Monroe County Family Court Records Lookup
Monroe County family court records are held at the Monroe County Courthouse, 106 E. First St., Monroe, MI 48161, by the 38th Circuit Court. You can find divorce, custody, child support, and paternity case records using the county's own online search tool at cr.monroe-clerk.com or the statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal. This guide covers how to search Monroe County family court records, what the files contain, how to get copies, and what access rules apply.
Monroe County Overview
38th Circuit Court in Monroe County
The 38th Circuit Court Family Division handles all domestic relations filings in Monroe County. This includes divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity cases. The courthouse is at 106 E. First St., Monroe, MI 48161. The court phone number is (734) 240-7020. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monroe County is notable for having its own county-level case search portal at cr.monroe-clerk.com. This tool lets you search cases within Monroe County without going through the statewide MiCOURT system. It may return more detailed local results for Monroe County cases. Marriage records in Monroe County date back to 1818, making it one of the richer historical records collections in southern Michigan. Court records overall are available from 1945 to the present.
Monroe County's official website is at co.monroe.mi.us. It provides contact information for county departments and links to court resources. Standard copies of Monroe County family court records cost $1.00 per page. Certification costs $10 per document. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting in person.
Note: Monroe County has its own case search portal at cr.monroe-clerk.com in addition to the statewide MiCOURT system. Check both tools when searching for older or local case records.
Searching Monroe County Family Court Records Online
Monroe County offers two main online search options. The first is the county's own portal at cr.monroe-clerk.com. This local tool is designed specifically for Monroe County cases and may show more detail than the statewide portal for local filings. The second option is MiCOURT Case Search, the statewide system that covers all 83 Michigan counties. Both tools are free and available online.
When using either search tool, you can look up cases by party name or case number. MiCOURT also supports searches by attorney name and business name. Results from either system show basic case information: filing dates, case numbers, party names, docket entries, and hearing schedules. Neither system displays full document images. To get the actual documents, including the divorce judgment or custody order, you need to contact the 38th Circuit Court clerk.
Monroe County Official Website
The Monroe County government website at co.monroe.mi.us is the official source for court and county department contact information, links to the local case search portal, and general resources for accessing Monroe County family court records.
From the Monroe County website you can navigate to the 38th Circuit Court page, find clerk contact details, and access the county's local case search tool at cr.monroe-clerk.com. The site also links to state court resources including MiCOURT and the SCAO forms library.
What Monroe County Family Court Files Include
Family court records in Monroe County go back to 1945 for general court records, and marriage records date to 1818. A current divorce case file typically includes the complaint or joint petition, proof of service, financial disclosure statements, temporary orders entered during the case, and the final judgment of divorce. Contested cases can have many pages of motions, responses, and hearing transcripts. Straightforward uncontested divorces produce smaller files.
Custody records include the initial custody order and all subsequent modifications. Parenting time schedules, whether set by the court or agreed to by the parties, are part of the file as well. Child support orders are in the case record and also tracked by the Monroe County Friend of the Court. Paternity case files include the complaint, the order of filiation after paternity is established, and the support orders that follow. FOC records for payment history and enforcement are held separately and must be requested from the FOC office.
Some records are not publicly accessible. 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 and do not appear in online search tools. Financial statements in divorce cases may be restricted at the judge's discretion when sensitive personal or financial information is involved.
Note: Adoption and juvenile case files in Monroe County require a court order for access and cannot be obtained through a standard public records request to the 38th Circuit Court.
In-Person and Mail Access in Monroe County
Visiting the Monroe County Courthouse at 106 E. First St. in Monroe is the most direct way to get copies of family court records. You can view records on site at no charge under MCR 8.119. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry a $10.00 certification fee per document plus the per-page copy rate. Bring a valid photo ID and, if you have it, the case number. For large or older files, call (734) 240-7020 ahead of time so staff can retrieve the records before your visit. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter to the 38th Circuit Court at 106 E. First St., Monroe, MI 48161. In your letter, state what records you need, include both party names, the case number if available, the approximate filing year, and a list of the 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 you send the right amount and avoid delays.
Certified copies must come by mail or in-person pickup. Certification requires a physical embossed court seal and cannot be done by email or fax. If you need a certified Monroe County divorce decree for a name change, a legal proceeding, or out-of-state use, plan ahead and allow time for mail processing. Uncertified copies may be available more quickly depending on the court's current workload.
Monroe County Friend of the Court
Monroe County has a Friend of the Court (FOC) office that works alongside the 38th Circuit Court in all family cases involving minor children. The FOC handles child support enforcement, parenting time compliance monitoring, and custody recommendations when parents cannot agree. Michigan law requires FOC involvement automatically whenever a divorce or paternity case includes kids. The Friend of the Court Bureau at the state level provides policy guidance and oversight for all 83 county FOC offices in Michigan.
FOC records in Monroe County are kept separately from the main circuit court case file. If you need payment history, arrears amounts, or records of enforcement actions in a Monroe County case, contact the Monroe County FOC directly. The circuit court clerk does not maintain these records. The FOC tracks wage garnishment orders, driver's license suspension actions, and other enforcement steps taken when support orders go unpaid.
To modify child support in a Monroe County case, file a motion with the 38th Circuit Court. The FOC reviews the changed circumstances and gives the judge a recommendation. A significant shift in income, overnight schedule, or childcare costs can qualify as grounds for modification. The Michigan Child Support Formula determines how the new amount is calculated, and the judge issues the final order.
Michigan Law and Monroe County Family Court Access
Michigan family court records are public under MCR 8.119, which says records are open unless a statute, court rule, or court order closes them. Courts cannot charge just to view records on site. At the Monroe County Courthouse, you can look at any public case file for free. The fee kicks in only when you want copies to take with you.
Several categories are closed to the public by law. 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 appear in either the county's online portal or MiCOURT. To access a sealed Monroe County record, file a motion with the 38th Circuit Court and show good cause.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act does not apply to court records. The judiciary is exempt under MCL 15.232(d)(v). If the Monroe County courthouse denies a records request, a FOIA appeal is not the right path. File a motion directly with the circuit court. The Michigan Legislature website has the full text of all Michigan Compiled Laws that govern records access, including MCL 600.2546, which sets the legal framework for court copy fees.
Nearby Counties
Monroe County is in southeastern Michigan and borders both Michigan and Ohio counties. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check where the case was originally filed. Each Michigan county keeps its own files at its own courthouse.