Livingston County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Livingston County?

Public records in Livingston 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, state, and local government agencies operating within Livingston County.

Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of the following categories of records:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files maintained by the Livingston County Circuit Court, District Court, and Probate Court. Members of the public may search available court case information through the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which provides online access to case data for informational purposes.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land transfer documents recorded with the Livingston County Register of Deeds; property assessment data maintained by the County Equalization Department.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. Certified copies of statewide vital records are available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records office, while local records may be obtained from the Livingston County Clerk.
Business records — Assumed name (DBA) filings, business licenses, and permits maintained by the County Clerk and relevant municipal offices.
Tax records — Property tax records and assessment rolls maintained by the Livingston County Treasurer and local township assessors.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance filings maintained by the Livingston County Clerk.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Livingston County Board of Commissioners meetings, board agendas, and official minutes.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audit reports, and expenditure records maintained by the County Administrator's office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports maintained by the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning ordinances, variance applications, and planning commission records maintained by individual townships and the County Planning Department.

Livingston County Clerk's Office 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843 (517) 546-0500 Livingston County Clerk

Is Livingston County an Open Records County?

Livingston County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework, and all county agencies are subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Under MCL § 15.232, a "public body" includes any state or local unit of government, and all such bodies are required to disclose public records upon written request unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that records are presumed to be available unless the public body can demonstrate that a specific exemption justifies withholding.

Key provisions of the Act include the requirement that a public body respond to a written FOIA request within five business days of receipt, with the option to extend that period by an additional ten business days under certain circumstances. Michigan's Open Meetings Act, MCL § 15.261 et seq., further requires that all meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that notice be provided in advance. Livingston County does not maintain a separate county-level public records ordinance; all requests are governed by the state FOIA statute and the policies adopted by each individual public body within the county.

How to Find Public Records in Livingston County in 2026

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

Online Access:

Civil and criminal court case information is searchable through the Michigan Courts case search portal, which provides access to opinions, orders, and case data maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court's administrative systems.
Probate court filings for Livingston County are accessible through the MiFILE electronic filing system, which lists available courts including the Livingston County Probate Court.
Vital records requests may be submitted online or by mail through the Michigan DHHS Vital Records office.
Federal bankruptcy cases involving Livingston County residents or businesses are maintained by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the relevant county office during regular business hours to inspect records or submit a written FOIA request. Each public body maintains its own FOIA Coordinator, who is responsible for processing requests.

Written FOIA Requests: Requests must be submitted in writing and directed to the FOIA Coordinator of the specific public body that maintains the records sought. Requests may be delivered in person, by mail, or by email where the public body accepts electronic submissions. The request should identify the records sought with sufficient specificity to allow the public body to locate them.

Livingston County Sheriff's Office 150 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843 (517) 546-2440 Livingston County Sheriff's Office

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

Current fees for public records in Livingston County are governed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act and vary by office and record type. Under MCL § 15.234, a public body may charge a fee that does not exceed the actual cost of processing the request, including labor, duplication, and mailing costs.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies — Typically $0.10 to $0.25 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents, depending on the office.
Certified copies — The Livingston County Clerk charges a statutory fee per certified document; vital record certified copies carry fees set by state schedule (currently $34.00 for birth certificates and $34.00 for death certificates through the state office).
Labor costs — Public bodies may charge for the labor cost of searching, examining, 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 — Actual postage and packaging costs may be added to the total fee.
Electronic records — Fees for records provided in electronic format may not exceed the cost of the digital media used.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office. A public body may require a good-faith deposit of up to 50 percent of the estimated fee before processing a request that is expected to exceed $50.00. Fee waivers or reductions are available if the requester demonstrates that disclosure is in the public interest and that the requester is not able to pay the full fee.

Does Livingston County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Livingston County, as Michigan law requires public bodies to allow members of the public to inspect records at no charge during normal business hours. Fees apply only when copies are requested.

Several categories of records are currently available at no cost through official government portals:

Court case information — Members of the public may search civil and criminal case data at no cost through the Michigan Courts online case search system.
Court proceedings — Live and archived local trial court proceedings, including those from Livingston County courts, may be viewed at no cost through the Michigan Courts court livestream directory.
Property and tax records — Basic property assessment and tax information is available through the Livingston County online property search tools at no charge.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, agendas, and related documents are posted on the Livingston County website at no cost.
Election results — Current and historical election results are available through the Livingston County Clerk's website at no charge.

Livingston County Equalization/GIS Department 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843 (517) 546-3240 Livingston County Equalization

Who Can Request Public Records in Livingston County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Livingston County. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records extends to any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, organization, or other legal entity. Requesters are not required to be Michigan residents, and non-residents retain the same rights of access as county residents.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

Identification — Requesters are not required to provide identification as a condition of submitting a FOIA request, though some offices may request contact information for the purpose of responding to the request.
Statement of purpose — Requesters are not required to state the reason for their request, and a public body may not condition disclosure on the requester's explanation of intended use.
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to access records that would otherwise be withheld from third parties, particularly in the context of law enforcement or personnel records.
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, such as adoption records, juvenile court records, and sealed court files, are restricted by statute regardless of the requester's identity or purpose.
Minors and legal representatives — Parents or legal guardians may request records pertaining to minor children in certain circumstances, subject to applicable statutory limitations.

What Records Are Confidential in Livingston County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from disclosure under Michigan law and are not available to the general public. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act, at MCL § 15.243, enumerates specific exemptions that permit or require a public body to withhold information from disclosure.

Records currently exempt from public disclosure 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's juvenile code.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are protected from disclosure.
Medical records — Health and medical information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Records pertaining to adoption proceedings are sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential under Michigan's Child Protection Law.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for certain categories of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public body is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records containing security vulnerability assessments or critical infrastructure information are withheld to protect public safety.

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to separate the exempt portions and disclose the remainder, rather than withholding the entire document.

Livingston County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Livingston County Register of Deeds serves as the official recorder of land records and related documents for the county. Members of the public may inspect recorded documents, request certified copies, or submit documents for recording during regular public counter hours.

Livingston County Register of Deeds 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843 (517) 546-0270 Livingston County Register of Deeds

Public counter hours are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding official county holidays. Members of the public seeking certified copies of deeds, mortgages, liens, or other recorded instruments may submit requests in person, by mail, or through the office's online records portal. Recording fees and copy fees are established pursuant to Michigan statute and are subject to periodic adjustment.

Livingston County Clerk's Office 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843 (517) 546-0500 Livingston County Clerk

Public counter hours for the Clerk's Office are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Clerk's Office maintains vital records, election records, business filings, and court records for the county, and serves as the primary point of contact for FOIA requests directed to county government.

Livingston County Treasurer's Office 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843 (517) 546-7010 Livingston County Treasurer

Public counter hours for the Treasurer's Office are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Property tax records, delinquent tax information, and related financial documents are maintained by this office.