Kent County, Michigan public records

In Kent County, deeds are recorded by the Register of Deeds; property values come from the Bureau of Equalization; court files are split between the Clerk of the Court and the Kent County Probate Court.

Last checked against official sources on November 4, 2026.

On this page

1. Where to get each record
2. Deeds and land records
3. Property values, owners and tax bills
4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
5. Marriage records
6. Divorce records
7. Birth certificates
8. Death certificates
9. Probate records and wills
10. Business names (DBA)
11. Voter records
12. Historical records
13. Good to know about Kent County records
14. Office addresses, phones and hours
15. Records that are not online: public records requests
16. Questions people ask
17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
18. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Kent County are recorded by the Register of Deeds.⁴

Online search

kentcountymi.gov/1892/Online-Deeds-Search²Free search

Cost

Free²

Who runs it

Tyler Technologies Self-Service (on the county subdomain deedsselfservice.kentcountymi.gov)²¹

Years online

Land records from January 1, 1970²

Copy fee

$1 per page copy fee; search fee (if applicable) $5 minimum³

Certified copy fee

$5 per document certification fee³

Recording fee

$30 per document³

Transfer tax

County $1.10 per thousand; State $7.50 per thousand³

How to order

In person in downtown Grand Rapids, by written request, or through the online document search⁴

Payment

Cash, check or money order, payable to the Kent County Register of Deeds³

How deeds work in Michigan

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Bureau of Equalization (county) sets property values⁵; the County Treasurer (delinquent taxes; current taxes go to the local unit) bills and collects the tax⁷.

Property search

app.kentcountymi.gov/…⁶

Current values note

Values are current as of March; verify with the local city or township assessor⁶

Who assesses

County Equalization or the local assessor gives the tax-roll name⁴

Tax bill search

app.kentcountymi.gov/…⁸

Local tax link

bsaonline.com/Home/WelcomePage³

Parcel map (GIS)

gis.kentcountymi.gov/public/publicviewerjs²²

Map copies

Paper and composite map copies available from the Equalization department for a fee²²

Appealing a value

Board of Review of the city or township, meeting in March; then Michigan Tax Tribunal²³

How property tax works in Michigan

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

District jurisdiction

District court: civil up to $25,000, garnishments, evictions, land contract and mortgage foreclosures; small claims up to $6,500²⁵

Fees

Copies $1 per page; certified copies per-page cost plus $10⁹

Filing fee

New case $150 plus $25 electronic filing system fee²⁶

Public access

Court files are public and may be inspected at the Clerk's office⁹

Criminal records and background checks

Court records

Felony records at the Clerk of the Court; search needs full name and date of birth⁹

State check

Michigan State Police ICHAT²⁷

Sheriff check

Walk-in records checks at any Sheriff office; mail requests within five business days²⁷

How Michigan courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the County Clerk's Office (vital records).¹⁵

Who

Public; anyone may buy a copy¹⁴

Fee

$10 first copy; $3 each additional copy of the same record¹⁴

From

1845 to present²⁸

Index search

deedsselfservice.kentcountymi.gov/…¹⁴

Order online

clerkfilings.tylerportico.com/…¹⁴

Marriage license fee

$20 if at least one applicant lives in Kent County and the wedding is in Michigan; $30 if both applicants live out of state and the wedding is in Kent County²⁹

Michigan marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by the Clerk of the Court (Circuit Court Clerk's Office).⁹

From

1918 to present at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office²⁸

Fee

Uncertified copy of judgment $7; certified $15; convenience fee if ordered online⁹

Older

Some records before 1918 are at Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections²⁸

Michigan divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the County Clerk's Office (vital records).¹⁵

From

Kent County births back to 1867¹⁶

Who

Under 100 years: the person named, mother or father, or legal guardian; an heir with death certificate and proof of relationship if the person has died. Over 100 years: anyone.¹⁶

Fee

$10 first copy; $3 each additional copy of the same record; convenience fee online¹⁶

Order online

clerkfilings.tylerportico.com/…¹⁶

State instead

Births outside Kent County, adoptions before 1979 and other listed cases go to the State of Michigan¹⁶

Index closed

Birth indexes are not open to the public²⁸

Ordering a Michigan birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the County Clerk's Office (vital records).¹⁵

