Leelanau County Family Court Records
Leelanau County family court records are held at the Circuit Court office at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 103, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. The 13th Circuit Court serves Leelanau, Grand Traverse, and Antrim counties and handles divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and adoption cases for Leelanau County residents. You can search case information online through the statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal at no cost, or contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (231) 256-9824 to request copies or certified records. Records in Leelanau County go back to 1867.
Leelanau County Court Overview
Where Leelanau County Family Court Records Are Held
Leelanau County family court records are filed at the Circuit Court at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 103, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. The Circuit Court fax is (231) 256-8295. The County Clerk phone is (231) 256-9682 and fax is (231) 256-8149. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The county's main website is at leelanau.gov, where you can find department contacts and general records information.
There is an important practical note about in-person visits: due to limited space in the records area, only one researcher is allowed at a time. You must call ahead before visiting. Access is also not available when court is in session. Plan your visit carefully and confirm availability before making the trip to Suttons Bay. This is especially relevant if you are traveling a distance to review older records on-site.
Leelanau County holds records going back to 1867. Older records may not be digitized and could require manual retrieval from storage. The 13th Circuit is a shared circuit, so judges and administrative resources rotate across Leelanau, Grand Traverse, and Antrim counties. Photo ID is required for records requests in person.
Note: Only one researcher at a time is permitted in Leelanau County's records area. Call ahead at (231) 256-9824 before visiting to confirm access and court session schedule.
Searching Leelanau County Family Court Records Online
The main online resource for Leelanau County family court records is MiCOURT Case Search. MiCOURT is free and available around the clock. You can search by party name, case number, attorney, or business name. Results include case numbers, filing dates, party names, scheduled hearings, and docket entries. Document images are not available through MiCOURT. For actual copies of Leelanau County filings, contact the clerk's office directly.
Statewide Court Search for Leelanau County Records
The Michigan Courts website is managed by the Michigan Supreme Court and serves as the entry point for all statewide court tools, including MiCOURT Case Search, the SCAO forms library, the court directory, and the Friend of the Court Bureau. It covers all 83 Michigan counties including Leelanau.
The Michigan Courts homepage at courts.michigan.gov links to MiCOURT, the SCAO forms database, and court contact directories. For Leelanau County specifically, this is the fastest way to reach statewide search tools while also being able to locate the local circuit court's contact information.
Fees for Leelanau County Family Court Records
Copy fees in Leelanau County follow Michigan's statewide rate structure under MCL 600.2546. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry a $10.00 certification fee per document in addition to the per-page charge. Viewing records on-site at the courthouse is free under MCR 8.119. The fee applies only when you want copies to take with you.
Vital records have a separate fee schedule. Birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records cost $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. Call the County Clerk at (231) 256-9682 before submitting payment to confirm current rates. Mail requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order payable to the Leelanau County Clerk.
Note: Certified copies in Leelanau County must be obtained in person or by mail and cannot be issued by email or fax.
Types of Family Court Records in Leelanau County
The 13th Circuit Court Family Division handles the full range of domestic relations cases for Leelanau County residents. Divorce files include the original complaint or petition, proof of service, the final judgment of divorce, and all orders issued during the case. Contested divorces may involve many pages of motions, financial statements, and hearing records. Custody files contain parenting time orders and modifications filed over the life of the case. Paternity files establish legal parentage and include child support orders connected to the order of filiation.
Child support in Leelanau County runs through the local Friend of the Court office, which keeps records separate from the main circuit court file. The FOC handles support enforcement, parenting time compliance, and modification requests. For statewide guidance, the Friend of the Court Bureau sets policy and standards for FOC offices across Michigan. Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection order details are not public under MCR 3.705.
In-Person and Mail Access to Leelanau County Records
To access Leelanau County family court records in person, visit the Circuit Court at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 103, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Remember: call ahead to confirm access since only one researcher at a time is allowed and records access is unavailable when court is in session. Bring a valid photo ID. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For older files or large cases, give the clerk advance notice so records can be retrieved before your visit.
Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter with the case number (if known), full party names, approximate filing year, and the specific documents you need. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Certified copies require the official court seal and can only be sent by mail, not by email or fax. Turnaround time for mail requests varies but typically runs a few days to a few weeks.
Michigan Laws That Apply to Leelanau County Family Court Records
Leelanau County family court records follow the same legal framework as all Michigan courts. MCR 8.119 establishes that court records are public unless a statute, court rule, or court order restricts access. MCL 600.2546 governs copy fees. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act does not apply to court records because the judiciary is exempt under MCL 15.232(d)(v). If a records request is denied, the remedy is to file a motion directly with the court, not a FOIA appeal.
All relevant Michigan Compiled Laws are available at legislature.mi.gov. The SCAO forms database at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms holds approved forms for all family court filings, including divorce, custody, paternity, and support modification. Leelanau County Circuit Court requires SCAO-approved forms for most family law matters.
Nearby Counties
Family court records for residents near Leelanau County may also be filed in a neighboring county court below.