Clare County Family Court Records Lookup

Clare County family court records are filed with the 55th Circuit Court, which serves both Clare and Gladwin counties. The County Clerk, Lori Mott, maintains official case records from the Clare County Courthouse. The Circuit Court Family Division handles divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity cases for Clare County residents. You can search case information for free through the statewide MiCOURT portal, or contact the Clare County Clerk directly to request copies of specific family court records and certified documents.

Where Clare County Family Court Records Are Maintained

Clare County family court records are kept at the Clare County Courthouse in Harrison, the county seat. The 55th Circuit Court operates from this location and serves both Clare and Gladwin counties. Clare County Clerk Lori Mott manages official court records and public records requests. Contact the clerk's office through the county's government website for current phone numbers, hours, and address information. All requests for Clare County family court case files should go to the clerk at the Harrison courthouse.

The 55th Circuit Court is a shared circuit serving two counties. When searching for a family court case from Clare County, confirm that the case was filed in Clare County and not Gladwin County. The statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal can help you determine which county a case is on file in by searching a party name across all Michigan circuits. Once you confirm the county, contact that county's clerk for document requests.

Clare County is a mid-Michigan rural county, and the courthouse in Harrison handles a manageable volume of cases compared to larger urban courts. That said, older files may be in off-site archival storage. Calling ahead before visiting in person or mailing a request is a good practice and can help you get a realistic timeline for when your documents will be ready.

How to Search Clare County Family Court Records Online

The MiCOURT Case Search portal is the main online tool for Clare County family court records. MiCOURT is free, available 24 hours a day, and covers all 83 Michigan counties. You can search by party name, case number, attorney name, or business name. Results include case numbers, filing dates, party names, scheduled hearings, and docket entries. MiCOURT does not show document images, so it gives you case-level information but not the actual filings.

Clare County does not operate a separate local case search system. All online public searches run through MiCOURT. If a case doesn't appear in MiCOURT, it may be a restricted case type such as adoption or juvenile, or the case may predate the system's searchable records window. For cases not found online, a direct written request to the Clare County Clerk is the appropriate next step. Providing a case number, party names, and the approximate filing year will help staff locate the records faster.

Statewide Court Resources Relevant to Clare County

The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov provides statewide resources including the MiCOURT access portal, court directory listings, and the SCAO forms database used by Clare County's 55th Circuit Court.

County-level search portals like this Ingham County example illustrate how Michigan courts offer public access to case data. Clare County uses MiCOURT as its primary online case search tool. For document copies from Clare County family court records, you still need to contact the 55th Circuit Court clerk's office directly.

Types of Family Court Records Filed in Clare County

The 55th Circuit Court Family Division processes a range of domestic relations cases for Clare County residents. Divorce case files hold the original complaint or joint petition, proof of service documents, any financial disclosures filed by the parties, property settlement agreements, and the final judgment of divorce. In contested cases with disputed assets or custody arrangements, the file can grow considerably as hearings, motions, and orders accumulate over the course of the case.

Child custody and parenting time files include the initial custody order entered by the court and any modifications filed afterward. When parents return to the 55th Circuit Court to change custody or parenting time arrangements, those new orders are added to the existing case file. Paternity cases establish legal parentage through a court order called the order of filiation. Support orders linked to paternity or divorce cases are also part of the case file. The Clare County Friend of the Court office handles child support enforcement and tracks payment records separately. Contact the Clare County FOC for support payment history and enforcement details. Statewide FOC guidance is available at the Friend of the Court Bureau.

Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile court records carry restricted access under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection orders are not publicly accessible under MCR 3.705. These categories are excluded from MiCOURT search results.

Clare County Family Court Records Fees

Clare County charges Michigan's standard copy fees for family court records. Non-certified copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry a $10.00 certification fee per document plus the per-page copy cost. Under MCR 8.119, courts cannot charge a fee just to view records in person. You may inspect any publicly available family court file at the courthouse at no cost. The fee applies when you want copies made to take with you.

If you don't have a case number, some courts charge a name search fee. Contact the Clare County Clerk's office before submitting your request to ask about search fees and to confirm current copy rates. Running a MiCOURT search before calling can help you locate the case number and avoid any search fee. Knowing the case number before you contact the clerk also saves time on both ends.

Mail requests require a check or money order for the applicable fees. Cash is accepted in person only. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with all mail requests. Certified copies are not issued electronically and must be sent by mail or picked up in person because they require a physical embossed court seal.

Requesting Clare County Records In Person or by Mail

Visit the Clare County Courthouse in Harrison to access family court records in person. Bring valid photo ID. Ask the clerk's office for the case file by number or by party name and approximate filing year. Staff can make copies of files that are readily available. For archived older files, call ahead so the clerk can pull the records before you arrive. In-person viewing is free at public access terminals or at the counter.

Mail requests should describe exactly what you need. Include the case number or party names, the approximate year of filing, and the specific documents you want. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order payable to the Clare County Clerk. Mail processing can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. For older or large files, it may run longer. If you're on a deadline, consider an in-person request.

SCAO-approved forms for filings in the 55th Circuit Court are available at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. Use only the current approved version of each form. Outdated or unapproved forms can result in a rejected filing at the Clare County courthouse.

Michigan Laws Governing Clare County Family Court Records

Clare County family court records are governed by the same statewide legal framework as all 83 Michigan circuit courts. MCR 8.119 makes court records public by default, except where limited by a statute, court rule, or court order. This rule also bars courts from charging fees to view records in person. MCL 600.2546 governs copy fees. The Michigan FOIA does not apply to the courts because the judiciary is exempt under MCL 15.232(d)(v). If a records request is denied, the remedy is to file a motion with the court directly, not a government FOIA appeal.

The full text of relevant statutes is available at legislature.mi.gov. Approved forms for Clare County domestic relations filings are at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. These forms are required in the 55th Circuit Court and cover divorce, custody, paternity, support modification, and personal protection orders.

Nearby Counties

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