Search Lenawee County Family Court Records

Lenawee County family court records are maintained at the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building at 425 North Main Street, Adrian, MI 49221. The 39th Circuit Court Family Division handles divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and adoption cases for all Lenawee County residents. You can search case data online through the statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal at no charge, or contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (517) 264-4597 to request copies or certified records. The County Clerk handles vital records separately at 301 North Main Street, 1st Floor, Adrian.

Where Lenawee County Family Court Records Are Filed

All family court filings for Lenawee County go through the 39th Circuit Court at the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, 425 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Adrian, MI 49221. The Circuit Court can be reached at (517) 264-4597. Family Division filings, which cover domestic relations matters like divorce and custody, are handled at the 3rd floor of the Judicial Building through the County Clerk's Office. This is an important structural detail: the County Clerk's office at 301 North Main Street, 1st Floor, handles vital records, while the Circuit Court's domestic relations filings are processed on the 3rd floor of the Judicial Building.

Juvenile Section filings, which include delinquency and child protective matters, go to the 2nd floor of the Judicial Building at the Juvenile Clerk's Office. So family court records in Lenawee County are split across two sections of the Judicial Building depending on the case type. If you aren't sure which floor handles your case, call the Circuit Court main line first.

The county's main website at lenawee.mi.us provides department contacts, hours, and general court information. The County Clerk for vital records is at (517) 264-4538. Both offices are open during standard business hours on weekdays.

Searching Lenawee County Family Court Records Online

The primary online tool for Lenawee County family court records is MiCOURT Case Search. This free statewide database is available 24/7 and covers participating courts from all 83 Michigan counties. Search by party name, case number, attorney name, or business name. Results show case numbers, filing dates, party names, scheduled hearings, and docket entries. MiCOURT does not show document images or full case files. For actual copies of Lenawee County court documents, you need to contact the circuit court clerk in Adrian.

Lenawee County Court and Records Resources

The Lenawee County website at lenawee.mi.us provides access to county department contacts, court information, and public records resources for residents searching Lenawee County family court records.

The Lenawee County main portal provides links to the Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, and Juvenile Clerk offices. It is the starting point for finding the right contact for divorce, custody, paternity, or other Lenawee County family court records requests.

Fees for Lenawee County Family Court Records

Lenawee County has a specific fee structure for divorce records that differs slightly from the general statewide copy fee. There is a $16.00 non-refundable search fee to locate a divorce record. Each additional copy beyond the first costs $6.00. If you're requesting standard court copies of other case documents, the per-page rate follows Michigan's statewide structure under MCL 600.2546 at roughly $1.00 per page. Certified copies require the $10.00 certification fee per document.

Viewing records at the courthouse in Adrian is free under MCR 8.119. You only pay when requesting copies. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Call (517) 264-4597 before sending to confirm current fees and to make sure you include enough to cover your request. Underpaying will delay your request.

Vital records at the County Clerk have a separate fee schedule. Call the County Clerk at (517) 264-4538 for current rates on birth, death, and marriage certificates. Those are separate from family court records fees.

Types of Family Court Records in Lenawee County

The 39th Circuit Court Family Division handles all domestic relations cases for Lenawee County. Divorce files include the complaint or petition, proof of service, the final judgment of divorce, and all orders from the case. Contested divorces can include motions, financial disclosure forms, and hearing records going back years. Custody files hold parenting time schedules and modification orders. Paternity files establish legal parentage through the order of filiation and link to child support orders.

Child support is handled through the Lenawee County Friend of the Court. The FOC keeps records separate from the main circuit court file and manages support enforcement, payment tracking, and parenting time compliance. For statewide policy, the Friend of the Court Bureau provides guidance for all FOC offices in Michigan. Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile records at the Juvenile Clerk's Office on the 2nd floor of the Judicial Building are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection order information is not public under MCR 3.705.

In-Person and Mail Requests for Lenawee County Records

The most direct way to access Lenawee County family court records is to visit the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building at 425 North Main Street in Adrian. For domestic relations records, go to the 3rd floor. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk can pull case files and make copies while you wait if records are on hand. For older or large files, call (517) 264-4597 ahead of your visit so staff can retrieve the case before you arrive. Public access terminals may be available for viewing records at no charge.

Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter describing what you need. Include the case number if you have it, full party names, the approximate filing year, and the specific documents you want. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Certified copies must come by mail with the court seal and cannot be sent by email or fax. Mail turnaround in Lenawee County typically runs a few days to a couple of weeks depending on workload and file size.

Laws That Govern Lenawee County Family Court Records

Family court records in Lenawee County follow Michigan's statewide legal framework. MCR 8.119 says court records are public unless restricted by statute, court rule, or order. It also bars courts from charging a fee just to view records on-site. MCL 600.2546 sets the copy fee structure. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act does not apply to court records because courts are exempt under MCL 15.232(d)(v). Any challenge to a denied records request must come through a motion filed with the court.

The Michigan Legislature's website has all relevant Michigan Compiled Laws. The SCAO forms database at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms provides approved forms for divorce, custody, paternity, and other family court filings. These forms are required for most filings in Lenawee County Circuit Court.

Nearby Counties

Family court records for residents near Lenawee County may also be on file in a neighboring county's circuit court.