Michigan Family Court Records

Michigan family court records cover divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, and juvenile cases filed in circuit courts across the state. Each of Michigan's 83 counties has a Circuit Court Family Division that keeps these case files. You can search basic case information through the MiCOURT Case Search portal at no cost, or visit the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was filed to get copies of documents and certified records.

Where to Find Michigan Family Court Records

Family court records in Michigan are kept by the Circuit Court in each county. The Circuit Court Family Division handles all domestic relations matters. This includes divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, and adoption. Each of the 83 counties has its own Circuit Court and Family Division. You need to contact the court in the county where the case was filed. If you don't know the county, the MiCOURT portal lets you search by name to find it. The court clerk maintains the physical case files and can provide copies for a fee.

Michigan's official statewide case search system is MiCOURT, maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court's Judicial Information Systems Division. This free tool covers civil, criminal, family, and probate cases from participating courts across all 83 counties. You can search by party name, case number, business name, or attorney name. It shows case numbers, filing dates, party names, hearing schedules, and docket entries. MiCOURT does not display document images. For the actual court files, including divorce judgments, custody orders, or paternity decrees, you need to contact the circuit court in the county where the case was filed.

The Michigan Courts homepage at courts.michigan.gov provides a full directory of all circuit courts in the state. It includes links to individual court websites, contact information, and administrative resources for each county's court system.

The Michigan Courts website serves as the central hub for court resources across all 83 counties. From here, you can find circuit court contact information, navigate to the SCAO forms database, and access the statewide MiCOURT case search system.

What Michigan Family Court Records Contain

Michigan family court files hold many types of documents. A divorce case file typically includes the original complaint or petition, proof of service, the judgment of divorce, and any orders entered during the case. Contested cases can have hundreds of pages of pleadings, motions, financial statements, and hearing transcripts. Child custody files include custody orders, parenting time schedules, and modifications made over the years. Paternity files establish the legal father and include the order of filiation and support orders.

Child support records are handled partly through the Friend of the Court (FOC), a state agency that helps enforce and modify support orders. The FOC keeps its own records separate from the main court file. You can contact the Friend of the Court Bureau for state-level guidance, or reach the FOC office in your specific county for case details. The FOC also tracks parenting time compliance and can start enforcement when orders are not followed. Child support amounts are set using the Michigan Child Support Formula, which accounts for each parent's income, overnights, and childcare costs.

Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67. They are kept in separate locked files and can only be opened by court order for good cause. Juvenile delinquency records became restricted on January 1, 2021, under MCL 712A.28, and are now open only to those with a legitimate interest. Personal protection order records also have limited access under MCR 3.705.

The State Court Administrative Office maintains a searchable forms database at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. This is where you find SCAO-approved forms for divorce, custody, paternity, and other family matters. These forms are required for most family court filings in Michigan.

Searching Michigan Family Court Records Online

The fastest way to look up Michigan family court records is through MiCOURT Case Search. This free, 24/7 portal covers participating courts from all 83 counties. To search, you need the full name of at least one party, a case number, a business name, or an attorney name. The system returns basic case information: case numbers, filing dates, party names, scheduled hearings, current case status, and the register of actions. It does not show document images or personal details like dates of birth. Criminal cases only show records if sentencing occurred within seven years of the search date.

Some counties also run local search portals. Ingham County has its own court record search portal. Oakland County uses Court Explorer for Circuit and Probate Court cases. Wayne County's Third Judicial Circuit uses an Odyssey Public Access system. Monroe County has a case search tool at cr.monroe-clerk.com. Shiawassee County offers a Circuit Court case inquiry tool. Livingston County runs a subscription portal called LivingstonLive. These local tools vary in scope and may show different data than MiCOURT.

Ingham County's dedicated search portal at courts.ingham.org is one example of a county-level tool that supplements MiCOURT. It allows searches within Ingham County circuit, district, and probate courts. Many other Michigan counties have similar local search resources in addition to the statewide system.

In-Person and Mail Access to Michigan Family Court Records

Visiting a circuit court clerk's office in person is the most direct path to Michigan family court records. You can view records at no cost on public access terminals at most courthouses. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license or state-issued card. The clerk can pull the case file and make copies while you wait if the file is on hand. For older or large case files, call ahead so the clerk can retrieve the records before you arrive.

Mail requests work at all Michigan circuit courts. Write a letter describing the records you need. Include the case number if you have it, full names of the parties, the approximate filing year, and the documents you want. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for copy fees. Most courts accept cash, check, or money order. Some accept credit or debit cards with a convenience fee. Turnaround time varies. In-person requests at some courts can be done the same day. Mail requests can take a few days to several weeks depending on the court's workload and file size.

Certified copies cannot be emailed or faxed. They require a physical embossed court seal. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or custody order for legal use, you must get it in person or by mail. Some courts will send uncertified copies by fax or email after payment, but call first to confirm that option is available.

Wayne County's Third Judicial Circuit uses the Odyssey Public Access system for electronic case record access. Public kiosks are available at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. The system allows searches by case number, name, or date but does not provide full document images. For complete records, you still need to visit or submit a written request to the Third Judicial Circuit.

Fees for Michigan Family Court Records

Michigan courts charge copy fees set under MCL 600.2546 and MCL 600.1988. Standard copies cost $1.00 to $1.50 per page at most courts. Certified copies carry a $10.00 certification fee per document plus $1.00 per page. Exemplified copies, which carry higher authentication for use in other states, also cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page. Transcript copies run $0.30 to $0.90 per page under MCL 600.2543. Some courts charge a name search fee of $5.00 to $10.00 when you don't have a case number.

