Mackinac County Family Court Records
Mackinac County family court records are maintained at the Mackinac County Courthouse at 100 South Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781. The Circuit Court Family Division handles divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and adoption cases for all Mackinac County residents. You can search basic case information online through the free statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal, or contact the County Clerk at (906) 643-7300 to request copies or certified records from the Mackinac County Circuit Court.
Mackinac County Court Overview
Where Mackinac County Family Court Records Are Kept
All family court filings in Mackinac County go through the Circuit Court at 100 South Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781. The County Clerk's phone is (906) 643-7300 and the fax is (906) 643-7302. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county's main website at mackinaccounty.net provides department contacts and general county services information.
Mackinac County sits in Michigan's Upper Peninsula just north of the Straits of Mackinac. It is a rural county with a lower case volume than Michigan's more populated counties. The courthouse in St. Ignace handles all county court functions. As with other small UP counties, staff cover multiple roles. Calling ahead at (906) 643-7300 before visiting is helpful to confirm hours and that the records you need are on-site.
There is an important rule for certified records: official certified copies in Mackinac County are available by mail only. The court does not issue certified records by fax or email. Standard, non-certified copies may be sent by mail, email, or fax in some cases, but call first to confirm. For court records, the copy fee is $1.00 per page.
Note: Certified records from Mackinac County Circuit Court are issued by mail only. Do not expect a certified copy to be sent by email or fax.
Searching Mackinac County Family Court Records Online
The primary online tool for Mackinac County family court records is MiCOURT Case Search. This free, 24/7 portal covers all 83 Michigan counties. Search by party name, case number, attorney name, or business name. Results show case numbers, filing dates, party names, hearing schedules, and docket entries. MiCOURT does not display document images. For actual copies of Mackinac County family court filings, you need to contact the County Clerk directly.
Michigan Courts Portal for Mackinac County Records
The Michigan Courts system at courts.michigan.gov links to MiCOURT and provides contact information for all Michigan circuit courts, including the Mackinac County Circuit Court in St. Ignace, for family court records inquiries.
Wayne County's Odyssey Public Access system is shown here as an example of a Michigan county-level records portal. Mackinac County does not have a comparable county-specific portal, so the statewide MiCOURT system and direct clerk contact are the primary ways to access Mackinac County family court records.
Fees for Mackinac County Family Court Records
Court record copies in Mackinac County cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies require a $10.00 certification fee per document plus the per-page charge. Viewing records at the courthouse is free under MCR 8.119. The fee applies only when you want copies made. Under MCL 600.2546, Michigan sets the statewide framework for court copy fees, and Mackinac County follows this structure.
Vital records have their own fee schedule. Birth and death certificates cost $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. Call (906) 643-7300 to confirm current fee rates before submitting payment. Mail requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order payable to the Mackinac County Clerk.
Note: Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the Mackinac County Courthouse in St. Ignace to request family court records in person.
Types of Family Court Records in Mackinac County
The Mackinac County Circuit Court Family Division handles the full range of domestic relations cases. Divorce files include the complaint or petition, proof of service, the judgment of divorce, and all orders issued during the case. Contested divorces may include motions, financial statements, and hearing records. Custody files hold parenting time orders and any modifications over the history of the case. Paternity files establish legal parentage through the order of filiation and include child support orders.
Child support matters in Mackinac County run through the local Friend of the Court office. The FOC keeps separate records from the main circuit court file and handles support enforcement, modification, and parenting time compliance. The Friend of the Court Bureau sets statewide policy for FOC offices. Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection order information is not public under MCR 3.705.
SCAO Forms for Mackinac County Family Court Filings
Michigan's State Court Administrative Office provides approved forms for all family court filings at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. These forms are required for filing divorce, custody, paternity, support modification, and protection order cases in Mackinac County Circuit Court. Always download the current version directly from the SCAO database. Using an outdated form can result in the filing being rejected by the clerk.
The Michigan Legislature's website at legislature.mi.gov has the full text of the Michigan Compiled Laws that govern family court records access, including MCR 8.119 on public access and MCL 600.2546 on copy fees. These apply uniformly across all 83 Michigan counties, including Mackinac.
In-Person and Mail Requests for Mackinac County Records
To access Mackinac County family court records in person, visit the courthouse at 100 South Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk can pull case files and make copies while you wait if records are on-site. For older or large files, call (906) 643-7300 ahead of your visit to give staff time to retrieve the case. Public access terminals may be available at the courthouse for viewing records at no cost.
Mail requests are accepted for standard records. Write a letter with the case number (if known), full party names, approximate filing year, and which documents you need. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order payable to the Mackinac County Clerk. Certified copies must come by mail only. Standard copies may be available by fax or email in some cases, but confirm that option before relying on it. Mail turnaround depends on workload and file retrieval needs.
Nearby Counties
Family court records for residents near Mackinac County may also be filed in a neighboring county circuit court.