Oceana County Court Records

The Michigan court rules MCR 1.109(A) define Oceana County court records as recorded documents produced by the court or given to the court in compliance with Michigan Court Rules. Documents, document attachments, discovery materials, and other materials submitted to the court clerk are also included in Oceana County court records.

Are Court Records Public in Oceana County?

Yes!. Many records and documents filed in Oceana County courts are open for citizens to see and copy under Michigan Court Rule 8.119(E). Additionally, courts and other custodians of government documents must keep records for a minimum period to meet administrative, historical, and public access requirements, according to MCL 750.491 of the Michigan record management regulations. However, the public's right of access is not guaranteed. A court may restrict access to court documents at the request of a party involved in a litigation or criminal case.

Michigan legislation and court regulations exempt some types of material from disclosure. Access to restricted Oceana County Court records is sometimes limited to those who can access them or completely prohibited from access by the general public. Some examples of court records that are exempt from public disclosure include:

• Juvenile court records.
• Extreme risk protection orders.
• Treatment court records.
• Lien records.
• Personal history questionnaires from the jury.
• Court Records that show personal information of victims of a sexual crime.
• Firearms records.
• Alternative dispute resolution records.

Oceana County Court Records Search

Citizens can perform an Oceana County court records search using the following avenues:

• The courthouse of the record custodian.
• The circuit court dockets.
• Request in writing and send it by mail.
• Using third-party websites.
• Using the public access computers at any Oceana County courthouse.

Oceana County Courts

The court system in Oceana County comprises four main types of courts: the district court, circuit court, probate court, and friends of the court. Each court handles specific types of legal cases, although the duties of the district and circuit courts may sometimes overlap. The circuit court has the broadest jurisdiction in Oceana County. Below are the physical locations of all the courts in Oceana County:

Circuit Court in Oceana County
Oceana County Building
100 S State St, # M-10, Hart, MI 49420
Phone: (231) 873-3977
Fax: (231) 873-1943

District Court in Oceana County
78th District Court - Oceana
Oceana County Building
100 S State St, P.O. Box 471, Hart, MI 49420
Phone: (231) 873-4530
Fax: (231) 873-1861

Probate Court in Oceana County
Oceana County Probate Court
Oceana County Building
100 S State St, Hart, MI 49420
Phone: (231) 873-3666

Oceana County Friend of the Court
100 S. State Street, Suite M-10
Hart, MI 49420
Fax: (231) 873-1943

Oceana County Criminal and Civil Records

Oceana County criminal records are documents generated by the County Sheriff's Department and city police departments in Oceana County. Specific categories of criminal records entered within the county judicial databases may also be requested from the Oceana County Circuit Court.

Most Oceana County criminal records including Oceana County arrest records are public. However, documents such as juvenile criminal records and suppressed records are confidential. Individuals can request Oceana County criminal records at the sheriff's department. The sheriff's office uses its local database or the statewide Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) to respond to requests for records. Requests can be made in person or by mail in writing. Requestors must provide the full name of the person of interest to initiate a criminal records search. Each name-based search costs $5, and copies of criminal records cost $0.25 per page.

Oceana civil case records can be obtained from the Oceana County Circuit Court or any county court where the civil matter was heard. Citizens can search for Oceana County civil records using the public access terminals at the circuit courthouse. Individuals can also search for court records by requesting them in writing and mailing the request to:

Oceana County Circuit Court Records

100 S. State Street

Hart, MI 49420

Oceana County Marriage Records

Oceana County marriage records are vital records maintained at the county clerk’s office. The county clerk maintains certified Oceana marriage certificates and marriage indexes and makes these records public. In Michigan, Oceana County marriage records are not restricted documents. Anyone completing, signing, and submitting the application with the necessary payment can request a search. Individuals can request marriage records in person, by mail, or online. Regardless of the channel they choose to use, requesters must supply the following details:

• Full names of both spouses at the time of marriage.
• Date of marriage.

• A valid ID card.

  The first copy of an Oceana County marriage record costs $15, and each extra copy costs $5.The clerk's office accepts payments with cash, checks, money orders, and debit/credit cards. While in-person requests are almost always handled the same day, those sent by mail are processed in 1-2 business days.

Oceana County Divorce Records

Oceana County divorce records can be obtained from the county court clerk's office in the court where the divorce proceedings were initiated. Most divorce proceedings occur within the family court division of the Oceana County Circuit Court, which maintains divorce records dating back to 1867.

Most divorce records issued by the courts, such as divorce verification letters and divorce certificates, are public records and can be requested by any citizen. However, divorce decrees are confidential records that can only be obtained by the parties involved in the divorce case. Requests for divorce records can be made in person, by mail, or online. Certified copies of public divorce records cost $1 per page, or $10 for the first page and $1 for each extra page.

Oceana County Birth Records

Oceana County birth records are public records maintained at the Oceana County Clerk's office. The main birth record the clerk's office issued is the Oceana County birth certificate. Birth records are not public in Michigan unless authorized by the Public Health Director or a court order. Hence, only the subject of a birth record and their immediate family members can successfully obtain a public record from the clerk's office. Interested persons can request records in person or by mail by completing the records request form and submitting it to the clerk's office. Requestors need to provide the following information so it can be used to search for the record:

• Full name of the person on the record.
• Birthdate.
• Birthplace.
• Parents' full names and mother’s maiden name.

To obtain birth records, individuals must also provide a valid photo ID to prove their identity. Each certified copy of an Oceana County birth record costs $15.

Oceana County Death Records

Oceana County death records are public records that any interested person can obtain from the county clerk's office. Oceana County residents' vital records, including death records, are kept in the County Clerk's office. Individuals can make requests for records in person, by mail, or online. The request process involves completing a Request Form for Vital Records. People can save time by printing and filling out the form before visiting the clerk's office if they wish to make a request in person. A letter can also be used to request records by mail. However, the full name of the deceased as well as the time and location of their passing must be included in the letter. Mail requests can be sent to:

Oceana County Clerk
100 State St., Suite 1
Hart, MI 49420

Oceana County Probate Court Records

The Oceana County Probate Court has jurisdiction over guardianships, conservatorships, wills, mental commitment proceedings, estates and trusts, and name changes. Probate court documents are private, and only those participating in the case can access them in person. To receive an Oceana County probate record, people can visit the probate office and complete a probate court records request form.

Oceana County Property Records

The official custodian of all real estate records in Oceana County is the County Recorder, also known as the Register of Deeds. The Register of Deeds is housed in the county courthouse and keeps track of records of real property documents and maintains an index system of those records. Plats, maps, property ownership records, sales histories, and legal property descriptions are some property records available from the Register of Deeds office.

People interested in acquiring copies of Oceana County property records can visit the register of deeds office in person. Public property records can also be requested through mail or online using the Oceana official public records search portal. Requesters will need to pay the appropriate fees and provide descriptive information about the records they want. All mail requests for copies should be sent in self-addressed, stamped envelopes.

Oceana County Court Records Online

Court records for Oceana County may be easily accessible through third-party websites such as Michigancourtrecords.us. For those unable to visit the courthouse physically, these platforms provide benefits like remote access and speed of access from any location with an internet connection, saving them time and effort. Additionally, third-party systems offer user-friendly interfaces that let users look up specific cases quickly and email the necessary papers. These platforms, however, function independently of any governmental organization. As a result, it is impossible to ensure the amount, correctness, and dependability of data on these platforms.