Find Court Records in Lansing
Lansing court records come from three main courts: the 54A District Court, the 55th District Court, and the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County. As Michigan's state capital, Lansing has a large court system with significant case volume. You can search most Lansing court records online for free through the Ingham Courts portal or MiCOURT. This guide covers where records are held, how to search them, and how to get copies.
Lansing Overview
Courts Serving Lansing
Lansing is served by multiple courts because different case types route to different jurisdictions. The 54A District Court at 124 W. Michigan Ave. handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and civil matters up to $25,000. The 30th Circuit Court, located at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse at 313 W. Kalamazoo, handles felonies, major civil suits, and family law cases. A third court, the 55th District Court, sits at 700 N. Clippert and serves the eastern portion of Ingham County near East Lansing and Meridian Township.
| Court | 54A District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 124 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Phone | (517) 483-6400 |
| Circuit Court | 30th Circuit Court, 313 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing | (517) 483-6500 |
| 55th District | 700 N. Clippert, Lansing | (517) 676-8400 |
| County Clerk | Barb Byrum, (517) 676-7201 |
The 30th Circuit Court handles the most serious Lansing cases and maintains the largest volume of public court records. Family law matters such as divorce, custody, and paternity go through the circuit court. Felony cases that started as district court arraignments move up to circuit once the preliminary examination is complete. The Ingham County Clerk, Barb Byrum, maintains the official court records for circuit court filings and can be reached at (517) 676-7201. Her office holds the official record for all civil and criminal circuit cases in Lansing and the surrounding Ingham County area.
The 54B District Court in Mason at 101 E. Maple St. also serves parts of Ingham County outside Lansing city limits. If your case involves a Lansing address but the filing is through a township, it may be at 54B rather than 54A. Knowing which court has your case saves time when you call to ask about records.
Lansing Court Records Online
The primary online tool for Lansing court records is the Ingham Courts record search at courts.ingham.org/CourtRecordSearch. This portal covers both district and circuit court filings in Ingham County and lets you search by name or case number. Results show party names, case type, filing date, and docket activity. It is free to use and requires no login. For cases from the state capital's court system, this is the most direct path to finding Lansing court records without going to the courthouse.
The Ingham Courts main site at courts.ingham.org provides broader information about court locations, schedules, and services. From that page you can navigate to specific courts and find contact details for each division.
The Ingham Courts website is the central hub for finding court records in Lansing, with links to the record search portal and court location information.
The state's MiCOURT system also covers Lansing courts and is useful when you're not sure which specific court filed a case. MiCOURT lets you search across all Michigan courts from a single portal and filter by case type or court. Under MCL 15.232, you have the right to inspect and copy public court records, and MiCOURT is one of the main tools the state provides to make that access easier.
The Ingham Courts record search at courts.ingham.org gives direct access to Lansing case filings by name or case number at no cost.
Note: PPO (Personal Protection Order) records are not available online through Ingham County's portal. If you need PPO records, you must contact the court clerk directly at (517) 483-6500.
For a general view of Lansing and its government services, the city's official homepage at lansingmi.gov links to court schedules and city-related legal notices.
The Lansing city website at lansingmi.gov connects residents to local services and court schedules, making it a good first stop when you're not sure where to begin.
What Lansing Court Records Include
Court records from Lansing's district and circuit courts cover a wide range of case types. District court records include traffic citations, parking violations, civil infractions, misdemeanor charges, small claims filings, and landlord-tenant cases. Circuit court records include felony cases, divorce and custody proceedings, civil suits over $25,000, and appeals from district court. Probate court records cover wills, estate cases, guardianships, and mental health commitments.
Each case file contains the complaint or petition, any motions filed, all orders and judgments, and hearing or trial transcripts if ordered. Most of this material is public under Michigan law. The Michigan Constitution, Article 1, Section 23, guarantees access to public records and proceedings. MCR 8.119 sets the standards for how courts must manage and provide access to case files. The public access portal gives you docket-level information. If you want full documents, you typically need to request them from the clerk's office in person or by mail.
Some records are not public. Juvenile cases are sealed. Certain mental health proceedings are confidential. Courts can also seal records by order in specific cases. If you search online and see no results, it may mean the case doesn't exist, was filed in a different court, or was sealed.
Fees for Lansing Court Records
Standard Michigan copy fees apply at Lansing courts. You pay when you request copies from the clerk's office, not when you search online. Online searches through MiCOURT and the Ingham Courts portal are free.
When you need actual document copies from Lansing courts, expect these standard fees:
- Plain document copies: set by individual court, typically $1.00-$2.00 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 plus per-page charge
- Electronic filing via MiFILE: fees vary by document type
Call the 54A District Court at (517) 483-6400 or the 30th Circuit Court at (517) 483-6500 to get exact current fees before visiting. The Ingham County Clerk at (517) 676-7201 handles requests for circuit court records specifically. All Michigan court forms are available free through courts.michigan.gov/forms. For electronic filing, MiFILE is available to attorneys and self-represented parties who want to submit documents and pay fees online.
Legal Help in Lansing
Several organizations in the Lansing area help residents navigate court records and legal proceedings. If you're looking for help with a case or just trying to understand your rights, these resources are a good place to start.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has plain-English guides covering district court, circuit court, and probate matters statewide. It covers how to search records, how to file pro se, and how to read court documents. Legal Services of South Central Michigan serves the Ingham County area and provides free legal help to qualifying residents. They can assist with civil matters, family law, and cases where access to court records is part of the issue. The State Bar of Michigan also has a lawyer referral program for residents who need a paid attorney. You can search by practice area and location on their website at michbar.org.
For general court information including forms, rules, and statewide resources, courts.michigan.gov is the official portal for the Michigan court system. It lists contact information for all courts in Lansing and links to the tools you need to search records, file documents, and understand the process.
Ingham County Court Records
Lansing is the county seat of Ingham County. Circuit court and probate filings for Lansing go through the Ingham County court system. For a complete list of court offices, addresses, fees, and additional search tools for all of Ingham County, visit the county records page below.
Nearby Cities
These Michigan cities also have dedicated court records pages.