County Clerk

Clerk’s Office

200 Division St., Suite 130 ~ Petoskey, MI 49770
Phone: (231) 348-1744
Fax: (231) 348-0602
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

NOTICES FROM THE CLERK

Change to Marriage License Requirements

Beginning on January 1, 2022, the Clerk’s Office will require that both parties be present when applying for a marriage license or when picking up a license after applying online. In addition, both parties will be required to have a copy of their birth certificate to apply for a license. To speed up the process and save time, we encourage those who wish to apply for a marriage license to continue to utilize our online application process. Please call the Clerk’s Office at 231-348-1744 with questions.

New CPL Applicants and Fingerprinting Appointments:

If you are planning to come in to apply for a new CPL or to utilize our fingerprinting service for other reasons, we ask that you call the Clerk’s Office in advance to set up an appointment. This will allow us to limit contact and accommodate everyone in a timely fashion.

ELECTION EQUIPMENT INTEGRITY

In May 2021, Emmet County Clerk Suzanne Kanine and local township clerks met with the county’s election system provider, Election Systems & Software (ES&S), to discuss the November 2020 election and their concern about the distrust by some citizens in the election process. Kanine, the local township clerks, and their staff members strive to conduct a fair and honest election each and every time a ballot is put before the people. The group talked about ways they could help the public better understand how the election system really works and how they could regain their faith in the integrity of our election system in Emmet County. Those interested in learning more about how the equipment works should consider watching the video of the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee where ES&S representatives answered questions from lawmakers about their equipment. (Note: The video of the hearing is two hours long, but it provides the best information for those with questions about our election equipment and its security.)

County Clerk Staff

- SUZANNE KANINE
  Emmet County Clerk
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: (231) 348-1745

- ANDREA HUGHEY
  Chief Deputy Clerk
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: (231) 348-1744
- MONICA KLAWUHN
  Senior Court Clerk
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: (231) 348-0695

- ERIN FELSKI
  Senior Court Clerk
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: (231) 348-1740
- CONNIE BARKER
  Senior/Jury Clerk
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: (231) 348-0642

- LISA TUNCAP
  Deputy Clerk
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: (231) 348-0668
- HEIDI SNELL
  Deputy Clerk
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: (231) 348-1744

Online records search is now available

The State of Michigan provides basic information for public cases and may be viewed online or by mobile device. Please note the online records search function does not work well with the Internet Explorer browser. It is recommended that users switch to Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge when accessing the online records search here: https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/CaseSearch/Court/C57

COUNTY CLERK’S SERVICES

The Clerk’s Office provides many services to the public, including the following:
    • Birth Records
    • Death Records (Death Record Index available from 1867 to present)
    • Marriage Records & Marriage License Applications (Index available from 1856-present)
    • Concealed Weapons License (CPL) Application
          –(Firearm laws effective Dec. 1, 2015)
    • DBAs (Assumed Names) & Dissolutions
    • Divorce Packets
    • Genealogy
    • Military Discharge (DD-214)
    • Notary Public Information
    • Contact Information for Townships and Local Municipalities

ONLINE FORMS

The Clerk’s Office has the following forms available to download as PDFs:
    • Petition and Affidavit for Personal Protection Order (domestic)
    • Petition and Affidavit for Personal Protection Order (non-domestic)
    • Petition and Affidavit for Personal Protection Order (non-domestic sexual assault)

Duties of the County Clerk

The Office of County Clerk is a four-year, partisan office established by the Michigan Constitution charged with many statutory duties. The first Clerk of Emmet County was C.R. Wright, who served from 1855 to 1856. The longest serving Clerk was Winfield S. Hinds, who served from 1931 through 1962.

The County Clerk, as Clerk of the Circuit Court, has the responsibility for the care, custody and maintenance of all Circuit Court records, and is the keeper of the Seal of the 57th Circuit Court.

In addition, the County Clerk serves as clerk to the Board of Commissioners, Jury Commission, Board of Canvassers, Concealed Weapons Licensing Board, and the Tax Allocation Board. The County Clerk is a member of the Special Election Scheduling Committee, County Election Commission, and the County Plat Board. The County Clerk is also the chief election official for the county and the keeper of all vital records for the county.