Roscommon County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Roscommon County in 2026

RoscommonRecords.us provides access to publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Roscommon County, Michigan. Members of the public may use this resource to locate information that may be associated with court filings, property transactions, vital events, and other government-held documents. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law.

Records that may be accessible through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax and 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 documents

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access:

The Michigan Courts case search portal provides access to circuit court, juvenile division, and other court case information for Roscommon County. As noted by the Michigan Supreme Court, "The Michigan Supreme Court is providing the information on this website as a public service."
The MiCOURT Case Search system allows members of the public to search court case records online. The system notes that "the information available here is presented on-line for informational use only and does not replace the official record on file with the court."
Property and deed records may be located through the Michigan Register of Deeds directory, which lists contact information for each county's Register of Deeds office.
Vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, are administered at the state level through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services vital records office.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Roscommon County Clerk's Office to inspect or request copies of public records. The office is located at 500 Lake Street, Roscommon, MI 48653. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should be prepared to identify the specific record sought and may be required to complete a written request form.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Roscommon County Clerk's Office at 500 Lake Street, Roscommon, MI 48653. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for response. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.235, a public body must respond to a request within five business days of receipt.

Phone/Email:

Roscommon County Clerk's Office: (989) 275-5923
Roscommon Township Clerk (for township-level records): (989) 275-6737

What Are Public Records in Roscommon County?

Public records in Roscommon 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 Michigan Freedom of Information Act establishes the framework for public access to government records throughout the state, including all county and township agencies in Roscommon County.

The following record types are maintained by various county offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Roscommon County Circuit Court
Probate and family court records	Roscommon County Probate Court
Property deeds and mortgages	Roscommon County Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Michigan DHHS / County Clerk
Tax and assessment records	Roscommon County Treasurer / Assessor
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk / Township Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Clerk
Law enforcement records	Roscommon County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	County Planning and Zoning Department

The Roscommon Township Clerk maintains township-level public records and administers FOIA requests at the township level, including approval of any denials.

Is Roscommon County an Open Records County?

Roscommon County follows Michigan's statewide open records framework and is subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL § 15.231 et seq. Under this law, all public bodies in Michigan, including county departments, township offices, courts, and law enforcement agencies, are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

The Michigan Attorney General has affirmed that "the Freedom of Information Act reflects a public policy in favor of open government and requires that public records be made available to the public." This policy applies to all agencies operating within Roscommon County.

The Roscommon Township Clerk's office maintains the township's public records policies and FOIA procedures in accordance with state law. Members of the public may review the township's FOIA policy documents through the clerk's official page. At the county level, the Roscommon County Clerk administers FOIA compliance for county-held records.

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

Current fees for public records in Roscommon County are governed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act and any locally adopted fee schedules. Under state law, fees must be limited to the actual cost of processing the request.

Standard Fee Schedule:

Fee Type	Amount
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.10 per page (standard)
Certification of records	Varies by office
Electronic format copies	Labor and media cost
Search and labor fees	Actual hourly cost of lowest-paid qualified employee
Mailing/delivery fees	Actual cost

Inspection of public records at a public office is available at no charge.
Fees for copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) are set separately by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and are currently $34.00 for a certified birth certificate and $34.00 for a certified death certificate.
The Roscommon County Register of Deeds charges recording fees per document, with standard fees set by state statute.
Payment methods accepted at county offices include cash, check, and money order; individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or when disclosure is in the public interest, as provided under MCL § 15.234.

Does Roscommon County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Roscommon County government offices during regular business hours. Michigan law requires that public bodies permit inspection of non-exempt public records at no cost to the requestor; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.

The following free access options are currently available:

Online court case searches: The Michigan Courts case search portal provides free access to Roscommon Circuit Court and Roscommon Juvenile Division case information.
Online deed and property records: The Michigan Department of Treasury's Register of Deeds directory provides free access to county-level property record office contact information and, in many counties, online deed indexes.
In-person inspection: Members of the public may inspect records at the Roscommon County Clerk's Office, the Register of Deeds, and other county offices at no charge during business hours.
Vital records information: General information about obtaining birth, death, marriage, and divorce records is available at no cost through the Michigan DHHS vital records office, though certified copies carry a fee.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: viewing a record in person at a government office is free, while obtaining a physical or electronic copy may incur fees as described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Roscommon County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Roscommon County. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, the right to inspect and receive copies of public records extends to any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, organization, or association. Requestors are not required to be Michigan residents, and no statement of purpose is required to accompany a standard FOIA request.

Identification: Requestors are not required to provide identification to submit a FOIA request, though identification may be required for certain restricted record types such as certified vital records.
Residency: Non-residents of Michigan retain full rights to request public records under state law.
Purpose: Public bodies may not require a requestor to state the reason for a records request as a condition of access.
Requesting personal records: Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal vital records or court records, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, proof of relationship.
Restricted records: Certain record types, including adoption records, juvenile court records, and sealed court files, are subject to additional eligibility requirements and may only be released to authorized parties.

What Records Are Confidential in Roscommon County?

Not all government records in Roscommon County are subject to public disclosure. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
Juvenile court records (subject to limited exceptions)
Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations
Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
Medical and mental health records (protected under HIPAA and state law)
Adoption records (sealed by statute)
Child protective services and child welfare records
Personnel records of public employees (with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions)
Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
Security plans, vulnerability assessments, and critical infrastructure details
Attorney-client privileged communications involving public bodies

Under MCL § 15.243, the Michigan FOIA enumerates specific exemptions that public bodies may invoke to withhold records from disclosure. Public bodies are required to identify the specific exemption relied upon when denying a request and must release any non-exempt portions of a partially exempt record.

Roscommon County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Roscommon County Clerk / Register of Deeds
500 Lake Street
Roscommon, MI 48653
(989) 275-5923
Roscommon County Clerk

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

Roscommon County Circuit Court
500 Lake Street
Roscommon, MI 48653
(989) 275-5931
Roscommon County Circuit Court

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

Roscommon Township Clerk
P.O. Box 1060, 809 Lake Street
Roscommon, MI 48653
(989) 275-6737
Roscommon Township Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services – Vital Records
333 S. Grand Avenue
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-8656
Michigan Vital Records Office