Crawford County Family Court Records

Crawford County family court records are filed with the 46th Circuit Court, which covers Crawford, Kalkaska, and Otsego counties. The Crawford County Courthouse in Grayling is where these records are kept and where requests for case files and certified documents are processed. The Circuit Court Family Division, overseen by Hon. Monte J. Burmeister, handles divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity matters for Crawford County residents. You can search case data online for free through MiCOURT, or contact the Crawford County Clerk to request copies of specific records.

Where Crawford County Family Court Records Are Held

Crawford County family court records are maintained at the Crawford County Courthouse in Grayling, the county seat. The 46th Circuit Court covers Crawford, Kalkaska, and Otsego counties, with Crawford County cases filed and stored at the Grayling courthouse. The Family Division is presided over by Hon. Monte J. Burmeister. For current courthouse address, phone numbers, and hours, contact the Crawford County Clerk's office through the county's official website. All records requests for Crawford County family court cases should go directly to the clerk's office in Grayling.

Because the 46th Circuit serves three counties, confirming which county your case is filed in is an important first step before making a request. The free MiCOURT Case Search portal allows you to search by party name across all Michigan circuits, making it easy to determine whether a case is in Crawford, Kalkaska, or Otsego County. Once confirmed, contact the clerk's office for that county to request copies of the records.

Crawford County is a smaller northern Michigan county centered around Grayling. The courthouse handles a manageable volume of family cases, and staff are often able to assist with records requests without the long waits that can occur at larger courts. That said, older files may be in storage, and calling ahead to give staff time to pull archival records remains a good practice.

Searching Crawford County Family Court Records Online

The MiCOURT Case Search portal is the primary online tool for searching Crawford County family court records. It is free, runs 24/7, and covers participating courts from all 83 Michigan counties. Search by party name, case number, attorney name, or business name. MiCOURT returns case numbers, party names, filing dates, hearing schedules, and docket entries. Document images and personal details like dates of birth are not shown.

Crawford County does not operate a separate local case search portal. MiCOURT is the main public online lookup tool. If a search returns no results for a case you expect to find, the case may be sealed, restricted by type, or older than the system's visible window. Adoption, juvenile, and personal protection order records do not appear in public MiCOURT searches. For cases not found online, contact the Crawford County Clerk with a written request.

SCAO Forms and Statewide Resources for Crawford County

The State Court Administrative Office provides approved forms for all Crawford County family court filings through the SCAO forms database at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. These forms are required for most filings in the 46th Circuit Court.

SCAO forms cover the full range of domestic relations matters filed in Crawford County, including divorce with and without children, paternity, custody and parenting time modification, support modification, and personal protection orders. Always use the current approved version downloaded from the official SCAO site. Submitting an old or unapproved form can cause a filing to be rejected at the 46th Circuit Court.

Types of Family Court Records in Crawford County

The 46th Circuit Court Family Division processes a range of domestic relations cases for Crawford County residents. Divorce files contain the original complaint or joint petition, proof of service, financial disclosure statements, property agreements, and the final judgment of divorce. Contested divorces generate larger files due to motions, hearings, and court orders filed throughout the proceedings. After a case closes, parties may return to court for post-judgment modifications, and those filings are added to the original case under the same case number.

Child custody files contain the initial custody order and any subsequent modifications to that order. When parties share children and custody arrangements need to change, modification requests are filed in the same court and added to the case file. Paternity cases in Crawford County result in an order of filiation establishing legal parentage and are paired with child support orders. The Crawford County Friend of the Court office maintains child support payment histories and handles enforcement separately from the main court file. Contact the Crawford County FOC for those records. Statewide FOC guidance is available at the Friend of the Court Bureau.

Adoption records in Crawford County are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile court records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection order records are not publicly accessible under MCR 3.705. These categories do not appear in MiCOURT searches or at the public records counter.

Crawford County Family Court Records Copy Fees

Crawford County charges Michigan's standard copy fees. Non-certified copies of family court records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $10.00 certification fee per document on top of the per-page cost. Viewing records at the courthouse in person is free under MCR 8.119. Michigan courts cannot charge a fee just to inspect publicly available records on site. The fee only applies when you want copies made to take with you.

Some courts charge a name search fee when no case number is provided. Contact the Crawford County Clerk before submitting a request to confirm whether this applies and to get current fee amounts. MiCOURT can help you find a case number for free before you call, which can save you both time and a search fee. Knowing the case number in advance makes the clerk's job easier and speeds up your request.

In-person payments are typically by cash. Mail requests require a check or money order payable to the Crawford County Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with all mail requests. Certified copies require in-person pickup or mail delivery since they must carry an embossed physical seal. They cannot be emailed or faxed.

In-Person and Mail Requests for Crawford County Records

The Crawford County Courthouse in Grayling is where you go for in-person records access. Bring valid photo ID. Request the case file by case number or by party name and approximate filing year. Staff can make copies of files that are immediately available. For archived or older records, call the clerk ahead of time so they can pull the file before your visit. Free in-person viewing is available through public access terminals or at the counter for any public record.

Mail requests should include a written description of the records you need. Provide 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. Mail processing times vary from a few days to several weeks depending on file size, archival status, and the clerk's current workload. If you're working against a deadline, visiting in person or calling to discuss urgency may help.

The 46th Circuit Court follows the same general Michigan rules on records access that apply statewide. MCR 8.119 governs public access. MCL 600.2546 sets copy fees. The Michigan FOIA does not apply to court records, so records denials must be challenged through a motion filed with the court itself. SCAO forms for Crawford County domestic relations filings are at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms.

Laws That Govern Crawford County Family Court Records

Crawford County family court records are subject to the same statewide legal framework that applies across all 83 Michigan counties. MCR 8.119 defines court records as public by default, with exceptions where law or court order restricts access. This rule also bars courts from charging a fee just to view records in person. MCL 600.2546 governs the fees courts can charge for copies. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act exempts the judiciary under MCL 15.232(d)(v), so FOIA requests do not apply to court records. Any challenge to a denied records request must be filed as a motion directly with the circuit court.

The full text of Michigan's statutes relevant to family court records is available at legislature.mi.gov. Specific statutes covering sealed adoptions (MCL 710.67), restricted juvenile records (MCL 712A.28), and personal protection order access limits (MCR 3.705) are all searchable there. Knowing which laws apply to the records you're requesting helps you understand what to expect when you contact the Crawford County Clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

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