Benzie County Background Information
Benzie County is situated in Michigan. A 2020 census showed that Benzie County had a total population of 17,970. The current county seat is Beulah.
It was formed in 1863 and organized in 1869.
The name Benzie is derived from the French "la rivière aux Bec-scies", "the river of sawbills", bec-scie ("bill-saw") being a type of duck. Americans altered the pronunciation of the river's name, which became known as the "Betsie River".
Benzie County is part of the Traverse City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Benzie County Arrest Records
Arrest records are kept on all crimes within the Benzie County area. Benzie County crimes are divided into violent crimes and property crimes. Property crimes include offenses such as burglary, vehicle theft, and larceny. Robbery, aggravated assault, murder, and forcible rape makeup the violent crime category. Back in 2021, there were 0 violent and 46 property crimes in Benzie County. Benzie County Sheriff's Office can be contacted at:
Benzie County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff: Kyle Rosa
505 South Michigan Avenue
Beulah, MI 49617
Phone: (231) 882-4484
Benzie County Criminal Records
Inhabitants of Benzie County also have the right to search for nearby offenders. Locals provide a zip code and decide the radius of their search. All offenders within that area will then be revealed to the searcher. Locals can also lookup specific offenders in Benzie County. The results will show all incarcerated and non-compliant offenders too.
Benzie County documents its criminal activities in the form of criminal records. These records cover murders, rapes, burglaries, arson, motor vehicle theft, assaults, and crimes of sexual nature. All criminal records in Benzie County are continuously updated. In Benzie County, individuals can use a search tool to get access to the records. Anyone on release or in jail can be searched for using the tool. The Benzie County sex offenders' register is also updated constantly. This register includes any offender living, attending school, working, or jailed in the Benzie County area. This register is made available to all residents of Benzie County.
Benzie County Court Records
In Benzie County, the courthouse oversees all criminal, family, and civil cases. The court clerk maintains all Benzie County court records. In the state of Michigan, the Court of Appeals has the power to oversee any lower court case in which one party appeals. The 83 superior and trial courts across the 83 counties, including Benzie County, are regulated by the Court of Appeals. Benzie County court records can be accessed at:
Benzie County Courthouse
448 Court Place
Government Center Upper Level
Beulah, MI 49617
Phone: (231) 882-9671 ext. 2, (231) 723-6664
Fax: (231) 882-5941
NOTE - Typical records in Benzie County can be sent by mail, email, or fax, but all official or licensed records in Benzie County can only be delivered via mail.
Benzie County Public Records
Important records are kept on each resident of the state of Michigan. These documents hold a person's most prominent milestone life events. Marriages, divorces, births, and deaths are all reported in these vital files. Counties such as Benzie County help to collect these files and are also charged with sending duplicate copies to the state government.
Michigan requires all county clerks to collect marriage records. Marriage records in Benzie County are kept at the State of Michigan Vital Records Office. Birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, marriage licenses, divorce certificates, and marriage certificates makeup the main vital records. In the state of Michigan, all of these vital records are kept together in one central registry, including those from Benzie County. These records can then be used for statistical analysis.
In Benzie County, residents can access and copy these vital records, as they are in the public domain. The state of Michigan passed the Michigan Freedom of Information Act back in 1977, meaning that members of the public now have the fundamental right to access any public record. Citizens can apply for public records in Benzie County at:
Benzie County Clerk’s Office
Clerk: Tammy Bowers
Government Center,
448 Court Place Suite 200,
Beulah, MI 49617
Phone: (231) 882-9671 ext 2
Fax: (231) 882-5941
NOTE - There are a number of guidelines that need to be followed for Benzie County residents to obtain records. A person must visit between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday to get hold of records in-person in Benzie County. Photo ID is needed to obtain record documents in Benzie County. Examples include state IDs or driver's licenses. Requesters must also put their request to access public records in writing.
