Ann Arbor Court Records
Ann Arbor court records cover filings from the 15th District Court and the 22nd Circuit Court, both of which serve this Washtenaw County city. You can search records online, request copies in person, or use MiCOURT to find case data without visiting the courthouse. This guide explains where to look, what you can access, and what to expect when you need Ann Arbor court records for any reason.
Ann Arbor Overview
Courts Serving Ann Arbor
Two courts handle the bulk of case filings for Ann Arbor residents. The 15th District Court sits inside the Ann Arbor Justice Center and deals with civil infractions, misdemeanors, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters. The 22nd Circuit Court is one floor above at 101 E. Huron and handles felonies, major civil cases, and family law. Washtenaw County Probate Court also operates from that same building and manages estate, guardianship, and mental health cases.
| Court | 15th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Ann Arbor Justice Center, 301 E. Huron Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
| Phone | (734) 794-6750 |
| Hours | Mon-Thu 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM |
| Circuit Court | 22nd Circuit Court, 101 E. Huron St. | (734) 222-3001 |
| Probate Court | Washtenaw County Probate, 101 E. Huron St. | (734) 222-3270 |
The 15th District Court also runs a number of specialty dockets. The Veterans Treatment Court serves military veterans dealing with criminal cases tied to service-related issues. Mental Health Court links people with mental illness to community treatment instead of incarceration. Sobriety Court handles cases where substance use played a role. These programs can affect how long a case stays open and what records look like in the public database. Under MCR 8.119, all court records are presumed open to the public unless a specific rule or statute restricts them.
The Ann Arbor city website has a dedicated case search portal for 15th District Court matters at a2gov.org. This portal links directly to the court's docket and is a good starting point for anyone searching local civil or misdemeanor cases. For 22nd Circuit and Probate Court records, the Washtenaw Trial Court name search at washtenaw.org covers those courts and returns results by party name.
The city's public access portal for Washtenaw trial courts lets you search case details, docket entries, and scheduled hearings without creating an account.Search Ann Arbor Court Records Online
The state's main tool for finding court records is MiCOURT. It covers district, circuit, and probate courts across Michigan and is free to use. For Ann Arbor specifically, you can go directly to the 15th District Court search at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/D15. This lets you filter results to just Ann Arbor cases and reduces the time you spend sorting through results from other parts of Washtenaw County.
The city also maintains its own case search page at a2gov.org/departments/15D. That page provides direct access to 15th District Court records and is helpful when you already know the type of case you're looking for. Both tools show party names, case numbers, filing dates, and case status. They don't always include full documents, but they give you enough detail to know if a record exists and where to get a copy.
The city's online 15th District case search portal at a2gov.org provides a direct view of district-level Ann Arbor court records, including civil infractions and small claims filings.
The 15th District Court online portal is the fastest way to check the status of a case or confirm a filing date without visiting the courthouse in person.
For circuit and probate cases, the Washtenaw Trial Court's name search at washtenaw.org/1031/Name-Search covers the 22nd Circuit and Probate courts. The public access portal at tcweb.ewashtenaw.org/PublicAccess gives you a broader view of all Washtenaw trial court case data, including docket entries and scheduled court dates. Under MCL 15.232, the public has a legal right to inspect and copy public records held by state agencies and courts, which includes most court filings in Ann Arbor.
The Washtenaw Trial Court name search returns results for circuit and probate cases, making it easy to look up family court matters and civil filings not handled by the district court.
Note: Some case records from specialty courts like Mental Health Court may have limited public information due to confidentiality rules under Michigan law.
What Ann Arbor Court Records Include
Court records from Ann Arbor courts can cover a wide range of case types. District court records include civil infractions, traffic violations, small claims judgments, landlord-tenant disputes, and misdemeanor convictions. Circuit court records include felony cases, divorce and child custody matters, large civil suits, and appeals from the district court. Probate records cover wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings.
Each case file typically has the complaint or petition, all motions filed, orders issued by the judge, hearing transcripts (if ordered), and the final judgment or disposition. Transcript copies from Ann Arbor courts are priced at $3.75 per page as of April 2025. Plain copies of documents run $1.00 to $1.50 per page. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page. Under MCR 1.109, courts must maintain records in a way that protects public access while preserving the integrity of the file.
Not every document in a case file is open to the public. Some records are sealed by court order. Others, such as juvenile records, are restricted under Michigan law. The Michigan Constitution, Article 1, Section 23, guarantees the right to access government proceedings and records, but specific statutes and court rules set the limits on that right.
Ann Arbor Court Record Fees
Fees for copies of Ann Arbor court records depend on the court and the type of copy you need. The 15th District Court and the 22nd Circuit Court each set their own copy fees within the ranges allowed by state law.
Standard copy fees at Ann Arbor courts are:
- Plain copies: $1.00 to $1.50 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 plus $1.00 per page
- Transcript copies: $3.75 per page (effective April 2, 2025)
You can pay in person at the clerk's window at the Ann Arbor Justice Center. Call (734) 794-6750 to confirm current fees or ask about the process for ordering copies by mail. The 22nd Circuit Court clerk's office at (734) 222-3001 handles requests for circuit and probate case documents. If you need certified records for a legal proceeding or to use out of state, plan on paying the certified rate. All forms and instructions for court filings in Michigan are available free at courts.michigan.gov/forms.
Note: Fees are set by individual courts and may change. Always call ahead to confirm current copy costs before visiting in person.
Legal Help in Ann Arbor
If you need help understanding or navigating Ann Arbor court records, several local and state resources can assist. The Washtenaw County area has legal aid services, a law school clinic, and online self-help tools for people who want to handle their own cases.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers plain-language guides on court procedures, forms, and how to represent yourself. It covers district, circuit, and probate court matters and explains what records you'll need at each stage. The University of Michigan Law School operates a legal clinic that takes some civil cases. Washtenaw County also has a legal aid office through Legal Services of South Central Michigan. Their number is (734) 665-6181. They help low-income residents with civil matters including cases where court records are needed as evidence.
For electronic filing in Ann Arbor courts, MiFILE is the state's e-filing platform. It lets attorneys and self-represented parties submit documents, pay fees, and receive court notices online. More courts are adopting MiFILE each year. You can also get free forms at courts.michigan.gov/forms.
Washtenaw County Court Records
Ann Arbor is the county seat of Washtenaw County. All circuit and probate filings for Ann Arbor go through the Washtenaw County court system. For a full list of county court offices, fee schedules, contact details, and additional search options, visit the Washtenaw County court records page.
Nearby Cities
Looking for court records in other Michigan cities? These nearby qualifying cities also have dedicated court records pages.