Search Kalamazoo Court Records
Kalamazoo court records come from two main courts: the 8th District Court and the 9th Circuit Court, both located in Kalamazoo County. You can search case data online through MiCOURT or the county's own portal, request copies in person, or look up docket entries without ever visiting the courthouse. This guide covers where to search, what records are available, and what you need to know before you start.
Kalamazoo Overview
Courts Serving Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo has two main trial courts plus a probate court. The 8th District Court handles lower-level civil and criminal matters. The 9th Circuit Court takes felony cases, large civil suits, and family law. Both courts sit close to downtown and share some online search tools through the county's web portal.
The 8th District Court has two locations. The main courthouse is at 150 E. Crosstown Parkway and handles most civil filings, landlord-tenant cases, and misdemeanor matters. A north branch at 330 Eleanor Street serves some parts of the county. Both locations are open Monday through Friday. The main branch closes at 4:30 PM; the north branch stays open until 5:00 PM. You can reach the main branch at (269) 383-8938 and the north branch at (269) 384-8171.
District court jurisdiction covers civil cases up to $25,000, small claims up to $6,500, traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal matters, and landlord-tenant disputes. If your case involves a felony, a civil claim over $25,000, or a family law issue like divorce or custody, it will go through the 9th Circuit Court instead.
| 8th District Court (Main) | 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 |
|---|---|
| Phone (Main) | (269) 383-8938 |
| Hours (Main) | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| 8th District Court (North) | 330 Eleanor St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 |
| Phone (North) | (269) 384-8171 |
| Hours (North) | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| 9th Circuit Court | 227 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 | (269) 383-8837 |
| Circuit Fax | (269) 383-8864 |
| Circuit Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Probate Court | 1536 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048 | (269) 383-8666 |
| County Clerk | 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue, Room 104 | (269) 383-8840 |
The 9th Circuit Court sits at 227 W. Michigan Avenue and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, family law matters, and civil cases above the district court threshold. A law library is available on the second floor of the same building, reached at (269) 383-8920. Under MCR 8.119, all court records in Michigan are presumed open to the public unless a specific rule or statute says otherwise.
The Friend of the Court office handles family support and parenting time matters tied to 9th Circuit cases. You can reach them toll-free at 1-877-543-2660 or by email at FOC@kalcounty.com. As of June 12, 2025, mandatory e-filing applies to most case types in Kalamazoo courts, so new filings go through the state's MiFILE system rather than by paper at the clerk's window.
Kalamazoo also has several problem-solving courts. These include Drug Court, Veterans Treatment Court, and Mental Health Court. Cases in these programs can have longer timelines and different record structures than standard criminal cases. If you're searching for records tied to a specialty court case, you may need to contact the court directly to get full details.
Search Kalamazoo Court Records Online
The main tool for searching Kalamazoo court records is MiCOURT, the state's free public case search system. It covers district, circuit, and probate courts across Michigan. For Kalamazoo specifically, you can go directly to the 8th District Court search at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/D08 to limit results to that court.
The Kalamazoo County website also has a courts portal at kalcounty.com/courts that links to both the 8th District and the 9th Circuit. Direct pages for each court are at kalcounty.gov/529/8th-District-Court and kalcounty.gov/467/9th-Circuit-Court. These pages have contact info, forms, and links to online search tools. Under MCL 15.232, the public has a legal right to inspect and copy records held by government agencies and courts in Michigan.
The Kalamazoo County courts portal at kalcounty.com is a good starting point for finding local case data, court contact info, and links to online search tools for both the district and circuit courts.
The county courts page gives you direct links to court-specific resources, including the MiCOURT search portal and contact details for the clerk's office at each court.
MiCOURT shows party names, case numbers, filing dates, hearing dates, and case status for most open and closed cases. It does not always include full scanned documents, but it gives you enough detail to confirm a case exists and identify which court holds the file. Under MCR 1.109, courts must maintain case records in a standard format that supports public access. If you need the actual documents, you can request copies from the clerk's office at the relevant court.
