Find Family Court Records in Roscommon County

Roscommon County family court records are held by the 34th Circuit Court in Roscommon, Michigan. This court's Family Division processes divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity cases for residents of the county. You can look up basic case information at no cost through the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which covers all 83 Michigan counties. If you need actual court documents, certified copies, or records going back to 1875, contact the Roscommon County Circuit Court and County Clerk office directly. The county seat is the city of Roscommon, and that is where all circuit court records are kept.

Where to Find Roscommon County Family Court Records

The 34th Circuit Court in Roscommon is where all family court records for this county are maintained. The court is located at 500 Lake Street, Roscommon, MI 48653. The County Clerk and Register of Deeds office handles records requests for circuit court cases, including divorce, custody, and paternity matters. The main phone line for the clerk's office is (989) 275-1902.

Roscommon County shares the 34th Judicial Circuit with Ogemaw County. Each county has its own clerk's office and case files, so a case filed in Roscommon is held in Roscommon. If you're not sure which county a case was filed in, start with the county where the parties lived at the time of filing. The clerk's office can help you narrow down the search even with limited information, though having a case number speeds things up considerably.

Records in Roscommon County go back to 1875. That includes divorce records, court filings, probate records, and land records. This long history makes the county clerk an important resource for genealogy researchers as well as those searching for more recent family court cases. Older records may be archived and require advance notice to retrieve, so call before visiting if you need records from earlier decades.

Searching Roscommon County Family Court Records Online

The best online starting point for Roscommon County family court records is the MiCOURT Case Search portal. This free statewide system covers the 34th Circuit Court. You can search by party name, case number, business name, or attorney name. Search results show the case number, filing date, party names, scheduled hearings, current case status, and the register of actions. MiCOURT is available 24 hours a day and does not require a login or any fee to use.

MiCOURT does not show document images. If you need the actual text of a divorce judgment, a custody order, or any other document from the file, you must request that from the county clerk in Roscommon. The portal is most useful for confirming that a case exists and identifying the case number, which you can then use to speed up your request with the clerk. Results for family cases reflect public case information only. Sealed records, adoption files, restricted juvenile cases, and personal protection order details do not appear in online searches.

Property records in Roscommon County are available through the Register of Deeds at the same office as the County Clerk. Property search fees run $1.00 per page for copies, with a search fee of $5.00 for the first five minutes and $1.00 for each additional minute. These fees are separate from court record fees, so keep them distinct when budgeting your request.

Roscommon County Records Through Michigan Courts

The statewide Michigan Courts portal connects users to circuit courts across all 83 counties, including the 34th Circuit in Roscommon, and provides direct access to the MiCOURT case search system.

From the Michigan Courts homepage, you can find the 34th Circuit Court's contact details, navigate to the SCAO forms database for approved family filing forms, and access the MiCOURT portal for free case searches across Roscommon and Ogemaw counties.

What Roscommon County Family Court Case Files Hold

A family court case file in Roscommon County typically contains several types of documents depending on the case. Divorce files include the complaint or petition, proof of service, any temporary orders, financial disclosures, and the final judgment of divorce. Contested cases may include motions, responses, hearing transcripts, expert reports, and exhibits. Uncontested divorces tend to be shorter, with just the basic filings and the signed judgment.

Child custody and parenting time files contain the original court order and any modifications made over the years. Paternity case files include the complaint, any genetic testing documentation, the order of filiation that names the legal father, and child support orders. These documents are all public unless a court order seals a specific file or a specific document within a case. Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67, held in locked separate storage, and cannot be accessed without a court order showing good cause. Juvenile delinquency records are restricted under MCL 712A.28 as of January 1, 2021.

The Friend of the Court keeps its own records separate from the main case file. Payment histories, enforcement actions, and parenting time compliance records are FOC matters and are not part of the standard circuit court case file. Contact the Roscommon County FOC through the 34th Circuit Court to access those records.

How to Request Roscommon County Family Court Records

In-person requests are handled at the County Clerk's office at 500 Lake Street in Roscommon. Walk in during business hours with a photo ID. Under MCR 8.119, you can view public records on-site at no charge. Copy fees apply when you want printed copies made. Standard copies run $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry a $10.00 certification fee per document plus $1.00 per page. Call (989) 275-1902 ahead of your visit if you are looking for older records, since some files may need to be pulled from storage.

Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter with the full names of both parties, the case number if available, the approximate year filed, and a list of the documents you want. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for estimated copy costs. Turnaround time depends on how busy the office is and the size of the file. For large or complex cases with many documents, allow extra time. The clerk's office can give you an estimate by phone before you send payment.

For genealogy and historical research, Roscommon County court records dating to 1875 provide a rich archive of family history. Older records may require additional handling time. Probate records for the county are also held at the courthouse, separate from circuit court family files, and go through the Probate Court clerk.

Michigan Laws That Cover Roscommon County Family Records

Court records access in Michigan is governed by MCR 8.119, which holds that court records are public unless restricted by statute, court rule, or order. Under this rule, courts must allow free on-site viewing and cannot charge for simply looking at a public file. Copy fees are set by MCL 600.2546, which allows $1.00 to $1.50 per page for standard copies and $10.00 per document for certification. These limits apply uniformly across Michigan, including the 34th Circuit in Roscommon.

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act does not apply to court records. Courts are exempt under MCL 15.232. If a records request is denied, the proper remedy is a motion filed directly with the circuit court, not a FOIA appeal. For family records that are public, denials are uncommon. If you are denied access, ask the clerk to cite the specific rule or statute that restricts the record in question.

SCAO-approved forms for divorce, custody, paternity, support, and other family matters are at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. These forms are required for most filings in Michigan circuit courts. The Michigan Legislature website at legislature.mi.gov contains the full compiled laws if you need to check a specific statute before making a records request.

Nearby Counties

If you're not sure which county holds a family court record, check these neighboring counties as well. Cases are filed where the parties lived when the case was opened.