Find Court Records in Westland
Westland court records are filed with the 18th District Court on Ford Road and the 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit, both of which serve this Wayne County city. You can search case data online through MiCOURT, the Wayne County public access portal, or the city of Westland's website. This page explains what courts serve Westland, how to find records online, and what to do if you need copies of specific case documents.
Westland Overview
Courts Serving Westland
The 18th District Court at 36675 Ford Road handles all district-level matters for the city of Westland only. That includes traffic cases, civil infractions, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and misdemeanor criminal charges. Felonies and larger civil cases go to the 3rd Circuit Court in downtown Detroit, which covers all of Wayne County. The 3rd Circuit is one of the busiest trial courts in Michigan and handles a high volume of family law, criminal, and civil cases each year.
| Court | 18th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 36675 Ford Road Westland, MI 48185 |
| Phone | (734) 595-8720 |
| Serves | City of Westland only |
| Circuit Court | 3rd Circuit Court, 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit | (313) 224-6262 |
The 18th District Court uses govpaynow.com for online payment of fines and fees. If you received a citation or have a balance due, you can pay through that system without going to the courthouse. The court also runs a Sobriety Court program for cases involving substance use, which can affect case timelines and what records look like in the public system. Warrant-related matters have a specific email contact procedure at the 18th District Court. If you're trying to find out about a warrant, call the court directly at (734) 595-8720 rather than showing up unannounced.
Under MCR 8.119, court records in Michigan are open to the public by default. The clerk must allow inspection of any file that isn't sealed or restricted by statute. Most Westland district court records fall into the open category and can be viewed at the counter during regular court hours.
Search Westland Court Records Online
The main tool for searching Westland court records is MiCOURT, the state's free case search system. It covers district, circuit, and probate courts statewide and lets you search by name, case number, or date range. For Westland cases at the district court level, filtering by court will help you pull up results faster. MiCOURT is free and does not need an account.
The Wayne County public access portal at cmspublic.3rdcc.org is the place to look for circuit court records tied to Westland residents. This covers felony cases, family court matters, and civil suits that ended up at the 3rd Circuit Court level. It's a separate system from MiCOURT, so you may need to check both if you're not sure which court handled a particular case. The city of Westland's website at cityofwestland.com also links to court-related resources for local residents.
The Westland city website links to the 18th District Court and provides contact information and local resources for residents searching court records or paying fines.
The city of Westland's homepage is a good starting point for finding the 18th District Court's contact page and online payment options through govpaynow.com.
Under MCL 15.232, the public has the right to inspect and copy public records held by state bodies, including courts. This means you don't need to explain why you want a record. You just need to ask. For records that aren't available online, call the 18th District Court at (734) 595-8720 or the 3rd Circuit Court clerk at (313) 224-6262 to ask about in-person or mail requests. Court records must be maintained in a format that protects access under MCR 1.109.
The Michigan Courts site at courts.michigan.gov is the hub for MiCOURT access and links to court search tools for Westland and other Michigan cities.
What Westland Court Records Include
Court records from the 18th District Court cover traffic citations, civil infractions, small claims judgments, landlord-tenant case outcomes, and misdemeanor convictions. Each record typically includes the case number, the parties involved, the charge or claim, key dates, and the final outcome or disposition. Circuit court records from the 3rd Circuit include felony convictions, divorce decrees, child custody and support orders, civil judgments over $25,000, and appeals from the district court.
A Westland court record can show whether a judgment was paid, whether a case was dismissed, and whether any appeals were filed. For cases handled through the Sobriety Court program at the 18th District, records may reflect ongoing compliance requirements or program completion. These specialty docket records are generally public but may show less detail than a standard criminal case file. Under MCR 8.119, all case records that are not sealed must be available for public inspection at the courthouse.
Family court records at the 3rd Circuit level include divorce filings, parenting time orders, personal protection orders, and adoptions. Some of these records, especially those involving children, have partial restrictions on what parts of the file are public. Even so, the basic case information, including the fact that a case was filed and its current status, is almost always viewable. Under MCL 600.880b, courts may charge for copies but must provide access to any non-restricted record upon request.
Westland Court Record Fees
The 18th District Court and the 3rd Circuit Court both charge standard Michigan copy fees for court record requests. Fees may vary slightly between the two courts.
Typical copy fees at Westland courts include:
- Plain copies: $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 plus $1.00 per page
- Online fine payments: processed through govpaynow.com
For fines and fees related to citations or court orders, the 18th District Court uses govpaynow.com, which is a third-party payment processor. That platform may add a service charge. To pay in person or by check, go to 36675 Ford Road during court hours. For questions about copy fees, call (734) 595-8720. For 3rd Circuit records, the clerk's office in Detroit at (313) 224-6262 can confirm current rates. Free forms for filing court documents in Michigan are at courts.michigan.gov/forms.
Note: Fee amounts are set by each court and can change. Confirm current costs before making a trip to the courthouse or sending a mail request.
Legal Help in Westland
If you need help navigating Westland court records or court procedures, Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is a good place to start. The site has plain-language guides covering district and circuit court processes, how to request records, and how to handle your own case without a lawyer. It covers Wayne County courts including the 18th District and 3rd Circuit.
Wayne County has several legal aid organizations for residents who can't afford an attorney. Legal Aid and Defender Association in Detroit handles some civil matters. Michigan Advocacy Program and Lakeshore Legal Aid both serve the Wayne County area. The State Bar of Michigan's lawyer referral service at michbar.org can connect you with an attorney for a low-cost initial consultation. For self-represented parties, the 3rd Circuit Court has a self-help center at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit that can answer general questions about court procedures.
Electronic filing in Michigan courts is done through MiFILE. The platform lets you file documents, track your submissions, and receive electronic notices. It's the standard for most civil filings in Michigan courts. Forms are free at courts.michigan.gov/forms.
Wayne County Court Records
Westland is in Wayne County. All circuit and probate court filings for Westland cases go through the Wayne County court system, including the 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit. For a full list of county court offices, contact information, and additional search options, visit the Wayne County court records page.
Nearby Cities
Looking for court records in other Wayne County cities near Westland? These nearby qualifying cities also have dedicated court records pages.