Contact the Antrim County Clerk of Court

About the Antrim County Clerk of Court

Victoria Bishop serves as the Antrim County Clerk. In Michigan the county clerk and the clerk of court are one office, so a single team handles both roles here. The office sits on East Cayuga Street in downtown Bellaire. It is open to the public every weekday. Staff take filings, issue copies, and answer records questions in person, by mail, and by phone. Because the clerk serves the 13th Circuit Court and the county at the same time, this is the practical starting point for most public record needs in Antrim County.

The clerk is more than a filing desk. The office keeps decades of civil, criminal, and family files, records vital events, and stands in for the court on money matters tied to each case. It is also the elections and records hub for county government. That mix is why so many resident questions, from a divorce copy to a notary bond, land on the same counter.

The county publishes the office details on its county clerk page, which lists the address, phone, and current service notes.

That page confirms the clerk now accepts debit and credit cards for any fee, which makes short counter visits and copy pickups easier for the public.

What the Antrim County Clerk of Court Does

The clerk is the clerk of the criminal, civil, and family divisions of the 13th Circuit Court. In that role the office files pleadings and manages financial record keeping for those courts. It also assists people who are starting a personal protection order. When a case sits idle, the clerk handles dismissing no-progress cases under court rules. These duties keep the circuit court files organized and current.

• Files pleadings for the circuit court divisions
• Keeps financial records for court cases
• Assists with initiating personal protection orders
• Dismisses no-progress cases when required
• Issues certified copies of court and county records

The office also maintains a wide set of county records that the public asks for often. Many of these are not court files at all, yet they live with the clerk by law. A resident might visit for a marriage license one week and a notary bond the next.

• Birth and death records
• Marriage licenses
• Assumed name certificates
• Military discharge orders
• Concealed weapons permits
• Notary public bonds

Note: The clerk holds many county records that are not court files, so it helps to name the exact record you want when you call or write.

Vital Records Requests in Antrim County

Vital records are the birth, death, and marriage documents the clerk keeps for the county. A request must be written or typed, and it must include a copy of the requester's driver's license or state ID. The office also asks for a phone number on the request. You can mail the request to PO Box 520 or email it to clerk@antrimcountymi.gov. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or credit card at the office.

The county spells out these rules on its vital records page, which walks through the ID copy, the fee, and the mailing address.

That page is the fastest way to confirm what the clerk needs before you send anything by mail or email.

How to Request a Certified Copy in Antrim County

A certified copy carries the clerk's stamp and proves a record is a true copy. Courts, employers, and agencies often want the certified version, not a plain printout. The steps below match how the clerk office takes vital records and court copy requests.

1. Identify the record you need, such as a birth, death, or marriage record, and note any names or dates.
2. Write or type your request and include a copy of your driver's license or state ID.
3. Add a phone number so the clerk can reach you with questions or fee amounts.
4. Mail the request to PO Box 520 or email it to clerk@antrimcountymi.gov, and plan to pay by cash, check, or card.
5. Pick up the certified copy in person or wait for it to arrive by return mail.

Note: Uncertified copies are fine for personal reference, but a certified copy is the version that agencies and courts accept as proof.

Antrim County Clerk Fee Schedule

The clerk charges set fees for copies, searches, and certifications. The first certified copy of a record costs more than each extra copy of the same record. Older records that must be retyped and plain photocopies carry their own smaller charges. Residents age 60 and older get a reduced rate on searches and copies.

Note: The 2.99 percent card fee has a $3.99 minimum, so paying by cash or check on small orders can be the cheaper choice.

Marriage Licenses Through the Antrim County Clerk

Marriage licenses are a clerk function, and the office processes them through a marriage affidavit. The affidavit is filed by mail or in person, not by fax or email. A mailed affidavit must be notarized. One or both applicants may apply, and at least one applicant must be an Antrim County resident for the in-county path.

The full rules, the fee, and the waiting period live on the county marriage license page. A closer look at applying, searching for a license, and finding divorce files sits on the Antrim County marriage and divorce records page. That keeps the marriage steps in one place while the clerk page stays focused on the office itself.

Circuit Court Records and the Antrim County Clerk

The clerk is the records hub for the 13th Circuit Court. Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties share the same circuit search system, and both public portals are free. Civil cases can be searched by plaintiff or defendant name or by case number through the circuit civil records search. Felony cases run through the circuit criminal records search by defendant name or case number.

Some files sit outside the online range. Older criminal cases without indexes can be viewed on microfilm at the records office, and copy requests for circuit files can go through the county court records request process. For a fuller look at the court itself, its divisions, and how a case moves, the Antrim County Circuit Court page carries that detail.

Property deeds and liens are a common point of confusion because they are county records but not court files. Those live with the register of deeds, and the county shows the difference on its public search options page.

Checking that page first tells a searcher whether the record belongs with the clerk, the courts, or the deeds office.

Payment Methods at the Clerk Office

The clerk office now accepts debit and credit cards for any fee, along with cash and check. Card payments add a 2.99 percent charge with a $3.99 minimum. Circuit court payments can also be made through the county's AllPaid link, which is handy when you are settling a case cost rather than buying a copy. Naming the case number or record helps staff apply a payment to the right file.

County Boards Served by the Antrim County Clerk

The clerk wears several county hats beyond the courts. Michigan law makes the county clerk the clerk for a set of boards and commissions. That is why the office is tied to elections, canvassing, and county planning work in addition to case files. Each of these roles keeps official minutes and records that the public can request.

• Board of Commissioners
• Concealed Weapons Board
• Board of Canvassers
• Plat Board
• Apportionment Commission
• Tax Allocation Board
• Jury Board

FOIA and Public Records in Antrim County

Court files and vital records follow their own rules, but other county records fall under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. A FOIA request can be mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered to the office that holds the record. The state law gives the public a right to inspect records unless a specific exemption applies under MCL 15.231, and MCL 15.243 lists the categories a public body may withhold.

The county explains its process, fee thresholds, and appeal language on its FOIA page.

That page is the right stop when the record you want is not a court file and not a vital record.

For requests that are easier to submit online, the county offers a web form with the fields already laid out. It is a simple way to send a request without drafting a letter.

The county FOIA request form routes the request to the right department after you submit it.

Note: FOIA covers general county records, while sealed court files, juvenile matters, and protected personal identifiers stay closed even when the case itself is public.

Office Hours and Contact for the Antrim County Clerk

The clerk office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The main phone line is 231-533-6353, and the office fax is 231-533-6935. Written requests can be mailed to PO Box 520 in Bellaire or emailed to clerk@antrimcountymi.gov. A quick call before you visit can confirm a fee amount or whether a record is on hand.

Current names and direct contacts for county officials are listed on the county staff directory, which is useful when a question crosses departments.

That directory helps a resident reach the exact office when a request touches both the clerk and another county department.