County Clerk

Online Services

County Clerk/Register of Deeds

Mary Hollinrake, County Clerk / Register
Sonya Dean, Chief Deputy Clerk

County Administration Building
300 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2288
Phone: (616) 632-7640
Fax: (616) 632-7645

Kent County Courthouse
180 Ottawa Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2288
Phone: (616) 632-5480
Fax: (616) 632-5458

Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Mission Statement

Maintain public records for the citizens of Kent County. Disseminate information requested in a proficient, timely manner.

Overview

The Kent County Clerk’s Office has three major functions: to manage County elections; to manage vital County records; and to process and maintain all Circuit Court files. In Kent County, the Clerk is also the Register of Deeds. The Clerk is also the Clerk of the Board of Commissioners, and statutorily serves on numerous County boards and commissions.

The County Clerk’s Elections Division oversees all elections conducted in Kent County including all school elections and monitors campaign finance law.

The Register of Deeds Office records all documents pertaining to real property in Kent County, including deeds, mortgages, land contracts, liens and other documents pertaining to real estate.

The Clerk files, stores, and retains original vital records (i.e., birth, death, and marriage records), and makes certified copies of said records available to the public. The Clerk also processes applications for concealed weapons licenses, notary publics, business registrations and records military discharges. Since 2005, the division moved to an imaged system converting old microfilm documents to digital images to better serve the public.

As Clerk of the Circuit Court, she keeps the Circuit Court’s records. The Clerk opens, maintains, tracks, and stores the records for all cases filed in the Circuit Court including all juvenile court cases. Court files are public records, and may be inspected at the Clerk’s Office. Litigants file at the Clerk of the Court’s office for divorce, other family matters (e.g., paternity, custody, and juvenile support), civil actions for which the amount of damages exceeds $25,000, and other civil matters over which the Circuit Court has jurisdiction. All felony criminal cases are filed with the Clerk. The Clerk of the Court’s financial division processes payments for court-ordered fines, costs, restitution, forensic fees, and other assessments.

Strategic Goals

Politically advocate for stream-lined election laws that improve voting process and enhance the integrity of elections
Protect current revenue streams and explore methods to ensure changes in statutory allowable fees cover costs.

Operational Goals

Comply with federal and state statutes and rules that govern elections
To process and maintain records in accordance with federal and state statutes and policies to ensure the integrity of records
To distribute information requested in a timely manner
To process and maintain filings/records in accordance with federal and state statutes and Michigan Rules of Court to ensure the integrity of records
To provide service and information as to the public record regarding real property located in Kent County
To promptly process and accept for public record all documents received pursuant to the Michigan Recording Act
To research and develop new ways of using technology to improve the input, storage, and retrieval of information

2009 Adopted Uses: $4,043,236

2009 Adopted Revenues: $6,272,200

Department History of Uses

Uses	2006 Actual	2007 Actual	2008 Adopted	2009 Adopted
Personnel	$2,748,262	$2,986,596	$3,122,039	$3,099,514
Commodities	344,206	364,004	415,950	218,350
Contractual Services	98,983	79,823	109,190	100,457
Capital Outlay	1,011	705	6,000	2,000
Special Projects	399,524	426,439	663,373	622,915
Total Uses	$3,591,986	$3,857,567	$4,316,552	$4,043,236

Personnel FTE	53	52	52	51

Significant Budget Issues

The budget spikes up during even numbered years due to costs associated with the type of elections held in even numbered years (i.e., state-wide gubernatorial, or presidential elections).

One vacant Clerk Typist II was eliminated in 2009.