Search Oakland County Court Records

Oakland County court records cover one of Michigan's most populous counties, with over 1.27 million residents and a court system that includes the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac, nine district courts spread across the county, and a Probate Court. You can search Oakland County court records online through MiCOURT or through the county's own Court Explorer system. Civil, criminal, family law, and probate matters are all part of the public record in Oakland County, and most can be searched or requested by any member of the public.

Oakland County Courts and Clerk

Oakland County has one of the largest court systems in Michigan. The 6th Circuit Court at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac is the county's main trial court and handles felony criminal cases, major civil suits over $25,000, family law matters including divorce and custody, and juvenile cases. The 6th Circuit covers Oakland County only. The Probate Court is also at 1200 N. Telegraph Road and manages wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health cases.

Oakland County has nine district courts serving different cities and townships across the county. Each district court has its own address and handles misdemeanor cases, traffic offenses, civil claims under $25,000, and small claims within its geographic area. If you need district court records for a specific city or township, use the table below to find the right court. District courts each maintain their own records, so you may need to contact more than one court if you are looking for cases across multiple jurisdictions within the county.

The County Clerk is Lisa Brown, and her office is the main point of contact for court records requests. You can reach the clerk at (248) 858-0582. Under MCL 15.232, Michigan public records are open to any person, and the clerk must respond to a written request within five business days. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies, $10 plus $1 per page for certified copies, and a credit card surcharge of 3.5% applies to card payments. Have the case number or party names ready when you contact any court office in Oakland County.

Michigan Court Rule 8.119 sets the statewide standards for how courts maintain records and provide public access. All Oakland County courts follow these rules. For circuit and probate matters, the main clerk's office at 1200 N. Telegraph Road handles requests. For district court records, contact the specific district court that handled the case.

Search Oakland County Court Records Online

Oakland County offers two online tools for searching court records. The first is MiCOURT, the statewide system run by the Michigan Supreme Court. MiCOURT covers cases from the 6th Circuit and the district courts in Oakland County. You can search by name, case number, or date range and see party names, case types, hearing dates, and docket entries at no cost. No account is needed.

The second tool is Oakland County's own Court Explorer, hosted through the county's official website. Court Explorer is specific to Oakland County and may have additional case details or search options beyond what MiCOURT provides. It is worth checking both systems if you are doing a thorough search. Court Explorer is free to use and accessible directly from the Oakland County website. For cases not found online, contact the clerk's office or the specific district court.

The main Oakland County website at oakgov.com has links to all court divisions, including individual pages for each district court and the 6th Circuit. The Michigan Courts website also has resources for navigating public record requests statewide. For federal cases involving Oakland County parties, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan handles those records separately through the PACER system.

The Oakland County Court Explorer is the county's own case search portal and covers records from the 6th Circuit and district courts in Oakland County.

What Oakland County Court Records Contain

Court records in Oakland County span a large range of case types. The 6th Circuit handles felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family law matters like divorce and custody, and juvenile cases. With over 1.27 million residents, Oakland County sees a high volume of filings each year, and the circuit court docket is one of the busiest in Michigan. District court files across the nine district courts cover misdemeanors, traffic offenses, civil claims under $25,000, and small claims. Probate records include wills, estate administration, guardianships, and mental health cases.

A typical Oakland County court file contains the original complaint or petition, motions filed by both sides, orders from the court, and the final judgment. Criminal files also include the warrant, charging documents, any plea agreement, and the sentencing order. Civil files show the complaint, proof of service, and the final judgment or settlement. MCR 1.109 governs how Michigan courts must format and file documents, and Oakland County courts follow those standards. Most documents in a closed case are public and can be requested by anyone.

Some records are restricted. Juvenile court records, mental health proceedings, and cases involving minor victims may be sealed. A party can also ask the court to seal specific documents. If you are not sure whether a record is open, call the clerk at (248) 858-0582 for circuit and probate matters, or call the relevant district court for district-level cases. Pre-1990s cases may not appear in MiCOURT or Court Explorer and will require a direct request to the appropriate court office.

Oakland County Court Record Fees

Oakland County has set its own copy fees, which are in line with statewide standards. Plain copies of court documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the court's official seal and are required for many legal uses, cost $10.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page of the same document. A credit card surcharge of 3.5% applies if you pay by card. These fees apply at the clerk's office for circuit and probate records. District court fees may vary slightly by court location.

If you cannot afford the fees, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Under MCL 600.880b, courts can waive filing fees and copy costs for indigent parties. You fill out a waiver application, submit it to the court, and a judge decides. This covers both filing and copy fees in the same case. The clerk's office at 1200 N. Telegraph Road can provide the waiver form and explain the process. For district court cases, ask the specific district court clerk for their waiver procedure.

The Michigan Courts fee schedule page lists standard rates for copies and filings that apply across Michigan, including Oakland County courts.

Legal Help in Oakland County

Oakland County residents have access to a range of legal resources. Michigan Legal Help is a free statewide online resource with plain-language guides on court records, family law, small claims, and more. It links to official court forms at no cost and is a good starting point before deciding whether to hire a lawyer. Given the size of Oakland County, there are also more local legal aid organizations and private attorneys available than in many other parts of Michigan.

Legal aid in Oakland County is served by Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency legal services and other area programs. The State Bar of Michigan has a lawyer referral service with attorneys who practice in Oakland County. Free court forms for most case types are at courts.michigan.gov/forms. The clerk's office at (248) 858-0582 can point you to the right forms and court contact for your situation. For district court matters, the specific district court serving your city or township is the right contact for local forms and local rules.

Cities in Oakland County

Oakland County has several large cities, and those that meet the qualifying population threshold have their own dedicated pages on this site. Each city page covers courthouse access, local court offices, and resources specific to that city. All criminal and family law matters in these cities go through the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac, while district court cases are handled by the district court serving that specific city.

Other communities in Oakland County include Pontiac, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, and Oak Park. These cities do not have dedicated pages on this site but are served by the court system described above.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or sit near Oakland County. If you need to determine which county's courts have jurisdiction over a matter, check where the key events occurred or where you reside.