What are Eaton County Public Records?
According to the Michigan FOIA, Eaton County public records are defined as written documents owned, used, prepared, or retained by any public body in the performance of an official function from the time of inception. Eaton County public records do not include computer software and documents under section 13 of the Michigan County FOIA Law. Documents containing sensitive information, such as information on minors, medical records, and financial details, are also exempt from public access.
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Eaton County Crime Statistics
Eaton County 2020 crime statistics from the Michigan State Police shows a total of 1,715 index crimes. The total number of violent crimes in the county was recorded at 302, including 1 murder, 74 rape offenses, 24 robberies, and 203 aggravated assaults which made up the total number of violent crimes for 2020. In the same year, Eaton County also reported 184 cases of burglary, 1,090 larceny offenses, and 139 motor vehicle thefts. These made up the 1,413 property crimes in Eaton County in 2020. Meanwhile, the Eaton County 2019 crime statistics show 1,648 index crimes. Comparing these figures shows that index crimes in Eaton County have increased by 4% year-on-year.
Are Eaton County Criminal Records Public?
Eaton County criminal records are available to the public through the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) provided by the Michigan State Police. Public requestors pay $10.00 per search, but the service is free to non-profit organizations conducting criminal history checks on people who work with the elderly and children. A full name, sex, race, and date of birth are required for the search.
How to Obtain Eaton County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Eaton County police reports and arrest records are available at the Records Division of the Eaton County Sheriff's Office. The division charges $7 for crime reports. Interested requestors must send a FOIA request describing the record sought to the office of the Eaton County Sheriff's Office. For additional inquiries, contact the Records Division at:
Records Division
1025 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-5247
Fax: (517) 543-2922
Members of the public can also obtain a police report for a fee from the Prosecuting Attorney's Office after the defendant has been arraigned on the charged offense. Meanwhile, a defendant in a case can have their lawyer obtain the record on their behalf.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Eaton County
Concerned persons may search the Michigan Sex Offender Registry for information on a sex offender of interest. Parse in the person's name, registration number, or street address to obtain available information. Generally, persons who search the registry can expect to see the personal information of sex offenders as well as sex, race, height, and age. It also contains physical features to identify the offender, such as scars or tattoos. It also informs the researcher on the status of the offender and the last verification date.
How to Find Eaton County Inmate Records
Persons who wish to find Eaton County inmate records must submit a completed FOIA request form to the Office of the Eaton County Sheriff. The record custodian requires the date of arrest, the inmate's name, place of arrest, and approximate age to process the request. For additional inquiries, contact the Sheriff's Office at:
Eaton County Office of the Sheriff
Attention: FOIA Request
1025 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543- 3512
Fax: (517) 543- 2922
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Eaton County Jail?
Prospective visitors are advised to schedule visits on the Securus website at least 24 hours before the day of the visit. The visits can also be scheduled using the scheduler located at the front lobby of the correctional facility.
Meanwhile, on-site visits are on Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., except on holidays observed by the county.
All intending visitors must have a driver's license or state-issued photo I.D. to obtain approval for a visit. Furthermore, visitors must dress formally and arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled visitation time. For additional information regarding visitations, contact the jail administrator on (517) 543-5041.
Eaton County Court Records
Eaton County is served by three courts: the Circuit Court, the Probate Court, and the District Court. The judicial team provides citizens of Eaton County with a system of justice that is equal and fair. These courts adjudicate different cases in Eaton County, including family law cases, criminal cases, civil cases, juvenile cases, probate, traffic, and divorce cases. The location of the courts is listed below:
Probate Court Division
1045 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-7500 ext. 1277
Juvenile Court Division
822 Courthouse Drive
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-6003
Fax: (517) 543-3749
56A District Court
1045 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-7520
Eaton County Circuit Court
1045 Independence Boulevard
Suite 200
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-4335
Fax: (517) 543-4475
Are Eaton County Court Records Public
Yes. Persons who wish to obtain court records must visit the court where the case was filed and tried. There, the requestor must submit a formal FOIA request form, pay the administrative fees, and submit a copy of a valid I.D. Alternatively, court records are also available on the Michigan Courts Online Database. The website provides information on Civil, Traffic, Criminal, Domestic (Divorce/Family), Probate, and Juvenile Traffic & Delinquency cases, depending on the type of court searched.
