Benzie County Family Court Records

Benzie County family court records are filed at the 19th Circuit Court, which serves both Benzie and Manistee counties. Divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity cases for Benzie County residents are all handled through this court. The Benzie County Clerk's office in Beulah maintains the county's court records and handles requests. You can search case data for free through the MiCOURT Case Search portal, or contact the clerk by phone or in person to request specific documents.

Where Benzie County Family Court Records Are Kept

Benzie County family court records are maintained at the Benzie County Government Center, 448 Court Place, Suite 200, Beulah, MI 49617. County Clerk Tammy Bowers handles records requests. The office number is (231) 882-9671 ext 2, and the fax is (231) 882-5941. Email contact is dolney@benzieco.net. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Written requests are required for all records inquiries. Photo ID must be presented when visiting in person.

The 19th Circuit Court covers both Benzie and Manistee counties. Benzie County cases are filed and stored at the Benzie County Government Center in Beulah. Manistee County cases are handled at the Manistee County Courthouse. If you are unsure which county holds a particular case, use MiCOURT to search by party name before contacting either clerk's office. Knowing the county will save you time and avoid requests going to the wrong location.

Copy fees for Benzie County follow Michigan's standard circuit court schedule. The clerk's office can provide the current fee schedule when you call. Fees change occasionally, so confirming before submitting a request is a good practice. Certified copies require payment in advance and are returned by mail only.

Searching Benzie County Family Court Records Online

The MiCOURT Case Search portal is the primary online tool for searching Benzie County family court records. It is free, covers all 83 Michigan counties, and is available around the clock. Search by party name, case number, attorney name, or business name. Results show case numbers, filing dates, party names, case type, hearing dates, and current case status. MiCOURT does not display document images. For copies of actual court orders, filings, or the final divorce decree, contact the Benzie County Clerk's office directly.

Benzie County does not operate a separate local online case search portal. MiCOURT is the only public online tool for this county. If a search returns no results, the case may be older than MiCOURT's search window, restricted by case type, or sealed. Adoption, juvenile, and personal protection order records do not appear in MiCOURT searches. A written request to the clerk is the appropriate follow-up when online searches come up empty.

Michigan Courts and SCAO Resources for Benzie County

The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov lists all 83 circuit courts, including the 19th Circuit that serves Benzie County, along with links to SCAO forms and statewide legal resources.

Approved forms for Benzie County family court filings, including divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity forms, are available through the SCAO forms database at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. Always download from the official SCAO site. Outdated or incorrect forms are a common reason filings get rejected at the 19th Circuit Court.

Types of Family Court Records in Benzie County

Benzie County Circuit Court Family Division handles the full range of domestic relations cases. Divorce files contain the initial petition or joint filing, service documents, temporary orders entered during the case, financial affidavits, property and debt agreements, and the final judgment of divorce. Agreed divorces produce compact files. Contested cases with disputes over property, debts, or custody can become lengthy, especially when parties return to court for post-judgment modifications over the years.

Child custody and parenting time orders are part of the divorce file when they arise in the same case. When a parent later seeks to change custody or parenting time, that modification petition is filed in the same case. Paternity case files include the complaint to establish parentage, genetic testing records when applicable, the order of filiation, and the resulting child support order. Ongoing child support enforcement is handled by the Benzie County Friend of the Court, which keeps its own records separate from the main circuit court case file. For payment histories or enforcement actions, contact the FOC directly. The Friend of the Court Bureau provides statewide FOC guidance.

Several family court record types are not accessible to the public. Adoption files are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile court records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection orders have limited public access under MCR 3.705 and do not appear in MiCOURT or at the public records counter.

Copy Fees for Benzie County Family Court Records

Benzie County follows Michigan's standard circuit court fee schedule. Non-certified copies run $1.00 per page. Certified copies require a $10.00 certification fee per document plus the standard per-page copy fee. If you need multiple certified copies of the same document, each carries its own $10.00 certification charge. In-person viewing at the Benzie County Government Center is free under MCR 8.119. Courts cannot charge you to look at publicly accessible records on site.

Call the Benzie County Clerk at (231) 882-9671 ext 2 before submitting a request to get the current fee schedule and confirm acceptable payment methods. Fees can change over time, and the clerk can also tell you approximately how many pages are in a file if you give them the case number. That helps you estimate costs before sending payment. Mail payments should be by check or money order. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with any mail request. Certified copies cannot be emailed or faxed.

In-Person and Mail Access to Benzie County Court Records

The Benzie County Government Center at 448 Court Place, Suite 200 in Beulah is where you go for in-person records access. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Bring valid photo ID. All requests must be in writing, even when visiting in person. Ask for case files by case number or by party name and approximate filing year. Free in-person viewing is available for publicly accessible records. For older or archived files, call (231) 882-9671 ext 2 ahead of your visit so staff can pull the records before you arrive.

Mail requests should be sent to the Benzie County Clerk, 448 Court Place, Suite 200, Beulah, MI 49617. Include a written description of what you need, the full names of both parties, the case number if you have it, the approximate year of filing, and a list of the specific documents you want. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for the estimated cost. Turnaround for mail requests typically takes a few days to a few weeks depending on volume and file availability.

Laws Governing Access to Benzie County Family Court Records

Benzie County family court records are governed by the same statewide legal framework that applies across all Michigan circuit courts. MCR 8.119 makes court records public by default, with specified exceptions for sealed and restricted case types. It also bars courts from charging fees to view records in person. MCL 600.2546 sets the limits on copy fees. Michigan courts are exempt from the state FOIA under MCL 15.232. Any challenge to a denied records request must be made through a motion filed with the Benzie County Circuit Court, not through a FOIA appeal. The full text of Michigan court statutes is available at legislature.mi.gov.

Nearby Counties

Family court records for residents near Benzie County may also be filed in one of these neighboring Michigan counties.