Monroe County Court Records Search
Monroe County court records are held at the courthouse at 106 E. First Street in Monroe, where the 14th Circuit Court, the 1st District Court, and the Probate Court all operate. You can search Monroe County court records online through MiCOURT or visit the clerk's office in person for case files, certified copies, and full docket information. With a county population of around 155,000, Monroe handles a significant volume of civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases each year, and most of those records are open to the public.
Monroe County Overview
Monroe County Courts and Clerk
All three courts in Monroe County operate from the courthouse at 106 E. First Street in Monroe. The 14th Circuit Court covers only Monroe County and handles felony criminal cases, civil suits over $25,000, family law matters including divorce and child custody, and juvenile cases in the family division. The 1st District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, civil claims under $25,000, and small claims. The Probate Court manages estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings. Each court keeps its own set of files, but they all work from the same building.
The County Clerk's office at 106 E. First Street is the main contact point for court records requests. You can reach the clerk at (734) 240-7321. The clerk processes document requests, issues certified copies, and holds records across all court divisions. Under MCL 15.232, public records in Michigan are open to any person, and the clerk must respond to a written request within five business days. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or by phone for basic information. Have the case number or party names ready when you call.
Michigan Court Rule 8.119 sets the statewide standards for how courts manage case files, filing procedures, and public access. All Monroe County courts follow these rules, so the process works the same way here as it does in any other Michigan county. Monroe County sits between Toledo, Ohio and the Detroit metropolitan area, so federal court records involving Monroe County residents may also be held at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit.
| 14th Circuit Court | 106 E. First St., Monroe, MI 48161 | (734) 240-7321 |
|---|---|
| 1st District Court | 106 E. First St., Monroe, MI 48161 | (734) 240-7300 |
| Probate Court | 106 E. First St., Monroe, MI 48161 | (734) 240-7321 |
| County Clerk | (734) 240-7321 |
| County Website | co.monroe.mi.us |
Search Monroe County Court Records Online
The main tool for online case searches in Monroe County is MiCOURT, run by the Michigan Supreme Court. MiCOURT lets you look up cases by name, case number, or date range. It covers the 14th Circuit and 1st District courts in Monroe County. You can see party names, case types, hearing dates, and basic docket entries at no cost and without any account login. Start here before making contact with the clerk's office.
MiCOURT may not show every document in a case file, and older cases may not be in the system at all. For full document sets or cases filed before the mid-1990s, contact the clerk's office at (734) 240-7321 or visit the courthouse. The Michigan Courts website also has guides on public record access and court forms statewide. For cases with a federal nexus, the U.S. District Court's PACER system is a separate resource for federal court records.
The Monroe County website at co.monroe.mi.us has dedicated pages for each court division with contact details, hours, and local filing information. The site includes pages for the Circuit Court, the District Court, and the Probate Court. These are good resources to check for anything specific to Monroe County procedure before contacting the clerk.
The Monroe County website provides links to all three court divisions and the county clerk's contact information for public records requests.
14th Circuit Court Records
The 14th Circuit Court handles the most serious cases filed in Monroe County. Felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, divorce, custody, and family matters all go through this court. Circuit court filings are a major source of public records in the county, and the docket for this court is well-represented in MiCOURT for recent cases. The circuit court clerk's line is (734) 240-7321 at 106 E. First Street.
The Monroe County Circuit Court page lists local rules, contact information, and filing resources for the 14th Circuit.
District and Probate Court Records
The 1st District Court in Monroe County handles a high volume of cases each year. Misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil claims under $25,000, and small claims disputes are all filed here. District court dockets are public and searchable through MiCOURT. The clerk's line for the district court is (734) 240-7300.
The Monroe County District Court page has local contact details and filing information for the 1st District Court.
The Probate Court at 106 E. First Street handles estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and mental health matters in Monroe County. Probate records are public in most cases, but some filings related to mental health may be restricted. Call (734) 240-7321 for probate record inquiries.
The Monroe County Probate Court page provides contact details and local procedures for probate and estate matters.
What Monroe County Court Records Contain
Court records in Monroe County cover a wide range of case types. Circuit court files include felony criminal cases, civil suits over $25,000, family law matters such as divorce and custody, and juvenile cases. District court files cover misdemeanors, traffic offenses, civil claims under $25,000, and small claims. Probate court files contain wills, estate documents, guardianship orders, and mental health proceedings. The contents of each file vary depending on the case type and what actions occurred in court.
A typical Monroe County court file includes the original complaint or petition, motions from both parties, court orders issued along the way, and the final judgment. Criminal files also contain the warrant, charging documents, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Civil files show the complaint, proof of service, and any settlement or final judgment. MCR 1.109 sets the rules for how Michigan court documents must be formatted and filed, and all Monroe County courts follow those standards. Most documents in a completed case are open to the public.
Some records are sealed or restricted. Juvenile records, mental health proceedings, and cases involving minor victims are often not open to public inspection. A party can also ask the court to seal specific documents. If you are unsure about a record, call the clerk at (734) 240-7321 before visiting. They can confirm what is available and what process you need to follow. Pre-1990s cases will not appear in MiCOURT and require a direct request to the clerk's office.
Monroe County Court Record Fees
Copies of court records in Monroe County cost money. Plain paper copies are typically $1 to $2 per page. Certified copies with the official court seal cost more and are required for many legal uses such as court filings in other jurisdictions or government applications. The exact fee depends on which court division holds the record. Call the clerk at (734) 240-7321 to get current rates before mailing a request or making a trip to the courthouse.
If you cannot afford the fees, a waiver may apply. Under MCL 600.880b, Michigan courts can waive filing fees and copy costs for indigent parties. You fill out an application, submit it to the court, and a judge decides. This can cover both filing fees and copy costs in the same case. The clerk's office at 106 E. First Street can give you the waiver form and tell you what documentation is needed to qualify.
Legal Help in Monroe County
Monroe County residents can access free legal guidance through Michigan Legal Help, a statewide online resource with plain-language articles on court records, family law, small claims, and more. The site links to official court forms at no charge and is a good first step before deciding whether to hire an attorney.
Legal aid in Monroe County is available through Monroe County Legal Aid and regional programs. The State Bar of Michigan offers a lawyer referral service for those who need private legal help. Free court forms for most case types are at courts.michigan.gov/forms. The clerk's office in Monroe can help you identify the right forms for your situation. Monroe County's location near the Ohio border means some matters may also involve courts in Lucas County, Ohio. Each state and county maintains its own records separately.
Cities in Monroe County
Monroe County has no cities that meet the qualifying population threshold for dedicated pages on this site. The county seat is Monroe, the largest city in the county and the location of all three courts at 106 E. First Street. Other communities include Frenchtown Township, Monroe Charter Township, Erie, and Temperance. All Monroe County residents file court cases at the courthouse in the city of Monroe.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or sit near Monroe County. If you need to find which court covers your case, check where the key events took place or where you live.