Leelanau County Background Check Records

Leelanau County background check records are available through the county clerk in Suttons Bay, the 13th Circuit Court shared with Antrim and Grand Traverse counties, and the 86th District Court that serves three counties in the region. This page covers how to search criminal records, court case files, and public records connected to Leelanau County, Michigan.

ICHAT: Statewide Criminal History Search

The first step in a Leelanau County background check is usually the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. This name-based search covers all 83 Michigan counties, including Leelanau. The fee is $10 per name, paid by credit card. Results appear instantly. Access the system at apps.michigan.gov/ichat.

ICHAT returns felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days. It leaves out local misdemeanors, traffic violations, juvenile records, suppressed cases, and records from federal and tribal courts. If you are searching someone with multiple names, each costs a separate fee. Pair ICHAT results with direct county court record searches for a more complete picture.

Leelanau County Clerk and Courthouse

The county seat of Leelanau County moved from Leland to Suttons Bay in 2004. The County Clerk's Office is at 8527 East Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. The phone is (231) 256-9824. The county website is at leelanau.gov.

Records available through the county clerk include birth, marriage, and death records dating from 1867 and divorce records from 1870. These are some of the older vital records archives in the northwest Lower Peninsula. Requests for these records require a valid photo ID and the appropriate fees. Contact the clerk's office for current fee information.

Court record searches can be done through the statewide MiCOURT portal. This free tool shows case status and docket entries for most Michigan courts. For copies of actual documents, contact the clerk directly. Bring a case number or party name to speed up the search process.

13th Circuit Court and 86th District Court

Leelanau County is part of the 13th Circuit Court, which serves Leelanau, Antrim, and Grand Traverse counties. The main contact for the 13th Circuit goes through the Grand Traverse County Clerk at (231) 922-4710. Felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, and family court cases for Leelanau County residents go through this shared circuit.

The 86th District Court also serves three counties: Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau. Misdemeanors, civil cases under $25,000, and traffic matters are handled here. The main phone for the 86th District is (231) 922-4600. A magistrate is available in Leelanau County on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for 86th District matters. Virtual proceedings are available for some cases.

Because both courts serve multiple counties, some court records and hearing locations may be in Traverse City rather than Suttons Bay. Confirm with the court which location handles a specific case before making a trip.

Records You Can Find in Leelanau County

Criminal records come from two levels. The 13th Circuit holds felony case files for Leelanau County defendants. The 86th District Court holds misdemeanor and traffic records. Family court records, including divorce filings and custody orders, are in the circuit court. Civil judgment records, small claims decisions, and protection orders are in the appropriate courts.

Vital records at the county clerk cover births, deaths, marriages, and divorces going back to the 1800s. These can be useful for identity verification and background research. Land records are also accessible through the Register of Deeds function at the clerk's office.

FOIA requests for Leelanau County records go to the specific office that holds the records. Michigan law requires a 5-business-day response. The Michigan State Police FOIA portal handles state-level records. County requests go to the county.

Offender Registries and Corrections

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system is free and shows people under active state supervision or discharged within the past 3 years. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name or location. Both are free and require no account.

Together, ICHAT, OTIS, and the sex offender registry give you three separate angles on someone's criminal background in Michigan. Use the statewide MiCOURT portal for case-level court records. For legal help understanding any of these systems, visit Michigan Legal Help.

Note: Because the 13th Circuit and 86th District serve multiple counties, a person who lived in Leelanau County may have records filed in Antrim or Grand Traverse courts as well. A statewide ICHAT search will capture these regardless of which county they were filed in.

Nearby Counties

Leelanau County shares courts with some of its neighbors. Records for people in this part of Michigan may be split across counties.