Grand Rapids Family Court Records

Family court records for Grand Rapids residents are filed at the Kent County Circuit Court Family Division, located at 180 Ottawa Avenue NW in downtown Grand Rapids. Divorce, custody, paternity, child support, and related family matters all go through this court. The 61st District Court, also in the same building, handles different types of cases and is not the correct office for family law records.

Where Grand Rapids Family Court Records Are Filed

All family court cases for Grand Rapids go to the Kent County Circuit Court Family Division. The address is 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The Family Division phone number is (616) 632-5120. This court handles all matters under Michigan family law for Grand Rapids and all of Kent County. Divorce, custody disputes, parenting time, child support, paternity, and adoption cases all originate here.

The Kent County Circuit Court has been at this Ottawa Avenue location for many years. It serves the most populous county in West Michigan. Family Division staff work directly with the Friend of the Court bureau, which handles support enforcement, parenting time investigations, and custody recommendations. Together these offices maintain the records that document family law cases throughout Kent County.

For a full overview of Kent County family court procedures and resources, visit the Kent County Family Court Records page.

The image below shows the Kent County courts page, which covers both the Circuit Court and support services available to Grand Rapids residents.

The Kent County courts portal covers the Circuit Court Family Division and related services including the Friend of the Court and support enforcement offices.

The 61st District Court and What It Handles

The 61st District Court is also located at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 1400, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Its main number is (616) 632-5700. For records questions, you can email recordcheck@grcourt.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:15 PM.

The 61st District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims, civil disputes up to $25,000, and landlord-tenant matters. It does not handle divorce, custody, paternity, or child support cases. Those cases belong exclusively to the Circuit Court. If you arrive at the district court looking for family records, staff will direct you upstairs or across the hall to the circuit court clerk's office.

Both courts share the same building on Ottawa Avenue, which can cause confusion. When you arrive, confirm you are at the Circuit Court clerk's window for family matters. Signs inside the building should help direct you. If in doubt, ask security or a staff member at the entrance which floor or suite handles family court filings.

The 61st District Court does maintain its own set of case records. Copy fees there are $2.00 for the first page of a non-certified document and $1.00 for each additional page. Certified copies start at $10.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. These fees apply only to district court records, not to family court documents at the circuit court.

Searching Grand Rapids Family Court Records Online

The statewide search tool for Michigan circuit court records is MiCOURT Case Search. This free portal is maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court and covers courts across the state, including the Kent County Circuit Court. You can search by the name of either party or by a case number. Results show docket entries, hearing dates, party names, and case status.

When searching, having the approximate year of filing helps narrow down results. Common last names may pull many results. A case number, if you already have it from a prior document or letter, gets you directly to the right file. MiCOURT is updated regularly but may not reflect same-day filings. For the most current status of an active case, call the circuit court clerk at (616) 632-5120.

The Grand Rapids court system also has a website at grcourt.org. This covers the 61st District Court primarily but has links and contact information for other court offices in the building. For records requests at the district court, use the email address recordcheck@grcourt.org. For family court records, contact the circuit court clerk directly rather than using that email.

Standard SCAO forms for divorce, custody, and support cases are available free at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. These are the same forms used at Kent County Circuit Court. They are the official Michigan court forms required for family law filings in Grand Rapids.

Copy Fees and Costs at Kent County Circuit Court

Standard Michigan copy fees apply at the Kent County Circuit Court Family Division. Plain paper copies of court documents cost $1.00 per page up to $1.50 per page depending on the document. Certified copies require a $10.00 base certification fee plus $1.00 per page. Viewing case files in person at the clerk's office is free.

For records involving Friend of the Court documents, additional fees may apply. FOC records are part of the family case but are sometimes maintained separately by the FOC bureau. Contact the FOC bureau directly at the same Ottawa Avenue address to ask about records you believe they hold. The Michigan Courts Friend of the Court Bureau provides guidance on this at courts.michigan.gov/administration/scao/services/focb.

Payments at the Kent County Circuit Court clerk's office can be made by cash, check, or credit card. If you are mailing a request, include a check or money order. Call ahead at (616) 632-5120 to get an estimate before mailing payment so you send the right amount.

In-Person Access and Mail Requests

To view family court records in person, go to the Kent County Circuit Court clerk's office at 180 Ottawa Avenue NW. Bring a photo ID. Give the clerk the full names of the parties in the case or the case number. The clerk will retrieve the file and allow you to view documents at the counter or at a designated review area. Basic viewing is free. Ask for copies only if you need them to take home.

Mail requests work well if you cannot travel to the courthouse. Write a letter to the Kent County Circuit Court clerk at the Ottawa Avenue address. Include both parties' names as they appear on court documents, the year the case was filed, and the case number if you have it. Describe what you need clearly. For certified copies, state that you need certification. Enclose payment by check or money order. The court will send the copies when ready, or contact you if more information or payment is needed.

For questions about ongoing support cases, parenting time disputes, or FOC services, contact the Kent County Friend of the Court office. Their staff handles post-judgment modifications and enforcement matters. The FOC office is accessible through the same courthouse building. Having a case number ready makes any interaction with the clerk or FOC staff go faster.

Restricted Records and Michigan Law

Certain family court records in Grand Rapids are restricted by Michigan law and are not available to the general public. Adoption records are closed under MCL 710.67. Only the adoptee after reaching adulthood, birth parents, or adoptive parents with a court order may access them. Juvenile case records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection order filings have limits under MCR 3.705.

Judges can also seal specific documents within an otherwise public family case. This happens when parties request it and the court finds a valid reason. If you search a case and some documents are missing from the public file, they may be sealed by court order rather than simply not filed.

Michigan court records are governed by MCR 8.119, not by the state FOIA. The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to circuit court records. Public access to court records is defined by the court rules, and the clerk decides what is available based on those rules. For questions about whether a specific record is public, call the Kent County Circuit Court at (616) 632-5120.

MCL 600.2546 governs certain aspects of court record access in Michigan. You can review the statute text at law.justia.com for reference.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also have family court records information.