For attorneys and self-represented parties who need to file documents, MiFILE is the state's mandatory e-filing system. As of June 12, 2025, most Kalamazoo courts require new filings to go through MiFILE rather than paper submission. This system also allows you to view documents in cases where you are a party of record. For family law cases, the Friend of the Court uses a separate tracking system, but docket entries still appear in MiCOURT.
What Kalamazoo Court Records Include
Court records from Kalamazoo courts cover a range of case types depending on which court handled the matter. District court files include traffic violations, civil infractions, small claims judgments, landlord-tenant decisions, and misdemeanor criminal cases. Circuit court records include felony cases, divorce decrees, child custody orders, large civil suits, and appeals from district court. Probate records cover wills, estates, guardianship appointments, and mental health proceedings.
Each case file typically contains the complaint or initial petition, all motions and responses, court orders, any hearing transcripts that were prepared, and the final judgment or disposition. Not every document is available online. Some records are sealed by court order. Juvenile records are restricted under state law. Mental health court case records may have limited public information due to confidentiality protections. Under MCR 1.109, courts must balance public access with the need to protect certain sensitive records. If you're not sure whether a record is public, you can contact the clerk's office and ask before making the trip in person.
Civil filing fees at the 8th District Court are tiered by claim amount. Cases up to $600 cost $35 to file. Claims between $600 and $1,750 cost $55. Cases from $1,750 to $10,000 cost $75. Cases from $10,000 to $25,000 cost $150. Circuit court civil filings cost $150. These amounts apply to new case filings and do not include fees for motions or copies. Under MCL 600.880b, the court may waive fees for parties who qualify based on income.
Kalamazoo Court Record Fees
Copy fees in Kalamazoo courts follow standard Michigan rates. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page. If you need a transcript of a court hearing, transcript copy fees are set at $3.75 per page. These rates apply at both the 8th District Court and the 9th Circuit Court.
- Plain copies: $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 plus $1.00 per page
- Transcript copies: $3.75 per page
- 8th District civil filing (up to $600): $35
- 8th District civil filing ($600 to $1,750): $55
- 8th District civil filing ($1,750 to $10,000): $75
- 8th District civil filing ($10,000 to $25,000): $150
- 9th Circuit civil filing: $150
You can pay at the clerk's window at any Kalamazoo court location. Call ahead to confirm current fees before making the trip. The 8th District Court main branch is at (269) 383-8938 and the circuit court clerk is at (269) 383-8837. All Michigan court forms are available free at courts.michigan.gov/forms. Fee waiver requests are available for those who qualify under MCL 600.880b.
Legal Help in Kalamazoo
Several resources are available if you need help with Kalamazoo court records or the courts themselves. These include legal aid organizations, self-help tools, and the court's own law library.
The Kalamazoo County Law Library is on the second floor of the 9th Circuit Court building at 227 W. Michigan Avenue. Call (269) 383-8920 for hours and access. The library has legal reference books, court rules, and self-help materials. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free plain-language guides on a wide range of court matters, from small claims to family law. You can find forms, step-by-step instructions, and info on how to represent yourself in Michigan courts. The site also has a court locator that helps you confirm which court handles your type of case.
Legal aid services in the Kalamazoo area include Southwestern Michigan Legal Services, which helps low-income residents with civil cases. The Friend of the Court toll-free line at 1-877-543-2660 handles questions about family support and parenting time orders. For e-filing, use MiFILE to submit documents and pay fees electronically. Free forms for all Michigan courts are available at courts.michigan.gov/forms.
Kalamazoo County Court Records
Kalamazoo is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. Circuit and probate filings for the city run through the Kalamazoo County court system. For a full list of county court offices, fee schedules, contact info, and additional search options, visit the county court records page.
Nearby Cities
Looking for court records in other Michigan cities? These nearby qualifying cities also have dedicated court records pages.