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Michigan · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

County Clerk or Court Clerk (county level - each of Michigan's 83 counties) / Michigan Court System (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (felonies, civil $25,000+, family, probate in most counties), District Court (misdemeanors, civil up to $25,000, small claims up to $7,000, traffic), Probate Court (estates, wills, guardianship, mental health), or Court of Appeals / Michigan Supreme Court
  2. Search online:
  3. MICHIGAN COURTS CASE SEARCH: courts.michigan.gov/case-search - Michigan's statewide online case search; covers District Court, Circuit Court, and Probate Court for most counties; search by name or case number; free public access
  4. BS&A ONLINE: Some court records visible through BS&A county portals (primarily property and tax records; not all court records)
  5. INDIVIDUAL COUNTY COURT WEBSITES: counties.michigan.gov for links to county courts and clerks
  6. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the County Clerk (for Circuit Court records) or District Court clerk in the county where the case was filed
  7. In-person access: visit the courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Michigan Courts Case Search: free for basic case information; certified copies: typically $1 per page; contact specific county clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Online searches immediate; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - Michigan Courts Case Search at courts.michigan.gov/case-search (statewide)
Where to Go
County Clerk (Circuit Court records) or District Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed
County-specific variations apply

Michigan's 83 counties each have their own court system. Wayne County (Detroit) - Third Judicial Circuit - has the largest court system; comprehensive online access. Kent County (Grand Rapids), Oakland County, Macomb County, and Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor) have robust systems. Smaller Upper Peninsula counties may have very limited online access.

Michigan Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Michigan Courts Case Search (courts.michigan.gov/case-search): Michigan's statewide public case information system; covers most Circuit, District, and Probate Court cases.
  • Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court opinions: courts.michigan.gov.
  • Criminal history background checks: Michigan State Police (MSP) Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) - apps.michigan.gov/ichat; fee-based public background checks.
  • Michigan Sex Offender Registry: Michigan Sex Offender Registration (MSOR) - LEIN/MSOR at michigan.gov/msp/divisions/foi; searchable online.
  • Juvenile records: generally sealed; special access rules apply.
  • Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, MCL 15.231 et seq.): agencies must respond within 5 business days.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Michigan Supreme Court / State Court Administrative Office - courts.michigan.gov | (517) 373-0130; MSP ICHAT (criminal history) - apps.michigan.gov/ichat | (517) 241-0606