You can view records at the courthouse for free. Under MCR 8.119, courts cannot charge a fee just to look at public records on site. The fee applies only when you want copies. Some courts require pre-payment when the estimated total goes above a set amount. For mail requests, include enough to cover the likely cost or call ahead for an estimate.

Fee schedules vary by county within the ranges allowed by state law. Contact the specific circuit court before sending payment to confirm current rates. The Certification Fees Guidelines published by the Michigan Supreme Court provide additional detail on what courts can and cannot charge.

Family Court Records That Are Restricted in Michigan

Not every Michigan family court record is open to the public. Several categories are confidential by law. Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67 and held in separate locked files. They can only be opened by court order upon a showing of good cause shown. The court's standard response to adoption record inquiries is that adoption files are nonpublic under statute. Juvenile delinquency records are restricted under MCL 712A.28 and are not open to the general public as of January 1, 2021. These records are available only to those with a legitimate interest in the case.

Even in public family court cases, some documents may have limited access. Financial statements in divorce cases can be restricted at the judge's discretion. Records involving minor children may be partially sealed or redacted. A party can ask the court to impound specific files if they can show a valid reason, such as safety concerns or sensitive financial data. MiCOURT also excludes non-public cases from search results, so sealed or restricted records won't appear in an online search. Personal protection order case details are not available online under MCR 3.705.

The 15th District Court in Ann Arbor offers a local case search at a2gov.org. Note that district courts in Michigan handle misdemeanor and civil matters. Ann Arbor family court records go through the Washtenaw County Circuit Court Family Division at 101 E. Huron Street in Ann Arbor.

Michigan Friend of the Court

Michigan law requires a Friend of the Court (FOC) office in every county. The FOC operates under circuit court supervision and handles child support enforcement, parenting time compliance, and custody recommendations. When a divorce or paternity case involves minor children, the FOC steps in to provide services required by state law. The Friend of the Court Bureau, run through the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO), sets policy and standards for FOC offices statewide. The bureau director is Steven D. Capps, reachable at (517) 373-5975.

FOC records are separate from the main circuit court case file. If you need records tied to child support payments, enforcement actions, or parenting time disputes, reach out to the FOC office in the county where the case is active. Each county FOC has its own staff and contact information. Some operate inside the courthouse building; others work from a nearby county office. The FOC can initiate wage garnishment, driver's license suspension, and other enforcement actions when support orders go unpaid.

Child support is set using the Michigan Child Support Formula, updated by the SCAO on a set schedule. The formula accounts for each parent's gross income, the number of overnights each parent has with the child, childcare costs, and medical insurance premiums. Support orders can be modified when circumstances change. A motion to modify goes through the circuit court and is reviewed with FOC input.

Laws Governing Michigan Family Court Records

Michigan family court records are controlled by a set of statutes and court rules that balance public access with privacy protections. The main court rule is MCR 8.119, which says court records are public except where statute, court rule, or order says otherwise. This rule also bars courts from charging fees just to view records on site. MCR 1.109 defines what counts as a court record and sets electronic filing standards. MCR 3.903 governs access to juvenile court records. The Michigan Legislature's website at legislature.mi.gov contains the full text of all relevant Michigan Compiled Laws.

MCL 600.1428 requires each court to establish record management policies covering retention and disposal. The Michigan Supreme Court's Trial Court Records Management Standards document sets detailed requirements for how courts must organize, store, and provide access to case files. These rules apply uniformly across all 83 counties, though individual courts handle the day-to-day logistics of their own records systems.

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231-15.246 does not apply to court records. The judiciary is exempt from FOIA under MCL 15.232(d)(v). Access to court records runs through the Michigan Court Rules instead. This means a FOIA appeal cannot be used if a records request at a court is denied. Instead, you would file a motion directly with the court seeking access. The Circuit Court Records FAQ published by the SCAO answers common questions about records disposal and retention in Michigan circuit courts.

State Court Administrative Office and SCAO Resources

The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) is located at the Michigan Hall of Justice, 925 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48909. It supports all trial courts across Michigan by developing court rules, providing training, and managing statewide court technology including the MiCOURT system. The main SCAO phone number is (517) 373-0130. The SCAO's Judicial Information Services division, led by Cody Gross at (517) 373-8777, manages the technical side of MiCOURT and related court data systems.

The SCAO forms database is one of the most practical resources for anyone dealing with Michigan family court matters. It holds all approved court forms organized by case type. You can find forms for divorce with and without children, paternity establishment, custody and parenting time modification, support modification, personal protection orders, and more. These standardized forms are required in most circuit courts. Using the wrong form or a version not approved by the SCAO can result in rejected filings, so always download from the official source.

The 36th District Court at 36thdistrictcourt.org is the busiest district court in Michigan and serves the city of Detroit. While district courts handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil claims, family court matters in Detroit go to the Third Judicial Circuit Court Family Division at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Both courts operate within Wayne County's court system.

The Michigan Judicial Institute publishes family law benchbooks and training manuals for courts and practitioners. These are available through courts.michigan.gov/mji and provide in-depth guidance on family court procedures, custody standards, and records access rules across the state.

Browse Michigan Family Court Records by County

Michigan's 83 counties each maintain their own circuit court and family division. Select a county below to find local court contact information, search tools, and resources for family court records in that area.

View All 83 Michigan Counties

Michigan Family Court Records in Major Cities

Residents across Michigan's major cities file family court cases through their county's circuit court. Select a city to find information about family court records and local court resources in that area.

View Major Michigan Cities