Livonia Court Records
Livonia court records come from two courts: the 16th District Court, which sits inside the city and serves only Livonia, and the 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit, which handles felony and family law cases for all of Wayne County. You can search records online, request copies in person at the courthouse, or use MiCOURT to look up cases without leaving home. This page covers what is available, how to get it, and what to expect along the way.
Livonia Overview
Courts Serving Livonia
Livonia has its own district court, which is uncommon for a city of its size. The 16th District Court operates exclusively for the city of Livonia and handles all district-level case types: misdemeanors, traffic offenses, civil infractions, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters. The 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit handles felony cases, divorce, child custody, and large civil suits for all of Wayne County, including Livonia.
| Court | 16th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 32765 Five Mile Road Livonia, MI 48154 |
| Phone | (734) 466-2500 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Circuit Court | 3rd Circuit Court, 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit | (313) 224-6262 |
The 16th District Court at Five Mile Road is where you go for all district-level Livonia case records. The clerk's office handles copy requests, case status checks, and docket lookups for misdemeanor, civil, and traffic cases. Because the court serves only Livonia, searches are more targeted and faster to process than courts covering multiple communities. The clerk can also help you determine whether your case falls under the district court's jurisdiction or whether it was transferred to circuit court.
The 16th District Court maintains its own online presence at 16thdistrictcourt.com. That site has court hours, forms, and instructions for common filings. It is worth checking before you visit or call. Under MCR 8.119, court records are open to the public by default, and the court is required to assist with reasonable access requests.
The 16th District Court's official website at 16thdistrictcourt.com lists current court hours, forms, and contact details for Livonia district court matters.
The 16th District Court site gives you direct access to Livonia-specific court information, including how to request records and pay fees for copies.
Search Livonia Court Records Online
There are three main ways to search Livonia court records online. The first is MiCOURT, the free statewide case search tool that covers both the 16th District Court and the 3rd Circuit Court. You can search by name or case number and see basic case data including party names, filing dates, charges, and dispositions. No account is needed.
The second option is the 16th District Court's own site at 16thdistrictcourt.com. This court-specific resource is useful for Livonia-only searches and often has more current information than statewide aggregators. For circuit court records, the 3rd Circuit Court portal at 3rdcc.org covers Wayne County circuit cases including family division matters and major civil filings.
The city of Livonia also maintains a general government portal at livonia.gov with links to court-related services and local government resources. The Livonia city site is a good starting point if you are not sure which court handled a particular case or where to direct a request.
The Livonia city homepage at livonia.gov provides access to local government services including links relevant to Livonia court records searches.
The Livonia city portal connects residents to local services, including court-related links and contact information for the 16th District Court.
Under MCL 15.232, you have the legal right to inspect and copy public records held by state and local government bodies, including courts. Under MCL 600.880b, electronic court records must also be accessible to the public subject to the rules set by the court. Most records in MiCOURT are available within days of filing.
The 3rd Circuit Court portal at 3rdcc.org provides Wayne County circuit case data, including Livonia felony and family law matters, in one searchable interface.
The 3rd Circuit Court portal covers circuit-level case data for Livonia residents, including felony dispositions, divorce filings, and civil judgments handled in Wayne County.
Under MCR 1.109, courts must maintain records in a standard format that supports public access. If an online search does not return a result, that doesn't always mean the record doesn't exist. Older records and sealed cases may not appear online, and a call to the clerk at (734) 466-2500 can often resolve the question faster than additional searching.
What Livonia Court Records Include
Court records from Livonia cases vary by case type. District court files include traffic violations and civil infractions, misdemeanor charges and outcomes, small claims judgments, and landlord-tenant orders. Circuit court records include felony cases and sentencing, divorce and child custody matters, personal injury suits, and civil cases above the district court limit.
Each case file typically contains the original complaint or petition, all motions and oppositions, orders from the judge, and the final disposition. If a transcript was prepared from a hearing, it becomes part of the official record. Not everything is open to the public. Juvenile records are restricted under Michigan law. Sealed records and mental health cases are also not publicly accessible. When you request a file, the clerk will let you know which parts are available.
Online searches return case index data, which is enough to confirm a case exists and get the case number. To get the actual documents, you need to contact the 16th District Court clerk at (734) 466-2500 or, for circuit matters, the 3rd Circuit Court at (313) 224-6262. Under MCR 1.109 and MCL 600.880b, courts are required to maintain and provide access to court records in both paper and electronic form as permitted by the applicable rules.
Court Record Copy Fees
Copy fees at Livonia-area courts follow the standard Michigan schedule. Both the 16th District Court and the 3rd Circuit Court set their own exact rates within limits set by state law.
Typical copy fees:
- 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 16th District Court at (734) 466-2500 to confirm current fees before you visit. Mail requests are usually accepted with a prepaid return envelope and a check or money order. Certified copies are required for use in legal proceedings, background checks, or out-of-state purposes. Free Michigan court forms are available at courts.michigan.gov/forms. The court fee schedule page at Michigan Courts also lists standard copy rates and explains what types of records carry different fees.
Legal Help in Livonia
If you need help navigating Livonia court records or court procedures, several resources are available locally and statewide.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is the top free resource for residents handling their own cases. The site explains how to search for records, what different case types mean, and what steps to take at each stage of a proceeding. The guides cover Wayne County courts including the 16th District Court and the 3rd Circuit Court, and they are written in plain language that doesn't require a legal background.
Wayne County has civil legal aid services for low-income residents. The 16th District Court also operates under MCR 8.119, which requires it to provide public access to court records and assist with basic access requests. For electronic filings, MiFILE is the state platform used by attorneys and self-represented parties in Wayne County courts. Livonia residents can use it to submit documents and track filings online. Free court forms and filing instructions are at courts.michigan.gov/forms.
Wayne County Court Records
Livonia is part of Wayne County. All circuit court filings, felony cases, and family law matters for Livonia residents go through the Wayne County court system in Detroit. For a complete list of county court offices, contact numbers, fee information, and 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.