Kent County Information
Kent County History
Website: http://www.co.kent.mi.us/
Date Created: 2 March 1831 (organized in 1836)
Name Origin: Named for Chancellor James Kent (1763-1847), New York jurist. Michigan employed him to defend its rights during the "Toledo War", 1836-37.
County Seat: Grand Rapids
Formed From: Michilimackinac County and Unorganized Land
County Records
County Courthouse: 300 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
County Clerk's Office: Ph: 616-336-3550,
Fax: 616-336-2885
Birth records: 1867 to present (Anyone may obtain a birth record more
than 110 years old. If the desired record is less than 110 years old,
a death certificate must be provided along with proof of relationship to the
deceased).
Death records: 1867 to present
Marriage records: 1849 to present
Divorce records: Contact the Kent County Circuit Court Clerk's office
Naturalization/Citizenship records: The State Archives of Michigan
has the records for Kent County for 1860-1929. (Written requests -
please include name and date. If the date is unknown, please supply an
approximate date. There will be about a 5 year search. Please
call before visiting or mailing fees to confirm hours, etc.
Register of Deeds: has land records from 1860
Ph: 616-336-3550, Fax: 616-336-2885 (Mailing address the same as
the courthouse)
Clerk of the Probate Court: has probate records from 1898, 180 Ottawa NW, Ste 2500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; Ph: 616-632-5440, Fax: 616-632-5430
Clerk of the Circuit Court: has court records from
1854
Ph: 616-336-3550, Fax: 616-336-2885 (Mailing address same as the
courthouse)
State Archives of Michigan: 702 W. Kalamazoo Street, P.O. Box 30738, Lansing, MI 48909-8238; Ph: 517-373-1408
Library of Michigan: 717 Allegan Street, Lansing, MI
48909; Ph: 517-373-1580
Adoptions: Adopted person searching for their original birth records should
contact the Adoption Central Registry, P. O. Box 30037, Lansing, MI
48909
Michigan Types of Records to Search
U.S. and Michigan Censuses, Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records, Court and Probate Records, Land, Military, Church, Cemetery, Tax, Immigration, Historical Newspapers, Family & Local Histories.