Branch County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Branch County?

Public records in Branch County, Michigan, are defined under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 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. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of documents maintained by county offices, courts, and administrative agencies.

The following categories of records are currently available through Branch County's various government offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files maintained by the Branch County Trial Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and land transfer documents held by the Branch County Register of Deeds
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Branch County Clerk and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Business records — assumed name (DBA) filings, business licenses, and permits available through the County Clerk's office
Tax records — property tax assessments and payment histories maintained by the Branch County Treasurer
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results managed by the Branch County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of the Branch County Board of Commissioners and subordinate boards, posted publicly and archived by the Clerk
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports available through the County Administrator's office
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, available through the Branch County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents maintained by the Branch County Planning and Zoning Department

The Branch County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many of these records and provides access to official county documents.

Is Branch County an Open Records County?

Branch County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework. Under MCL § 15.233, any person has the right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of public records held by a public body. Michigan does not impose a residency requirement, meaning any individual — regardless of where they reside — may submit a FOIA request to a Branch County public body.

Key provisions of the Michigan FOIA that govern access in Branch County include:

Public bodies must 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 specific circumstances
Requests may be submitted in writing, by mail, or electronically where the public body has designated an email address for FOIA purposes
A public body may charge fees for the labor, duplication, and mailing costs associated with fulfilling a request, subject to statutory limits

Branch County does not currently maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance; all access rights and procedures are governed by the Michigan FOIA. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA resource page provides additional guidance on residents' rights under state law.

How to Find Public Records in Branch County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records from Branch County government offices may use the following steps to locate and obtain documents:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department holds the record type needed — for example, the Register of Deeds for property documents, the Trial Court for case files, or the County Clerk for vital records and election materials.
Search online portals first. The Branch County government website provides access to meeting minutes, budgets, and some property data without a formal request. Court case information may be searched through the MiCOURT case search portal, which provides online access to case records for informational purposes.
Submit a written FOIA request. For records not available online, submit a written request to the FOIA Coordinator of the relevant public body. Requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow the office to locate it.
Use in-person inspection. Members of the public may visit the relevant office during public counter hours to inspect records at no charge.
Follow up on the response. The public body must respond within five business days. If a request is denied, the requester has the right to appeal administratively or seek judicial review under MCL § 15.240.

FOIA request forms are available through the Branch County Clerk's Office.

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

Current fees for public records in Branch County are governed by the Michigan FOIA and vary by record type and the office fulfilling the request. Standard fees applicable to most requests include:

Paper copies: Fees are calculated based on the actual cost of duplication, not to exceed the amount permitted under MCL § 15.234, which limits charges to the lowest cost of reproduction
Labor costs: Public bodies may charge for the time spent searching, locating, and examining records, 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: Where records are provided in digital format, fees may be reduced or waived at the discretion of the public body

Accepted payment methods typically include cash, check, or money order made payable to the relevant county office. Fee waivers are available under current law when the requester demonstrates that disclosure of the information is in the public interest and that the primary purpose is not commercial. Indigent individuals — defined as those receiving public assistance or with income at or below the federal poverty guidelines — are entitled to a waiver of the first $20.00 of fees per request under MCL § 15.234(4).

Fees for vital records such as birth and death certificates are set separately by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and are currently $34.00 for the first certified copy and $16.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

Does Branch County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Branch County, consistent with Michigan law. Members of the public are not required to pay any fee solely to inspect a public record on-site at the custodial office. The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Branch County Clerk's Office, Register of Deeds, and other county departments during regular business hours — no charge is assessed for viewing records without requesting copies
Online court records — the MiCOURT case search portal provides free online access to case information for Branch County Trial Court proceedings
County website resources — meeting agendas, minutes, adopted budgets, and election results are posted at no cost on the Branch County official website
Property and tax data — basic property assessment information is accessible through the Branch County Equalization Department's online tools at no charge
Voter registration verification — the Michigan Voter Information Center allows individuals to verify their own registration status free of charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Branch County?

Under the Michigan FOIA, any person may submit a public records request to a Branch County public body. The statute defines "person" broadly to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, and other legal entities. Specific eligibility provisions include:

No residency requirement: Requesters are not required to be Michigan residents or Branch County residents to access public records
No identification required: Public bodies generally may not require a requester to provide identification as a condition of fulfilling a FOIA request
No stated purpose required: Requesters are not obligated to explain why they are seeking a record, with limited exceptions for certain sensitive record categories
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves — such as their own criminal history or vital records — may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as law enforcement investigative files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are subject to access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them

Non-residents retain the same rights as Michigan residents under the Michigan FOIA. Federal agencies and their employees acting in an official capacity are not considered "persons" under the statute and may not invoke FOIA rights.

What Records Are Confidential in Branch County?

Michigan law identifies numerous categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure. Under MCL § 15.243, the following types of records are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure in Branch County:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general 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 identifiers 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 — adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Michigan law
Child welfare and protective services records — records maintained by child protective services are confidential
Personnel records — certain employee records are exempt, though basic employment information such as name, position, and salary of public employees is generally disclosable
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — commercial or financial information submitted to a public body in confidence is exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — vulnerability assessments and security plans for public facilities are exempt from disclosure

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to separate the exempt portions and disclose the remainder. Michigan courts apply a balancing test in certain circumstances to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the potential harm of release.

Branch County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Branch County Register of Deeds serves as the official recorder of property-related documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and land contracts. The office also maintains plat maps and other land records for the county.

Branch County Register of Deeds 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 Phone: (517) 279-4320 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Branch County Register of Deeds

Branch County Clerk's Office 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 Phone: (517) 279-4306 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Branch County Clerk

Branch County Trial Court 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 Phone: (517) 279-4300 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Branch County Trial Court

Branch County Sheriff's Office 14 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 Phone: (517) 279-4411 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Branch County Sheriff's Office

Branch County Treasurer's Office 31 Division Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 Phone: (517) 279-4321 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Branch County Treasurer

Lookup Public Records in Branch County

MiCOURT Case Search — Search Branch County court case records online; information is provided for informational use only and does not replace the official record on file with the court.