan Register of Deeds directory, which lists all county Register of Deeds offices by county.
No registration is required to conduct basic online searches through state-provided portals.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Huron County Clerk's Office at 250 E. Huron Ave., Bad Axe, MI 48413. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should present a completed request form, identify the record sought with sufficient specificity, and be prepared to pay applicable fees at the time of pickup or inspection.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the Huron County Clerk's Office, 250 E. Huron Ave., Bad Axe, MI 48413. Requests must include the requestor's name, mailing address, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.235, a public body must respond within five business days of receiving a written request.

Phone/Email:

Huron County Clerk: (989) 269-9942
Email inquiries may be directed through the official county website at huroncounty.mi.gov

What Are Public Records in Huron County?

Public records in Huron 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 Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.232, a "public record" encompasses documents, photographs, maps, magnetic or electronic data, and other recorded information regardless of physical form.

The following record types are currently maintained by Huron County government offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil, criminal, probate, family court records	Huron County Circuit Court / Probate Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Huron County Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce)	Huron County Clerk
Business licenses and permits	Huron County Clerk
Property tax and assessment records	Huron County Treasurer / Equalization Dept.
Voting and election records	Huron County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	Huron County Clerk
Budget and financial documents	Huron County Treasurer
Law enforcement records	Huron County Sheriff / Local Police Departments
Land use and zoning records	Huron County Planning & Zoning

Court records for Huron County may be searched through the Michigan Courts case search portal, which covers the Huron Circuit Court, Huron Juvenile Division, and Huron Probate Court. Property records are maintained by the Huron County Register of Deeds, listed in the statewide Register of Deeds directory by county. Law enforcement records from township police departments, such as those maintained by the Huron Charter Township Police Records Section, are processed separately from county sheriff records.

Is Huron County an Open Records County?

Huron County operates in full compliance with Michigan's statewide open records framework. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 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. The Act establishes that "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 or public employees."

Huron County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the Michigan FOIA governs all disclosure obligations. Each county department designates a FOIA Coordinator responsible for processing requests and issuing written responses. The Michigan Attorney General's office provides guidance to public bodies on FOIA compliance, and members of the public who believe a request has been improperly denied may appeal to the public body or seek judicial review in circuit court.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Huron County is governed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act and the individual fee schedules adopted by each public body. Under MCL § 15.234, a public body may charge a fee that does not exceed the actual cost of processing the request.

Standard fees that may apply include:

Copying fees: $0.10 per page for standard 8.5" x 11" black-and-white copies is a common rate, though individual offices may set their own schedules not to exceed actual cost
Certification fees: Vary by document type; certified copies of vital records are subject to separate statutory fees
Electronic format fees: Charges for labor, storage media, and duplication may apply for digital records
Search and labor fees: Hourly labor costs may be charged for requests requiring more than the first hour of staff time; the first hour is provided at no charge under state law
Mailing fees: Actual postage and packaging costs may be added for mailed responses

Fee Type	Amount
First hour of labor	No charge
Additional labor (per hour)	Actual cost (varies by staff wage)
Standard paper copies	Up to $0.10/page (actual cost)
Certified vital record copies	Set by statute (varies)
Electronic media	Actual cost of duplication

Accepted payment methods at the Huron County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers are available when the requester demonstrates that disclosure of the information is in the public interest and that the requester is not able to pay the cost.

Does Huron County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Huron County. Michigan law requires public bodies to allow members of the public to inspect public records at no charge during normal business hours. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person at a government office is provided at no cost, obtaining physical or electronic copies may incur fees as described above.

Free online access to certain records is currently available through the following official resources:

The MiCOURT Case Search portal provides free online access to court case information for Huron County courts without requiring registration or payment.
The Michigan Courts system states that it "is providing the information on this website as a public service," making basic case lookup available at no charge.
Property assessment data and tax records may be accessible at no cost through the Huron County Equalization Department's public access terminals located at the county offices.
Meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents posted to the official county website are available for free download.

Who Can Request Public Records in Huron County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Huron County. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, the right to inspect and receive copies of public records extends to all persons, with the sole exception of individuals currently incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities. Requestors are not required to be Michigan residents, and non-residents retain the same rights as residents under state law.

The following clarifications apply to eligibility and process:

Identification: Requestors are not required to provide identification to submit a FOIA request, though providing contact information is necessary for the public body to respond.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request. A public body may not condition disclosure on the requestor's stated reason for seeking the record.
Residency: Non-residents of Huron County and non-residents of Michigan may submit requests and receive records on the same terms as residents.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may be subject to identity verification requirements for certain sensitive record types, such as vital records or law enforcement records.
Third-party records: Requests for records pertaining to other individuals are subject to the same FOIA process, though certain personal information within those records may be redacted pursuant to statutory exemptions.

The Huron Charter Township and other municipal entities within the county each maintain their own FOIA processes, and requests directed to township-level agencies must be submitted to the appropriate township FOIA Coordinator.

What Records Are Confidential in Huron County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from disclosure under Michigan law and are not available for public inspection or copying. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.243, enumerates specific exemptions that public bodies in Huron County are required to apply when processing requests.

Confidential and exempt records include:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Michigan law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records compiled in connection with a law enforcement investigation are exempt if disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical records: Health and medical information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Michigan statute.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective services 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 government agencies is protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Records describing security measures for public facilities are exempt to protect public safety.

When a public body withholds a record or portion of a record, it is required to provide a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption relied upon. Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body must disclose the non-exempt portions after redacting the exempt content.

Huron County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Huron County Register of Deeds
250 E. Huron Ave., Room 208
Bad Axe, MI 48413
Phone: (989) 269-9521
Huron County Register of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Huron County Clerk's Office
250 E. Huron Ave.
Bad Axe, MI 48413
Phone: (989) 269-9942
Huron County Clerk

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

Huron County Circuit Court
250 E. Huron Ave.
Bad Axe, MI 48413
Phone: (989) 269-9944
Huron Circuit Court case records