How to Obtain Eaton County Civil Court Case Records
Persons who wish to obtain civil court records must visit the Clerk's Office at the court that handled the case. The Eaton County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil cases worth over $25,000. On the other hand, 56A District Court has jurisdiction over civil infractions such as parking violations and traffic and civil court cases worth $25,000 and below.
How to Obtain Eaton County Criminal Court Records
All requests for criminal court records go to the Clerk's Office, where administrative staff will ask for the necessary information to facilitate a search. The requestor must also pay the administrative fees to search and copy the court documents sought. Public access to the Eaton County criminal court records is also available through the Michigan Courts online database.
What are Eaton County Vital Records?
Vital records are documents describing information about a person's life events in Eaton County, including all births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Due to the sensitive information in these documents, only the persons named on the document and immediate family members can obtain copies of vital records at the Eaton County Clerk's office. Each document costs $15.00 per copy and additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $8.00. Interested persons can submit requests in person, online, or by mail using the vital records request form.
Where and How to Obtain Eaton County Divorce Records
The Office of the Eaton County Circuit Court Clerk maintains a repository for Eaton County divorce records. The office charges $8.00 for a name search. Certified copies of a divorce record cost $10.00 for the first page of a document and $1.00 for additional pages. There is a $1.00 fee per page charge for copies of regular documents. The request can also be made at the office during office hours by using the following contact information:
1045 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-4335
Fax: (517) 543-4475
Where and How to Get Public Eaton County Marriage Records
Eaton County public marriage records are maintained by the Office of the Eaton County Clerk. To obtain an Eaton County marriage record, a requestor should provide the marriage date and the couple's full names. Marriage records can be obtained by sending a completed copy of the aforementioned vital records request form to the office by mail or email at CountyClerk@eatoncounty.org. A requestor may also visit the Clerk's Office in person during business hours. This service costs $15.00 for a certified copy of a marriage record and $8.00 for additional copies, payable via money order or checks made out to the Eaton County Clerk. Requestors are encouraged to include a phone number or email address for correspondence.
1045 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-4335
Fax: (517) 543-4475
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Eaton County
In Eaton County, Marriages without Publicity are recognized, but the documents are not public records. They can be requested from the Probate Court. Inquiries on what should be provided to obtain Eaton County confidential marriage records should be made to the Probate Court by using the contact information below:
1045 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone 1: (517) 543-4364
Phone 2: (517) 543-4362
Where and How to Find Eaton County Birth Records
Interested parties may obtain Eaton County birth records at the Office of the Register of Deeds. Eaton County birth records are not public records. Only the registrant listed on the record and their kin are eligible to request the record.
These individuals may obtain Eaton County birth records in person by visiting the Register's Office or by sending a completed copy of the aforementioned vital records request form.
A certified copy costs $15, while additional copies cost $8. Payments should be made via money order or check and paid to the Eaton County Clerk.
Proof of identity is required of the applicant to obtain the record. The requestor will also need to provide a date of birth, full names of the parents, including the mother's maiden name, full name at birth, and a photocopy of a valid driver's license, passport, or state I.D. A signature authorizing the request is also required and must be an original signature - not the signature on the I.D. Direct additional inquiries to the Register's Office.
1045 Independence Boulevard
1st Floor
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-4203
Fax: (517) 543-4134
Where and How to Find Eaton County Death Records
The Office of the Register of Deeds is the repository for all death records in Eaton County. To obtain an Eaton death record, a requestor may visit the County Clerk's Office in person during business hours and provide the necessary details to facilitate a search. These include the date of death and the deceased's name.
Eaton County death records cost $25.00 when obtained online and $15.00 when obtained in person or through the mail by completing the aforementioned vital records request form. Payment is via money order or checks made out to the Eaton County Clerk. Funeral homes are required to follow a different process when requesting death records. Send additional inquiries to the County Clerk's Office.
1045 Independence Boulevard
1st Floor
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543-4203
Fax: (517) 543-4134
