Search Michigan Court Records
Michigan court records are public documents filed and maintained by courts across all 83 counties in the state. You can search for case filings, docket entries, judgments, and court orders through the statewide MiCOURT portal or by contacting county courts directly. Records cover civil, criminal, family, and probate matters handled by circuit, district, and probate courts throughout Michigan.
Michigan Court Records Overview
Where to Find Michigan Court Records
The main place to search Michigan court records online is MiCOURT, the state's official case search portal managed by the Michigan Supreme Court. This free tool lets you search by party name, case number, attorney bar number, or business name. It covers all courts that participate in the statewide system. You can see party names, case status, scheduled hearings, and the register of actions for each case.
Michigan courts operate under a unified "One Court of Justice" system established by the 1963 Michigan Constitution. All court records are centrally accessible through the Michigan Courts website, which also links to individual county court pages, forms, and local resources. Some counties also run their own search portals in addition to MiCOURT.
The Michigan Court of Appeals handles appeals from trial courts. You can find appellate opinions and case info at coa.courts.michigan.gov. For criminal history specifically, the Michigan State Police operates ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ichat, which provides name-based criminal history reports for $10 per search.
The Michigan Courts homepage at courts.michigan.gov is the central hub for all court resources statewide.
The courts.michigan.gov site links to MiCOURT, county court directories, forms, and the SCAO administrative office.
Note: MiCOURT shows docket entries and basic case info only. It does not display document images. For full file access, visit the courthouse in the county where the case was filed.
Michigan Court System Structure
Michigan has three levels of trial courts. Circuit courts handle felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and all family law matters including divorce, custody, and juvenile cases. There are 57 circuit courts across the state, and some circuits cover more than one county. District courts handle misdemeanor cases, civil cases up to $25,000, traffic violations, and small claims up to $6,500. There are 105 district courts statewide. Probate courts manage estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings. Michigan has 78 probate courts.
Above the trial courts sits the Court of Appeals with 24 judges serving four districts based in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Troy. At the top is the Michigan Supreme Court with seven justices based in Lansing. Decisions from the Supreme Court set legal precedent for all lower courts in the state.
The State Court Administrative Office, known as the SCAO, serves as the administrative arm of the Michigan Supreme Court. It manages court forms, sets records standards, and oversees court operations across all 83 counties. The SCAO is located at 925 W. Ottawa in Lansing. Their phone is 517-373-0129. You can reach the office through courts.michigan.gov/administration/scao.
How to Search Michigan Court Records Online
MiCOURT is the starting point for most Michigan court records searches. The system is free to use. You do not need an account to search basic case information. Start at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search and enter a party name or case number. Results show the case type, filing date, party names, case status, and a list of docket entries. You can also search by attorney bar number if you need to find all cases handled by a specific lawyer.
There are a few limits to keep in mind. Privacy rules effective January 2022 removed some personal details from public view, including full dates of birth and Social Security numbers. Some courts only show criminal cases where sentencing happened within the last seven years. Cases involving juveniles, adoptions, mental health proceedings, and sealed records do not appear in MiCOURT.
MiFILE is Michigan's electronic filing system for attorneys and self-represented parties filing court documents.
MiFILE is mandatory for attorneys in participating courts and is available to self-represented litigants as an optional tool for filing papers and receiving case notices electronically.
Several large counties also run their own search portals. Oakland County uses Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com. Wayne County's Third Circuit Court posts public access records at 3rdcc.org and through a public access portal. Washtenaw County has a name search tool and a public access portal at tcweb.ewashtenaw.org. Ingham County courts post records at courts.ingham.org. These local portals sometimes show more detail than MiCOURT.
What Michigan Court Records Include
Michigan court records vary by case type, but most public court files contain similar basic information. For civil cases, you will find the complaint or petition, any responses filed, motions, hearing notices, orders from the judge, and the final judgment. Criminal case files hold the charge information, arraignment records, bond conditions, plea records, sentencing documents, and any probation orders. Family court files in circuit court may include divorce judgments, custody orders, support schedules, and parenting time agreements.
Probate court records cover a different set of documents. Estate files include the petition to open the estate, an inventory of assets, accountings, and the final order closing the estate. Guardianship and conservatorship files hold appointment orders and periodic reports. Mental health proceedings records have restrictions and are not open to the general public.
Public access to court records is protected under the Michigan Constitution. Article 1, Section 23 states that "all courts shall be open" to every person. Under MCR 8.119, court records are public records unless a specific rule or law restricts access. Certain categories are restricted by law, including juvenile court records under MCL 712A.28, adoption records under MCL 710.67, and drug treatment court records under MCL 333.7411. Under MCL 15.232, Michigan courts are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, so access to court records is governed by court rules rather than FOIA.
Michigan Court Record Fees and Copy Costs
Standard copy fees apply at most Michigan courts. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page in most counties, though some charge slightly more. Certified copies carry a $10.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page. Exemplified copies, which carry the court seal for out-of-state use, cost $10.00 plus $2.00 per page. Fees for in-person record inspection are free at all courts.
The Michigan Courts fee schedule page lists current copy costs, filing fees, and court-related charges for all court types statewide.
Filing fees vary by case type. Circuit court civil actions run $150 to $175. District court small claims filing fees start at $45 for claims under $1,750 and go up to $150 for claims over $10,000. Divorce with children costs $255 to file. Most courts accept cash, check, and money orders. Credit and debit cards are accepted at most locations with a convenience fee of about 3.5%.
Fee waivers are available for people with low income under MCL 600.880b. You file a fee waiver form with the court and show proof that you cannot afford the costs. A judge reviews the request and decides if you qualify. Forms for fee waivers are available at the courthouse or through the SCAO forms library.
Michigan Court Forms and Self-Help Resources
The SCAO maintains a free library of approved court forms at courts.michigan.gov/forms. This library covers forms for all court types including circuit, district, and probate courts. Forms cover civil cases, family law, small claims, landlord-tenant matters, probate proceedings, and more. All forms are approved by the Michigan Supreme Court and are accepted at every court in the state.
The SCAO forms library at courts.michigan.gov/forms has approved court forms for every type of Michigan court case at no cost.
For people who need help understanding the court process, Michigan Legal Help is the best free resource. It offers plain-language guides for dozens of legal issues including divorce, custody, small claims, debt, and more.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org provides free self-help guides, interactive forms, and information about courts and legal processes across the state.
Michigan Legal Help covers step-by-step instructions for common legal matters, helps you find the right forms, and points you to local legal aid organizations if you need more help. It is operated in partnership with the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
MiFILE's list of participating courts shows which Michigan courts accept electronic filing for each case type.
Over 100 courts participate in MiFILE. Electronic filing is mandatory for attorneys in those courts under MCR 1.109(G)(3)(f). Self-represented parties may use the system voluntarily. There is no account fee, though standard court filing fees still apply.
Note: MCR 1.109 governs privacy protections in court filings and requires redaction of Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain other personal information from public documents.
Browse Michigan Court Records by County
Each of Michigan's 83 counties has its own circuit, district, and probate courts. Select a county below to find local court contact info, search portals, and resources for court records in that area.
Michigan Court Records by City
Major Michigan cities are served by specific district and circuit courts. Select a city to find the courts that handle cases for that area and how to access records locally.