Who

Anyone with the full name at death and the date of death¹⁷

Fee

$10 first certified copy; $3 each additional copy of the same record; convenience fee online¹⁷

From

1867 to present²⁸

Index search

deedsselfservice.kentcountymi.gov/…¹⁷

Ordering a Michigan death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Kent County Probate Court.¹⁰

Online search

kentcountymi.gov/1104/Probate-Name-Search¹³

Minor guardianship note

Minor guardianships moved to the 17th Circuit Court and do not appear in the probate search¹³

Copy fees

Certified copy $12; standard copy $2 per sheet; exemplified $10 + $2 per sheet¹⁸

Filing fee

Deceased estate application/petition $187¹⁸

Will safekeeping

Will filed for safekeeping $25¹⁸

Finding a will or probate case in Michigan

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the County Clerk / Register of Deeds.²⁰

Online search

deedsselfservice.kentcountymi.gov/…¹⁹

Term

Registration valid 5 years¹⁹

Fee

Assumed name $10; certified copies $2 each¹⁹

Voter records

Kept by the County Clerk, Elections.³⁰

Form

Voter File Request Form³⁰

Check own

mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index³⁰

Historical records

Clerk genealogy

Mail requests searched over a 5-year window; allow 3 to 4 weeks²⁸

Naturalization

1860 to 1929 at the State Archives of Michigan²⁸

Good to know about Kent County records

• One elected Clerk/Register of Deeds runs elections, vital records, business registrations and Circuit Court files.²⁰
• Since June 22, 2026 online deed copies are pay-per-page; searching stays free.²
• Marriage records run back to 1845, earlier than births and deaths (1867).²⁸
• Five district courts serve different cities, so the right court depends on the location.²⁵

Office addresses, phones and hours

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page

kentcountymi.gov/…⁸

Request portal

app.kentcountymi.gov/…⁸

Where to send it

Any County department that may hold the record; verbal or written⁸

Response

Within 5 business days; a 10 business day extension may be requested⁸

Deposit

Deposit up to half if the fee exceeds $50⁸

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

Other counties in Michigan with a full guide: Allegan County, Bay County, Calhoun County, Clinton County, Eaton County, Genesee County, Grand Traverse County, Ingham County, Jackson County, Kalamazoo County, Lapeer County, Lenawee County, Livingston County, Macomb County, Midland County, Monroe County, Muskegon County, Oakland County, Ottawa County, Saginaw County, St. Clair County, Washtenaw County, Wayne County. Every county in the state: Michigan county list. Looking for another Kent County? Kent County, Delaware.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 33 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
2. Online Deeds SearchKent County, Michigan
3. Fee ScheduleKent County, Michigan
4. Register of DeedsKent County, Michigan
5. EqualizationKent County, Michigan
6. Property SearchKent County, Michigan
7. TreasurerKent County, Michigan
8. FOIA (Public Record Requests)Kent County, Michigan
9. Clerk of the CourtKent County, Michigan
10. Probate CourtKent County, Michigan
11. Search Court RecordsKent County, Michigan
12. 63rd District CourtKent County, Michigan
13. Probate Name SearchKent County, Michigan
14. Marriage RecordsKent County, Michigan
15. Vital RecordsKent County, Michigan
16. Order Birth CertificatesKent County, Michigan
17. Order a Death CertificateKent County, Michigan
18. Fee ScheduleKent County, Michigan
19. Business RegistrationKent County, Michigan
20. County ClerkKent County, Michigan
21. Register of Deeds Self-Service disclaimerKent County (Tyler Technologies portal)
22. Property Description & MappingKent County, Michigan
23. MCL 211.30Michigan Legislature
24. Trial Court Directory - Kent County, Locations & JudgesMichigan Courts (Michigan Supreme Court)
25. District Courts in Kent CountyKent County, Michigan
26. Filing FeesKent County, Michigan
27. RecordsKent County, Michigan
28. GenealogyKent County, Michigan
29. Get a Marriage LicenseKent County, Michigan
30. ElectionsKent County, Michigan
31. Delinquent Tax Payment OptionsKent County, Michigan
32. Geographic Information System (GIS)Kent County, Michigan
33. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau