Wayne County Clerk Overview
The Wayne County Clerk page names Cathy M. Garrett as Wayne County Clerk. The office is at 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 201, Detroit, MI 48226. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone (313) 967-6938. Email clerkhelp@waynecountymi.gov. The Clerk's mission is to provide efficient, timely services at a fair cost to county residents and the public and to administer federal, state, and county elections conducted in Wayne County.
The page is the central reference point for Clerk operations. It identifies the Clerk's role as Clerk of the Third Judicial Circuit Court and lists records, election, and vital records duties.
Clerk of the Third Judicial Circuit
The Wayne County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Third Judicial Circuit Court, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, and clerk of the Board of County Canvassers. The Clerk is also Secretary to the Board of Election Commissioners and a statutory member of the Wayne County Apportionment Commission. Recordkeeping functions include transcripts of births and deaths, marriage licenses, business assumed names, co-partnership certificates, notary public appointments, and military discharge records.
Wayne County Clerk Records Division
The Records Division is responsible for receiving, filing, and maintaining Circuit Court cases on microfilm and in hard copy. It also maintains a central archive for non-active county department records. The division is in the lower level at Room LL-61, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. Phone (313) 224-5530. Fax (313) 967-3712. Email wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov.
- Civil court records, including divorce records, are available from 1942 to present.
- Criminal records from 1942 to 1983 outside Detroit but within Wayne County are at the Clerk Records Division.
- Criminal records within Detroit or after 1983 are at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice records room, (313) 224-2502.
- Files from 2010 to present are viewable in the records room.
- Older files must be ordered from Archives.
- Files ordered before 4:30 p.m. are available the next business day after 2 p.m.
- Files are held for 5 calendar days before being sent back.
- Name change documents after 1996 are at the Records Division; before 1996 with Wayne County Probate Court.
Civil Court Services
The Civil Court Services page details filing for civil and family matters. Civil actions in Wayne County Circuit Court are filed at the Clerk's Court Services Unit. All pleadings and related documents required by court rules must be filed with the Clerk of the Court. Civil Division cases are filed electronically on the court website, except for asbestos cases. Family Division processes divorce, custody, other family matters, and Personal Protection Orders. These are filed manually. Domestic-relations motions must be filed in the Wayne County Clerk's Office under Third Circuit directive. Divorce, custody, and family matters are at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Suite 201. PPO filings are at Suite 928.
The page also notes the Clerk cannot provide legal advice. "Pro Se" means representing oneself without a lawyer; the Clerk links a Free Legal Services/Lawsuits Information PDF for self-represented litigants.
Criminal Court Services
The criminal record requests page covers request methods. Regular uncertified documents may be emailed, faxed, or mailed once paid. Certified and authenticated documents must be mailed because of the raised seal. Criminal services also include record requests, file review, eFiling, motions, appellate procedures, subpoenas, forms, and links, plus a "Set Aside Conviction" link tied to the Michigan set-aside framework under MCL 780.621.
Marriage and Vital Records
Wayne County Clerk issues marriage licenses through the eVitals application and eScheduler appointments. Marriage records and certified copies are handled at the New One-Stop Shop Vital Statistics Records Office, 400 Monroe Street, Suite 610, Detroit, MI 48226. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; closed for lunch 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day. Vital records questions go to (313) 967-6938. See the marriage and divorce records page for the full workflow.
Elections and Boards
The Clerk administers federal, state, and county elections in Wayne County. The Clerk is Secretary to the Board of Election Commissioners and a statutory member of the Wayne County Apportionment Commission. The Clerk is also clerk of the Board of County Canvassers. Concealed Pistol License questions go to (313) 224-5565 or cpl@waynecountymi.gov.
Wayne County Clerk Fees
Fees split into copy/certification fees from the Records Division and filing fees from Civil Court Services. The Records Division charges $2.00 per page for uncertified copies. Certified or authenticated copies add a $10.00 seal plus per-page fee.
| Item | Fee / Rule |
|---|---|
| Uncertified Xerox copies | $2.00 per page |
| Certified/authenticated copies | $10.00 seal plus per-page fee |
| Credit/debit payment fee | Additional $2.50 |
| Visa credit | Not accepted; debit only |
| Personal checks | Not accepted |
| Mail payments | Money orders only |
| GovPayNow PLC | 6223 |
| Filing Fees | $175.00 |
| Appeals | $150.00 |
| Jury Demand | $85.00 |
| Divorce, no children | $175.00 |
| Divorce, with children | $255.00 |
| Motions | $20.00 |
| Support Motions | $60.00 |
| Custody/Parenting Time Motions | $100.00 |
| Appeals, Transmittal Fee | $25.00 |
| Certification/Authentication | $10.00 plus $1.00 per page |
| Copies | $2.00 per page |
| Writs/Executions | $15.00 |
| Subpoena | $15.00 |
| Certified letter | $10.00 |
| Record Search Fee | $1.00 |
| Register of Actions | $1.00 |
How to Request a Wayne County Clerk Certified Copy
The Clerk Records Division accepts in-person, mail, email/GovPayNow, and VitalChek orders. Mail payments are money orders only. Email orders use GovPayNow under PLC 6223. Certified and authenticated documents must be mailed because of the raised seal.
- Identify the case number, name, and date range to narrow the file.
- Choose the delivery option: in person, mail, email, or VitalChek.
- Compute the fee using the schedule above.
- Pay by money order (mail), GovPayNow receipt (email), or VitalChek (online).
- For certified copies, expect mail delivery only.
- For in-person service, schedule an appointment through eScheduler.
Appointment-Only Services
The Clerk states that due to limited staffing and overwhelming phone, voicemail, email, and letter volume, users may schedule their own appointment through eScheduler. Appointments are required for all in-person services. The office encourages online and by-mail options.
Note: The Wayne County Clerk's office cannot provide legal advice; consult an attorney for case-specific guidance.
Wayne County Clerk Contact Information
Wayne County Clerk
Cathy M. Garrett
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 201
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 967-6938
clerkhelp@waynecountymi.gov
Records Division
2 Woodward Avenue, Room LL-61
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 224-5530
Fax (313) 967-3712
wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov
Vital Statistics Records
400 Monroe Street, Suite 610
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 967-6938
Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 8:00-4:00; Thu 8:00-7:00
For land records, see the Wayne County Register of Deeds page. For full court records workflow, see Wayne County court records. For probate detail, see probate records.
Self-Help and Pro Se Resources
The Clerk repeatedly notes it cannot provide legal advice and may suggest individuals seek legal advice or attorney services. Pro Se literally means representing oneself without a lawyer. The Civil Court Services page links a Free Legal Services/Lawsuits Information PDF. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org publishes statewide self-help forms and court-process guides, including the Third Circuit profile that lists Coleman A. Young Municipal Center as housing the Civil and Family Divisions with helpdesk@3rdcc.org and (313) 224-5510.
Frank Murphy Hall of Justice Records
Detroit-area criminal records after 1983 are not at the Clerk Records Division. They sit at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice records room, reached at (313) 224-2502. The split mirrors how Wayne County criminal court operations evolved. Pre-1983 criminal records outside Detroit remain at the Clerk Records Division. Detroit criminal cases and post-1983 criminal records went to Frank Murphy as criminal operations consolidated. For background-check style research, this split matters because a "no record" answer at one office does not necessarily clear the search at the other. When uncertain, ask both offices and confirm the date range and venue.