South Haven, MI Public Records
South Haven is an incorporated city in Van Buren County, Michigan, with an estimated population of 4,017 (U.S. Census Bureau, July 2024 estimate) and 3.5 square miles of land. That is up about 53 residents since the 2020 Census base.
🏢 South Haven City Hall
South Haven's own city government keeps its local records: council or board meeting minutes, local ordinances and resolutions, local permits and licenses, and its own budget and contracts. Requests for those records go to the city clerk under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. In Michigan, the city clerk also runs local elections and voter registration. Birth and death certificates, marriage records, deeds and court files are generally kept by county and state offices rather than by the city; see the offices below.
📇 South Haven Contact on File
| Government | City Of South Haven |
| Contact listed | City Clerk |
| Mailing address | 539 Phoenix St, South Haven, MI 49090 |
| Phone | Not stated |
| Official website | www.southhaven.com |
| Source | U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units listing ↗ |
This is the mailing address the government reported to the U.S. Census Bureau; it may be a post office box or the office of an elected official rather than a public counter, and the source does not list a phone number. The website was reported by the government and was answering when we last checked. Call or check the official website before you visit.
↑ Back to record types🏛️ County Courthouse & Records Office for South Haven
South Haven is in Van Buren County (with parts in Allegan County). In Michigan, deeds, mortgages and other land records are recorded by the county Register of Deeds. Divorce cases in Michigan are heard by the Circuit Court (Family Division) in each county. Wills and estates in Michigan are handled by the Probate Court in each county.
📍 Van Buren County at a Glance
| County | Van Buren County |
| County population (2024 est.) | 76,129 Source: www2.census.gov ↗ |
| Also partly in | Allegan County |
⚖️ 36th Circuit Court (Van Buren County Courthouse)
| Address | 212 Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 |
| Directions | Get directions ↗ |
| Phone | (269) 657-8218 |
| Hours | Not stated |
| Records available | Circuit court case records (felonies, civil cases over $25,000, divorce and family cases) |
| Official website | vbco.org |
| Sources | courts.michigan.gov/…/trial-court-directory ↗ |
| Last verified | October 16, 2026 |
📜 Van Buren County Probate Court (Van Buren County Courthouse Annex, 2nd Floor)
| Address | 212 Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 |
| Directions | Get directions ↗ |
| Phone | (269) 657-8225 |
| Hours | Not stated |
| Records available | Wills, estates, guardianships and mental-health proceedings |
| Official website | vbco.org |
| Sources | courts.michigan.gov/…/trial-court-directory ↗ |
| Last verified | October 16, 2026 |
See the full Van Buren County records page →
↑ Back to record types📋 Where to Get Records for South Haven
Where to get the most-requested public records for people and property in South Haven, MI:
📋 South Haven Records Guide
| Birth & death certificates | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services – Vital RecordsIn Michigan, certified birth and death certificates can also be ordered from the County Clerk. |
| Deeds & property records | In Michigan, deeds, mortgages and other land records are recorded by the county Register of Deeds. |
| Court cases & divorce | Van Buren County courthouse. Divorce cases in Michigan are heard by the Circuit Court (Family Division) in each county. |
| Wills & estates | Wills and estates in Michigan are handled by the Probate Court in each county. |
| State court system | Michigan Courts |
| Sex offender registry | Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry (Michigan State Police) |