Marquette County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Marquette County?

Public records in Marquette County are defined under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.231 et seq., as any writing prepared, owned, used, possessed, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function. This definition encompasses a broad range of documents maintained by county, city, and state agencies operating within Marquette County.

Members of the public may access the following categories of records:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Marquette Circuit Court, Marquette Probate Court, and the 96th District Court
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments held by the Marquette County Register of Deeds
Vital records — Certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services vital records office and the County Clerk
Business records — Assumed name filings, business licenses, and permits issued at the county and municipal level
Tax records — Property tax rolls and assessment records maintained by the Marquette County Equalization Department
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results administered by the County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of the Marquette County Board of Commissioners and subordinate boards
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions, maintained by the Marquette City Police Department and the Marquette County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, variance applications, and planning commission decisions

The City Clerk's office serves as the official custodian of municipal public records for the City of Marquette, while the County Clerk maintains records at the county level.

Is Marquette County an Open Records County?

Marquette County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework. Under MCL § 15.232, all public bodies in Michigan — including Marquette County departments, the City of Marquette, and all subordinate agencies — are required to disclose public records upon request, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) establishes a strong presumption in favor of disclosure, placing the burden on the public body to justify any denial.

Key provisions of the Act include:

Public bodies must respond to a written FOIA request within 5 business days of receipt, with a possible 10-business-day extension under specified circumstances
A public body that denies a request must provide a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption relied upon
Requestors have the right to appeal a denial to the head of the public body and, thereafter, to circuit court

The City of Marquette has adopted a local FOIA policy consistent with state law, designating a FOIA Coordinator within each department to process requests. Marquette County similarly maintains a FOIA Coordinator at the County Administrator's office. Michigan's Open Meetings Act, MCL § 15.261 et seq., further requires that deliberations and decisions of public bodies be conducted in open session, with limited exceptions.

How to Find Public Records in Marquette County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Marquette County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought.

In Person

Visit the relevant custodial office during public counter hours (see contact information below)
Present a written or verbal FOIA request to the designated FOIA Coordinator
Inspect records on-site at no charge; copies are available for a fee

By Mail or Email

Submit a written FOIA request addressed to the FOIA Coordinator of the appropriate department
Include a sufficiently specific description of the records sought, the preferred format for disclosure, and contact information for the response

Online

Court records for Marquette Circuit Court, Marquette Juvenile Division, and Marquette Probate Court are searchable through the Michigan Courts case search portal
The MiCOURT Case Search system provides online access to case information; note that online results are for informational purposes only and do not replace official court records
Property deed and transfer records may be researched through the Michigan Register of Deeds directory, which lists contact information for each county office
The Michigan State Police maintains a publicly accessible sex offender registry for individuals registered in Marquette County and statewide

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

Current fees for public records in Marquette County are governed by MCL § 15.234, which sets the permissible cost structure that public bodies may charge requestors.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies — A public body may charge the actual cost of duplication, not to exceed $0.10 per sheet for standard letter or legal-size copies
Labor costs — Fees for the labor of searching, examining, reviewing, and separating exempt from non-exempt material may be charged at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task, plus fringe benefits
Digital copies — Fees for electronic records are limited to the actual cost of the digital media used
Certification fees — Certified copies of vital records carry separate statutory fees; certified birth and death certificates are currently $34.00 per copy through the state vital records office
Mailing costs — Actual postage and packaging costs may be added to the total fee

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county or city department. Under MCL § 15.234(4), a public body must provide a fee waiver or reduction if the requester demonstrates that the public interest in disclosure is greater than any privacy interest and that the requester is not seeking the records for a commercial purpose.

Does Marquette County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Michigan FOIA. A public body may not charge a fee solely for inspecting records on-site; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.

The following government resources currently provide free access to Marquette County records:

Online court case information — The Michigan Courts case search portal allows free searches of Marquette Circuit Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Division records
Sex offender registry — The Michigan State Police sex offender registry is freely accessible to the public online
Inmate records — Information regarding individuals housed at Marquette Branch Prison is available through the Michigan Department of Corrections at no charge
City of Marquette public notices — Meeting agendas, minutes, and budget documents are posted at no cost on the City of Marquette's official website
In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect original records at the County Clerk's office, Register of Deeds, and other custodial offices without charge during regular business hours

Who Can Request Public Records in Marquette County?

Under MCL § 15.232, any person — defined broadly to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, and other legal entities — is entitled to submit a FOIA request to a public body in Michigan. Eligibility is not restricted to county or state residents.

The following conditions apply under current law:

Residency — Requestors are not required to be residents of Marquette County or the State of Michigan
Identification — Public bodies generally may not require a requestor to provide identification as a condition of fulfilling a FOIA request, unless identification is necessary to determine eligibility for a fee waiver
Statement of purpose — Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request, except when seeking a fee waiver based on public interest grounds
Requesting one's own records — Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, a notarized authorization
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, such as adoption records, juvenile court records, and law enforcement investigative files, carry additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity

Non-residents retain the same rights as Michigan residents with respect to general public records access. Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are all entitled to submit requests on equal terms.

What Records Are Confidential in Marquette County?

Michigan FOIA enumerates specific categories of records that public bodies are authorized or required to withhold from disclosure. Under MCL § 15.243, the following types of records are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not subject to public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential pursuant to the Michigan Juvenile Code
Active law enforcement investigations — Records that would interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation, endanger a witness, or deprive a person of a fair trial are exempt
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure
Medical and health records — Protected under both Michigan law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only through a court order or the Michigan Adoption Identity Rights process
Child welfare and protective services records — Records of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services relating to child abuse and neglect investigations
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for certain disciplinary records of public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to a public body in confidence and not otherwise publicly available
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records the disclosure of which would jeopardize public safety or security

When a public body withholds a record, it must apply a balancing analysis under MCL § 15.243 to determine whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest in confidentiality. Partial disclosure is required when exempt and non-exempt portions of a record are severable.

Marquette County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Marquette County Register of Deeds is the official custodian of property-related public records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and land transfer documents. The County Clerk's office maintains vital records, election records, and board minutes.

Marquette County Register of Deeds 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855 (906) 225-8415 Register of Deeds List By Michigan County Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Marquette County Clerk 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855 (906) 225-8330 City Clerk – City of Marquette Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Marquette City Police Department 300 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855 (906) 228-0400 Marquette Police Department Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services – Vital Records 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 335-8656 Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records Public Counter Hours: By appointment only

Marquette Branch Prison 1960 U.S. 41 South, Marquette, MI 49855 (906) 226-6531 Marquette Branch Prison