St. Joseph County Public Records

What Are Public Records in St. Joseph County?

Public records in St. Joseph County, Michigan, are defined under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (MCL § 15.231 et seq.) as any writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these documents from the appropriate county office. The St. Joseph County government maintains a broad range of record categories across multiple departments.

The following record types are currently available to the public:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters) — maintained by the St. Joseph County Clerk and the respective courts
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — maintained by the County Clerk
Business records (licenses, permits, and assumed name filings) — maintained by the County Clerk
Tax records (property tax and assessment records) — maintained by the County Treasurer and local assessors
Voting and election records — maintained by the County Clerk's Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas (Board of Commissioners, county boards) — maintained by the County Clerk
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the County Finance Department
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the County Planning and Zoning Department

Is St. Joseph County an Open Records County?

St. Joseph County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework, which governs public access to government documents. Under MCL § 15.233, any person has the right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of public records held by a public body. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) establishes that government transparency is a fundamental right, and all county offices are obligated to respond to properly submitted FOIA requests within five business days of receipt, with a possible extension of up to ten additional business days when circumstances warrant.

Key provisions of the Act currently in effect include:

Public bodies must acknowledge receipt of a FOIA request and either grant or deny access within the statutory timeframe
Partial disclosure is required when a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information; the non-exempt portions must be disclosed with exempt portions redacted
Requestors who are improperly denied access may seek judicial review in the circuit court

St. Joseph County does not maintain a separate county-level public records ordinance that supersedes state law. All county departments operate under the uniform standards established by the Michigan FOIA, and each department designates a FOIA Coordinator responsible for processing requests.

How to Find Public Records in St. Joseph County in 2026

Members of the public may access St. Joseph County records through several channels, depending on the record type and the office that maintains it. The following steps outline the standard process for obtaining records:

Identify the record type and the responsible office. Court records are held by the County Clerk or the relevant court; property records are held by the Register of Deeds; vital records are held by the County Clerk.
Submit a FOIA request in writing. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the designated FOIA Coordinator of the relevant department. Written requests must reasonably describe the public record sought.
Use online portals where available. The county currently provides online access to certain property and tax records through its records and tax search portal at stjosephcountymi.gov.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the applicable county office without submitting a formal FOIA request in many cases.
Request certified copies when needed. Certified copies of vital records, court judgments, and recorded documents require a formal written request and applicable fees.
Access court records directly. Civil, criminal, and probate case records may be reviewed through the 45th Circuit Court or the 3B District Court, subject to any applicable access restrictions.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in St. Joseph County?

St. Joseph County assesses fees for public records requests in accordance with MCL § 15.234, which establishes the permissible fee structure for FOIA responses statewide. Current fees vary by record type and the office processing the request.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies: A per-page fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction; many offices charge $0.10–$0.25 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents
Certified copies of vital records: Set fees apply per certificate (birth, death, and marriage certificates typically carry a fee of $10.00–$15.00 per copy, consistent with state schedule)
Recorded document copies: Fees for copies of deeds, mortgages, and other instruments recorded with the Register of Deeds are assessed per page
Labor costs: Under state law, a public body may charge for the labor cost of searching, examining, reviewing, and separating exempt from non-exempt material, calculated at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task
Mailing and delivery costs: Actual postage and packaging costs may be added when records are delivered by mail

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the applicable county department. Fee waivers or reductions are available under MCL § 15.234 when the requester demonstrates that disclosure of the information is in the public interest and that the individual is indigent.

Does St. Joseph County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public at the offices that maintain those records, consistent with Michigan FOIA requirements. No fee may be charged solely for inspecting a public record in person during regular business hours.

The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the County Clerk's office, Register of Deeds, and court clerk windows during posted business hours, at no charge
Online property and tax records accessible through the county's records and tax search tool at stjosephcountymi.gov without a fee
Court case information viewable at public terminals located within the County Clerk's office and courthouse
Meeting minutes and agendas posted on the county's official website at no cost
Recorded document index searches available through the Register of Deeds public access terminals

Fees apply only when a requester seeks physical or electronic copies of records, certified documents, or requests that require significant staff labor to fulfill.

Who Can Request Public Records in St. Joseph County?

Any person may submit a public records request in St. Joseph County under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. The Act does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. Pursuant to MCL § 15.232, the term "person" includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, firms, organizations, associations, governmental entities, and other legal entities.

Key eligibility provisions currently in effect:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of Michigan and non-residents of St. Joseph County retain full rights to request public records
Identification is generally not required for standard FOIA requests, though certain offices may require identification for in-person inspection of sensitive records
Purpose need not be stated. Requestors are not required to explain why they are seeking a record, with limited exceptions for certain law enforcement or sensitive record categories
Requesting your own records. Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to expedited processing and, in some cases, access to records that would otherwise be restricted when requested by a third party
Restrictions for specific record types. Certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or by court order

What Records Are Confidential in St. Joseph County?

Certain categories of records held by St. Joseph County are exempt from public disclosure under Michigan law. The Michigan FOIA, at MCL § 15.243, enumerates specific exemptions that public bodies must apply when responding to records requests. Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to disclose the non-exempt portions after redacting the exempt material.

Records currently exempt from disclosure include:

Sealed court records — documents sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors in delinquency or child protective proceedings are confidential under Michigan court rules
Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records
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 court petition
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under the Michigan Child Protection Law
Personnel records — employee personal information is exempt, with limited exceptions for public officials' compensation and disciplinary records
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under a claim of confidentiality
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

A balancing test applies in certain circumstances where the public interest in disclosure may outweigh the privacy interest protected by an exemption, and courts retain authority to order disclosure in such cases.

St. Joseph County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Register of Deeds is the principal office responsible for recording and maintaining property-related documents in St. Joseph County. Members of the public may visit the office in person, submit documents by mail, or access recorded document information online.

St. Joseph County Register of Deeds 125 W. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032 (269) 467-5552 Recording of Documents – Register of Deeds

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. The office accepts documents for recording in person or by mail. Pursuant to Michigan recording statutes, all documents submitted for recording must include the name and address of the person who drafted or prepared the instrument.

St. Joseph County Clerk 125 W. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032 (269) 467-5500 County Clerk – St. Joseph County

The County Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Clerk maintains vital records, election records, court case files, and business filings.

45th Circuit Court 125 W. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032 (269) 467-5579 45th Circuit Court – St. Joseph County

3B District Court 321 E. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032 (269) 467-5647 3B District Court – St. Joseph County