Kent County Criminal Records Search

Kent County background check records are among the most accessible in Michigan, with dedicated online portals, in-person access at 180 Ottawa Ave in Grand Rapids, and statewide tools through the Michigan State Police. This page covers all major ways to find criminal records, court case histories, and related public records for Kent County.

Kent County Online Case Search

Kent County has one of the more developed court record search systems in Michigan. Criminal cases from 2018 to present and civil cases from 1987 to present are searchable at accesskent.com/CNSearch/appStart.action. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or business name. Filter options include file year range and party type.

For certified copies, use the online portal at accesskent.com/CCRecords/. This covers official certified court documents. Criminal cases older than 7 years must be requested directly from the court rather than through the online portal. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search for free in person.

The Kent County Clerk also serves as the Register of Deeds. The main clerk page is at kentcountymi.gov/1204/Clerk-of-the-Court.

The screenshot below shows the FOIA public portal for Grand Rapids, which connects to local law enforcement records in the Grand Rapids area of Kent County.

Kent County also has a FOIA portal for public records requests. Visit grandrapidsmi.justfoia.com/publicportal to submit requests for records held by the City of Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids FOIA portal is separate from the county court records system. Use it for city-level records like police reports and incident documentation.

17th Circuit Court and 63rd District Court

The 17th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, and family court cases in Kent County. It is one of the busier circuit courts in Michigan given that Kent County is the 4th most populous county in the state. The 63rd District Court covers misdemeanors and preliminary felony proceedings for most of the county. The cities of Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville, Wyoming, and Kentwood have their own district courts and do not go through the 63rd.

The 61st District Court is located at the Kent County Courthouse at 180 Ottawa Ave NW and can be reached at (616) 632-5700. The Probate Court handles estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings. The Kent County Clerk at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400 serves as the hub for most records requests.

The screenshot below shows the Kent County Clerk of the Court records page, which is the main access point for county court records.

The Kent County Clerk records page at kentcountymi.gov/1204/Clerk-of-the-Court lists all options for requesting court records.

In-person visits to the clerk's office at 180 Ottawa Ave NW are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (616) 632-5480 for questions before you go.

Fee Schedule for Kent County Records

Kent County has a published fee schedule for court records. Copies run $1.00 per page. The minimum search fee is $5.00. Certification of documents costs $5.00 per document. Online copies are available through the certified records portal.

For mail requests, send a written request to the Kent County Clerk at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Include all required fields: the full name of the plaintiff or defendant, any alternate names the case may be filed under, case number if known, the date range, your contact information, and the specific documents you need. Include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Note: Information about cases is also available by phone. Staff can answer basic case status questions without requiring a formal records request.

Statewide Tools for Kent County Background Checks

The Michigan State Police ICHAT system gives you a statewide criminal history search for $10. It covers Kent County records alongside all other Michigan counties. ICHAT returns felonies and serious misdemeanors. It does not include local misdemeanors under 93 days, traffic offenses, juvenile records, or out-of-state and federal cases.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system is free and shows people currently under state supervision or discharged within the last 3 years. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name or by location. Both are searchable without an account. For general case lookups, the statewide MiCOURT portal offers free access to basic case information.

Michigan Legal Help has free guides for people who need help figuring out which records exist and how to get them without a lawyer.

Nearby Counties

Kent County is in west-central Michigan. The counties below border Kent and may hold records for people who lived or had cases in the broader Grand Rapids area.