St. Joseph County Family Court Records

St. Joseph County family court records are filed and maintained at the 45th Judicial Circuit Court and the St. Joseph County Clerk's office in Centreville, Michigan. The 45th Circuit handles all family matters for St. Joseph County residents, including divorce, custody, child support, and paternity cases. You can search case information through MiCOURT at no cost, visit the Centreville courthouse to view records in person, or submit a written request to obtain copies of specific documents.

45th Circuit Court and County Clerk

The 45th Judicial Circuit Court and St. Joseph County Clerk are located at 125 Main Street, Centreville, MI 49032. The phone for the circuit court clerk division is (269) 467-5542 and fax is (269) 467-5558. The Friend of the Court office can be reached at (269) 467-5570. All offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Centreville is a small county seat, so it's a good idea to call ahead before visiting to make sure the person you need to see will be available.

The 45th Judicial Circuit Court handles all family matters for St. Joseph County. This includes divorces and legal separations, custody and parenting time disputes, child support orders and modifications, paternity actions, personal protection orders, and juvenile matters. The St. Joseph County Clerk's office is also the clerk of the 45th Circuit Court, which means the same office handles both vital records and circuit court filing functions. That's common in Michigan's smaller counties.

Copy fees in St. Joseph County follow the standard Michigan circuit court schedule. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies have a $10.00 document fee on top of the per-page rate. Fees can vary slightly by document type, so call the clerk at (269) 467-5542 to confirm current costs before mailing a request. The county website at stjosephcountymi.gov lists department contacts and links to court resources.

Searching St. Joseph County Family Court Records Online

St. Joseph County participates in Michigan's statewide MiCOURT Case Search system. MiCOURT is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can search 45th Circuit Court cases by party name, case number, attorney name, or business. Results show case numbers, filing dates, party names, scheduled hearings, and the full register of actions. Document images are not available through MiCOURT. For copies of actual court papers, contact the 45th Circuit Court or the county clerk directly.

The county's official website at stjosephcountymi.gov has a dedicated page for the County Clerk and 45th Circuit Court Division. That page lists filing requirements, contact information, office hours, and links to relevant forms. It's the right place to start if you're not sure what you need or how to request it.

For a broader search across multiple Michigan counties, MiCOURT remains the best free tool. If you know the case was filed in St. Joseph County but don't have the case number, searching by party name in MiCOURT will return results from the 45th Circuit along with a list of matching cases.

The Michigan Courts website provides the MiCOURT case search link, the SCAO forms library, court directories, and general guidance on how to access family court records throughout Michigan including St. Joseph County.

Types of Family Court Records in St. Joseph County

The 45th Circuit maintains a complete file for every family case filed in St. Joseph County. Divorce files include the complaint, proof of service, financial disclosures, temporary orders if any were entered during the case, and the final judgment of divorce. Cases involving children add a parenting time order and child support order to the file. If the divorce was contested and went to a hearing or trial, the file also includes transcripts, witness information, and any exhibits entered into evidence.

Paternity cases in St. Joseph County contain the complaint, any genetic testing order if parentage was disputed, the order of filiation once paternity is confirmed, and the child support order. After the case resolves, the St. Joseph County Friend of the Court monitors and enforces child support obligations. The FOC office is reached at (269) 467-5570. If you need payment histories, wage withholding records, or information about enforcement actions, the FOC is the right place to call. The state-level Friend of the Court Bureau also has general guidance on FOC services and how they work.

St. Joseph County is a rural county with lower case volume than the large urban circuits. Files here tend to be manageable in size, and the clerk's office can usually locate records relatively quickly when provided a case number or the names of the parties.

How to Request Records from the 45th Circuit Court

In-person requests: go to 125 Main Street, Centreville, MI 49032 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). In-person viewing is free under MCR 8.119. If you want copies, the fee is $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $10.00 per document plus the per-page fee. Bring valid photo ID and the case number or party names to help the clerk locate the file quickly.

Mail requests: write to St. Joseph County Clerk, 125 Main Street, Centreville, MI 49032. Include the full names of both parties, the case number if known, the approximate year filed, and a description of what you need. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for estimated copy costs. Call (269) 467-5542 first to confirm fees and any specific request procedures. For vital records like marriage or death certificates, the same clerk's office handles those requests.

SCAO-approved forms for 45th Circuit Court filings are available at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. These forms are required for filing family division matters in St. Joseph County.

Michigan Law and St. Joseph County Records Access

St. Joseph County family court records are public under MCR 8.119, which bars courts from charging for in-person viewing. Copy fees are governed by MCL 600.2546. Michigan courts are exempt from FOIA under MCL 15.232, so FOIA is not the right path if a request is denied. The remedy is a motion to the court. Full text of Michigan statutes is at legislature.mi.gov. The statewide court site at courts.michigan.gov has SCAO forms, the court directory, and records access guidance for all Michigan counties.

Nearby Counties

Family court records near St. Joseph County may also be filed in neighboring counties.