Canton Township Court Records Search
Canton Township court records are held by the 35th District Court in Plymouth and the 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit, both of which serve this Wayne County community. You can search cases online through MiCOURT or the Wayne County Circuit Court portal, request copies in person, or get them by mail. This guide covers every step of the process so you can find what you need without guessing.
Canton Township Overview
Courts Serving Canton Township
Canton Township is served by two main courts. The 35th District Court in Plymouth handles misdemeanors, civil infractions, traffic violations, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. It serves Canton, Plymouth, and Northville. The 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit handles felony cases, divorce and family law, major civil suits, and appeals from district courts across Wayne County.
| Court | 35th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 660 Plymouth Road Plymouth, MI 48170 |
| Phone | (734) 459-4740 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Circuit Court | 3rd Circuit Court, 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit | (313) 224-6262 |
The 35th District Court is located in Plymouth, not in Canton itself, but it is the court that handles all district-level matters for Canton Township residents. If you got a traffic ticket in Canton, were charged with a misdemeanor, or filed a small claims case involving a Canton address, the 35th District Court clerk at 660 Plymouth Road is where you need to go. The clerk's office can confirm case status, pull docket entries, and process copy requests for district court files.
For felony cases, family law matters, or large civil suits, all Wayne County residents go through the 3rd Circuit Court in downtown Detroit. That court also handles probate cases through its family division. The circuit clerk's office at 2 Woodward Ave. processes record requests for those case types. Under MCR 8.119, court records are presumed open to the public unless restricted by a specific rule or court order. The Michigan Courts state directory at courts.michigan.gov has current contact information for both courts.
The Michigan Courts homepage lists all active courts statewide and is a reliable place to verify court addresses and hours before visiting.
Search Canton Township Court Records Online
The easiest way to start is with MiCOURT, the state's free public case search tool. MiCOURT covers both the 35th District Court and the 3rd Circuit Court. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show party names, case type, filing date, and current status. You don't need to create an account or pay to search.
The 3rd Circuit Court also has its own online portal at 3rdcc.org. That site has additional tools specific to Wayne County circuit cases, including family division records and civil case lookups. If you are searching for divorce, custody, or probate records tied to Canton Township residents, the Wayne County Circuit portal may return more detail than MiCOURT alone.
Under MCL 15.232, anyone has the right to inspect and copy public records held by government bodies, including courts. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The courts are required to make them available within a reasonable time. For digital access, MCL 600.880b covers the rules around electronic court record access, including what the public can view and what fees can be charged for copies in digital format.
For older records that predate MiCOURT's online index, you may need to visit the clerk's office in person. Staff at the 35th District Court can run name searches on their internal systems and pull case numbers for records that don't appear in the public search tool. Under MCR 1.109, courts must maintain records in a consistent format that supports public access.
Michigan's court fee schedule shows what copy and certification fees apply at district and circuit courts, including those serving Canton Township.
What Canton Township Court Records Include
Court records from Canton Township cases can cover many different things. District court files include traffic tickets and civil infractions, misdemeanor charges and dispositions, small claims judgments, and landlord-tenant orders. Circuit court records cover felony charges, divorce and child support matters, personal injury lawsuits, and major contract disputes.
Each case file has the complaint or petition, all motions, any orders issued by the judge, and the final judgment. Transcripts of hearings, if requested and prepared, are also part of the file. Some records are not open. Juvenile records are restricted by Michigan law. Certain civil files can be sealed by order of the court. Mental health and adoption records have their own rules. The clerk will tell you what is available when you make a request.
The online search tools show case index data, not full documents. To get actual copies of filings, you need to contact the 35th District Court clerk at (734) 459-4740 or the 3rd Circuit Court clerk at (313) 224-6262. Under MCR 1.109, courts must keep records in a way that allows the public to find and view them. Under MCL 600.880b, electronic records must also be accessible to the public within the boundaries set by the court's rules.
Court Record Copy Fees
Copy fees at Wayne County courts generally follow the standard Michigan schedule. Each court sets its own exact rates within limits set by state law.
Common copy fees at Canton-area courts:
- Plain copies: $1.00 to $1.50 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 plus $1.00 per page
- Transcript copies: $3.75 per page
Call the 35th District Court at (734) 459-4740 or the 3rd Circuit Court at (313) 224-6262 before you visit to confirm the current fee schedule. Some records requests can be handled by mail, but you will need to include a check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you need certified copies for a legal proceeding, background check, or out-of-state use, plan on paying the certified rate. Free court forms for self-represented filers are available at courts.michigan.gov/forms.
Legal Help in Canton Township
A few resources can help Canton Township residents who need assistance with court records or court procedures.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is the best free starting point. The site has plain-language guides on how to search records, file documents, and represent yourself in district and circuit court. It covers both Wayne County and state procedures. The guides are specific enough to walk you through most routine requests step by step.
Wayne County has legal aid services through the Wayne County Legal Aid office. You can also get free legal forms and filing instructions at courts.michigan.gov/forms. For electronic filing, MiFILE is the state's e-filing system used by attorneys and self-represented filers in Wayne County courts. The 35th District Court staff at (734) 459-4740 can answer basic access questions, though they cannot give legal advice. Under MCR 8.119, the public can view court records without explaining why, and court staff must assist with basic access requests within the rules.
Wayne County Court Records
Canton Township is part of Wayne County. All circuit court filings and felony cases for Canton Township residents go through the Wayne County court system based in Detroit. For a full list of county court offices, contact details, fee schedules, and additional search tools, visit the Wayne County court records page.
Nearby Cities
Looking for court records in other nearby Michigan cities? These qualifying cities also have dedicated court records pages.