Does anyone know how to access public records in michigan for free?

Question

I'm looking for marriage/dirovce records.

Answer 1

you live in  michigan  cool!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

It appears the state office of vital records is still in the early 20th century. You can probably look up the record for free if you know what court the divorce was in or the city or town(s) that issued the marriage license and go to that court or city/town clerk's office. You will have to pay for any copy, but it may be cheaper than the $26 the state charges.

Answer 3

Try the county clerk or even michigan.gov there should be a link but if you know the county and year it will be easier.

Answer 4

Every County Clerk's office in the state (even Wayne) allows you to come in and look at the actual records in person without paying for them. Most will also allow you an uncertified copy of the record for under $5. Or if you're like most of the researchers, just use your cell phone to copy it. Some of the larger or peskier counties (like Macomb) limit genealogy research hours. In Macomb's case it's because all of the books are locked in a room in the basement and they have to schedule someone to sit there and watch you. Others, like Bay and Midland, just limit the hours because their table space is limited and there have been people who have parked at the table for weeks and don't leave room for anyone else. Pick your county from this site and you'll find out more detail about that particular County Clerk's office: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~migenw...

Jack and Marianne Dibean spent at least the last 15 years copying and creating an index of every marriage recorded around the state. I can't tell you how much coffee went into that project, but it's available in its entirely on MIGenWeb. The Library of Michigan finished its Michigan Newspaper Project a couple of years ago. So there is a filmed copy of every known issue of every newspaper printed in the state back to the day that Fr. Gabriel Richard brought the first printing press to the state. If you go to the Library of Michigan, walk across the breezeway to the Archives of Michigan. While you're there you can pull a copy of every birth, marriage and death record on file with the state, every immigration petition, and most court records. You don't have to be a resident of the state and you don't need to pay for access.

Additionally, if you trace back to any of the original French settlers of Michigan, the Burton Collection at the Detroit Public Library has a mass of wonderful films...including the sacramental registers on film of all of the early churches in the state. It includes records of many of the traveling missionaries who used to do a 3 year circuit going up and down the coast and around to Chicago to perform sacraments to the traders and outposts.