Find Court Records in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids court records are filed at the 61st District Court and the 17th Circuit Court, both located at 180 Ottawa Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. Kent County also has a Probate Court at the same address. Court records for Grand Rapids are open to the public under state law, and most cases can be searched online or in person at the courthouse.
Grand Rapids Overview
Courts Serving Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is served by three courts at 180 Ottawa Ave. NW. The 61st District Court handles civil cases under $25,000, small claims under $7,000, misdemeanor criminal cases, landlord/tenant cases, land contract forfeitures, and felony arraignments and preliminary exams. The court has six judges and one full-time magistrate. It serves cases filed within Grand Rapids city limits only. For cases in other parts of Kent County, the 63rd District Court at (616) 632-7770 handles those matters.
The 17th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases above district court limits, and a full family division. The family division at (616) 632-5120 covers divorce, custody, support, adoptions, and juvenile matters. The circuit court also has a Business Court for commercial litigation and a Treatment and Support Court (TASC) program. Kent County Probate Court at (616) 632-5440 handles estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. Probate Court judges are Hon. David M. Murkowski and Hon. Avery D. Rose.
| Court | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61st District Court | 180 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | (616) 632-5700 | M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm (counter until 4:30pm) |
| 17th Circuit Court | 180 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | (616) 632-5220 | M-F (contact for hours) |
| Kent County Probate Court | 180 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | (616) 632-5440 | M-F (contact for hours) |
The 61st District Court also takes walk-in arraignments Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 AM and 1:30 to 3:30 PM. The court can be emailed at contact@grcourt.org. Additional contacts include the Friend of the Court at (616) 632-6888, the Prosecutor's Office at (616) 632-6710, and the Public Defender at (616) 632-7587.
The screenshot below shows the 17th Circuit Court and Kent County court records portal at kentcountymi.gov, where you can search cases, find court contacts, and access division-specific information.
The Kent County government site lists all courts, contact numbers, and links to the probate case search, court forms, and other resources.
Search Grand Rapids Court Records Online
Grand Rapids court records can be searched online through several portals. The statewide MiCOURT system at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ covers 61st District Court cases and many circuit court filings. You can search by name or case number. Results show party names, filing dates, docket entries, and case status. This system is free and does not require an account.
Kent County runs its own court records search at kentcountymi.gov. This portal covers circuit and probate court cases filed in Kent County. For probate records specifically, go to kentcountymi.gov/probate, where you can search active estates, view hearing schedules, and access forms. The probate court uses Zoom video conferencing for virtual courtroom hearings, and hearing schedules are posted online. The 61st District Court site at grcourt.org also has case search tools and a full list of court procedures.
Under MCL 15.232, you have the right to inspect public court records. Under MCR 8.119, court clerks must keep records and make them available during business hours. Grand Rapids court records are public unless a judge has specifically ordered them sealed.
The screenshot below shows the Kent County court records search portal at kentcountymi.gov, which covers circuit and probate court case lookups for Grand Rapids and the surrounding area.
The Kent County portal lets you search by name or case number, view hearing schedules, and find court contact numbers for each division.
Note: For electronic filing in Grand Rapids, use MiFILE at mifile.courts.michigan.gov/. The Grand Rapids city page for the 61st District Court is also available at grandrapidsmi.gov.
What Grand Rapids Court Records Contain
Grand Rapids court records include a wide range of case documents. District court records from the 61st District Court contain misdemeanor charges, arraignment details, bond terms, sentencing orders, civil judgments, and small claims results. Civil jurisdiction at the 61st District Court goes up to $25,000. Small claims cases top out at $7,000. Landlord/tenant case files show eviction filings, hearings, and outcomes.
Circuit court records from the 17th Circuit Court include felony criminal filings, trial transcripts, sentencing documents, civil pleadings, and family law orders. The family division handles divorce, custody, child support, adoptions, and juvenile matters. Those records may have restricted access depending on the case type. Probate records from Kent County Probate Court include estate inventories, wills admitted to probate, guardianship and conservatorship orders, and name change petitions.
Under MCR 1.109, Michigan courts must maintain records in a standard format and keep them accessible. Michigan Constitution Article 1, Section 23 also requires courts to stay open and available. These rules back up the public's right to view Grand Rapids court filings. Records that are sealed by court order or protected by statute are not available to the public.
Fees and Copy Costs
Copy fees for Grand Rapids court records vary by court and document type. The 61st District Court and 17th Circuit Court each maintain their own fee schedules. Plain copies cost less than certified copies. Certified copies require a clerk's attestation that the document is a true reproduction of the original, which adds to the cost.
The Kent County Probate Court uses an online inventory fee calculator for estate-related costs. Probate fees are based on the value of the estate and the type of proceeding. The fee calculator is available at kentcountymi.gov/probate. For other fee questions, call the 61st District Court at (616) 632-5700, the circuit court administrator at (616) 632-5137, or the probate court at (616) 632-5440. Court forms are free to download at courts.michigan.gov/forms/.
One Grand Rapids-specific fee to know: landlord/tenant cases where the plaintiff wants a second copy of the summons sent by USPS now require a DC 536 form and a $13 fee. This rule took effect January 1, 2024, when the court stopped sending courtesy copies automatically.
Legal Help in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has strong legal help resources for people navigating the court system. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has plain-language guides for civil, criminal, family, and housing cases. The site walks you through how to search court records, understand case types, and file papers on your own. It is free to use and covers Kent County courts.
Kent County courts also offer several support services. The Friend of the Court at (616) 632-6888 helps with child support and custody matters. The Public Defender at (616) 632-7587 serves people who qualify for appointed counsel. The Victim/Witness Unit at (616) 632-5400 assists crime victims in navigating the court process. For civil cases, the court clerk can tell you which forms you need, though staff cannot give legal advice.
The 17th Circuit Court runs a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program and a Treatment and Support Court for people with substance use issues. The Adolescent Sexual Offender Treatment Program and Crisis Intervention Program are additional specialty services at (616) 632-5861. The court also has alternative dispute resolution options and a community corrections program. These resources show that Grand Rapids courts offer more than just case processing. They connect people to services that can affect outcomes.
All court forms for Michigan are available free at courts.michigan.gov/forms/. The Michigan courts portal at courts.michigan.gov also has self-help guides and links to statewide legal resources.
Kent County Court Records
Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County. All circuit, probate, and district court records for the city fall under the Kent County court system. For full county-level information including courthouse details, fee schedules, and online access tools, visit the Kent County court records page.
Nearby Cities
Wyoming is a qualifying city near Grand Rapids and has its own court records page. It is served by the Kent County court system as well.