Missaukee County Family Court Records
Missaukee County family court records are kept by the 28th Circuit Court at 111 S. Canal St., Lake City, MI 49651. The 28th Circuit is shared with Wexford County and includes a dedicated Family Division. To find or request records for a divorce, custody, child support, or paternity case filed in Missaukee County, start with the free MiCOURT Case Search portal or contact the Family Division clerk directly. This page covers the search process, what records contain, how to request copies, and the access rules that apply.
Missaukee County Overview
28th Circuit Court Family Division in Missaukee County
The 28th Circuit Court serves both Missaukee and Wexford counties. In Missaukee County, the court is located at 111 S. Canal St., Lake City, MI 49651 (PO Box 800). The phone number for the court is (231) 839-4967. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Honorable Melissa Ransom serves as the Family Court Judge for the 28th Circuit.
The Family Division has two dedicated clerks. Linda Westdorp handles paternity, custody, and divorce matters and can be reached at extension 202. Kelsey O'Dell handles matters involving minors and is at extension 208. If you have a question about which clerk to contact, call the main number and staff will direct you. Knowing which clerk handles your case type can save you time when you call or visit.
The 28th Circuit Court Family Division page is at missaukee.org. From there you can also navigate to the courts and legal department page for general court information. Copy fees at this court are $1.00 per page. Certification costs $10 to $11 per document. Vital records through the county clerk cost $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy.
Note: The 28th Circuit Court covers both Missaukee and Wexford counties, but Missaukee County cases are filed and kept at the Lake City location, not at the Wexford County courthouse in Cadillac.
Searching Missaukee County Family Court Records Online
The MiCOURT Case Search portal is the main online tool for Missaukee County family court records. This free statewide system is available around the clock and covers 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 display document images, just the case-level summary.
MiCOURT is useful for confirming a case exists in Missaukee County and for finding the case number before you contact the court. Having the case number ready when you call or visit speeds up the search on the clerk's end, especially for older files that may be stored in archives rather than the active file system. Restricted record types, including adoptions and juvenile matters, do not appear in MiCOURT results regardless of the search method used.
The Michigan Courts homepage lists all circuit courts and links to individual county court websites. If the 28th Circuit has any local search tools in addition to MiCOURT, the Michigan Courts directory will point you to them. The main court page for Missaukee is at missaukee.org.
28th Circuit Court Online Resources
The Missaukee County courts page at missaukee.org is the official source for 28th Circuit Court contact details, family division information, and records access guidance in Missaukee County.
The Missaukee County courts page provides contact details for each court clerk, the family division structure, office hours, and links to state court resources. For records requests, use the contact information listed on the Family Division page or call the main court number at (231) 839-4967 and ask for the appropriate clerk.
What Missaukee County Family Court Records Contain
Family court files in Missaukee County cover all domestic relations case types handled by the 28th Circuit Family Division. A divorce case file typically includes the original complaint or joint petition, proof of service on the other party, financial disclosure statements, any temporary orders entered during the proceeding, and the final judgment of divorce. Contested divorces can involve many rounds of motions and hearing records. Simpler cases where the parties agree tend to produce thinner files.
Custody files include the original custody order, parenting time schedules set by the court or agreed to by the parties, and all modifications entered over time. Child support orders are part of the case file. The Missaukee County Friend of the Court tracks payment history and enforcement separately. Paternity files include the paternity complaint, the order of filiation after the court's finding, and any support orders tied to the case.
Some records are not public. Adoption files are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection orders have limited access under MCR 3.705. None of these restricted case types appear in MiCOURT search results. Even in open family court cases, a judge may restrict access to specific financial documents or materials involving minor children when a valid reason exists.
Getting Missaukee County Family Court Records
The most direct way to get copies is to visit the 28th Circuit Court at 111 S. Canal St. in Lake City. You can view records on site at no charge under MCR 8.119. Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certification costs $10 to $11 per document. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number if you have it. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (231) 839-4967 ahead of time for large or older files so the clerk can retrieve them before you arrive.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to the 28th Circuit Court at 111 S. Canal St., Lake City, MI 49651 (PO Box 800). In your letter, describe the records you need. Include both party names, the case number if available, the approximate filing year, and a list of specific documents you want. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Call first to get a fee estimate so your request is not delayed for underpayment.
Certified copies must come by mail or in-person pickup. Certification requires a physical court seal and cannot be done electronically. If you need a certified copy for a name change, legal filing in another court, or other official purpose, allow extra time for mail processing. Uncertified copies may be available more quickly depending on the volume of requests the court is handling at any given time.
Friend of the Court in Missaukee County
Missaukee County has a Friend of the Court (FOC) office that works with the 28th Circuit Court on all family cases involving minor children. The FOC handles child support enforcement, parenting time compliance tracking, and custody recommendations when parents disagree. Michigan law requires FOC involvement whenever a divorce or paternity case includes children. The Friend of the Court Bureau at the state level sets standards and policy for all county FOC offices statewide.
FOC records are separate from the main circuit court case file. If you need payment history, arrears, or enforcement records tied to a Missaukee County case, contact the Missaukee County FOC office directly. The circuit court clerk does not hold these records. The FOC tracks wage garnishment, license suspension, and other enforcement steps taken to collect unpaid support orders.
To modify a child support order, file a motion with the 28th Circuit Court. The FOC reviews the changed circumstances and gives the judge a recommendation. Common grounds for modification include a significant change in either parent's income, a shift in overnight schedules, or a change in childcare or health insurance costs. The Michigan Child Support Formula guides how the new amount is calculated.
Access Rules for Missaukee County Family Court Records
Michigan family court records are public under MCR 8.119, which says records are open unless a statute, court rule, or specific order closes them. Courts cannot charge for looking at records on site. At the 28th Circuit Court in Lake City, you can view any public file at no cost. You only pay when you want copies to take with you.
Some record types are not available to the general public. Adoption files are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection orders are limited under MCR 3.705. These categories do not appear in MiCOURT. To access a sealed record, file a motion with the circuit court and show good cause for why access should be granted.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act does not apply to court records. The judiciary is exempt under MCL 15.232(d)(v). If the 28th Circuit Court in Missaukee County denies a records request, a FOIA appeal is not the right path. File a motion directly with the circuit court instead. The Michigan Legislature website has the full text of all statutes governing access to court records in Michigan.
Nearby Counties
Missaukee County is in the northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check where the case was originally filed. Each county keeps its own case files at its own courthouse.