Washtenaw County Family Court Records
Washtenaw County family court records are maintained by the 22nd Circuit Court, which operates from the Washtenaw County Trial Court building in Ann Arbor at 101 E. Huron Street. The Family Division handles divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, and adoption cases for all residents of Washtenaw County. You can search case information through the statewide MiCOURT portal at no cost, or contact the Washtenaw County Clerk at 200 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, to request paper copies and certified documents from specific family court files.
Washtenaw County Court Overview
Where Washtenaw County Family Court Records Are Kept
The Washtenaw County Trial Court is the primary location for all 22nd Circuit Court family case files. The court building sits at 101 E. Huron Street in Ann Arbor. The County Clerk's office at 200 N. Main Street handles official records requests, including certified copies of divorce decrees and other final orders. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk's main phone is (734) 222-6720. The Trial Court main line is (734) 222-3001. For Probate Division matters, the number is (734) 222-3990.
The 22nd Circuit serves only Washtenaw County. This is one of the larger single-county circuits in lower Michigan. The Trial Court building consolidates Circuit, District, and Probate divisions under one roof, but each has a separate counter. Family Division cases go through the Circuit Court counter. The 14A and 14B District Courts serve the City of Ann Arbor and the surrounding townships respectively, and the 15th District Court serves the City of Ypsilanti. District courts handle civil infraction and misdemeanor matters, not family court cases. Family court filings stay with the 22nd Circuit regardless of the city where the parties live within the county.
Washtenaw County has grown steadily, driven in part by the University of Michigan campus. That growth translates to a busy family court docket. For complex cases or multi-volume files, call the Clerk before visiting to ask about retrieval time for stored records.
Note: Certified copies of divorce decrees from Washtenaw County carry a $15.00 fee per certified copy, which is separate from the standard $10.00 certification fee applied to other document types.
Searching Washtenaw County Family Court Records Online
The statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal is the main online tool for Washtenaw County family court records. It is free and available any time. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Results show case numbers, party names, filing dates, hearing entries, and docket activity. Document images are not included in the MiCOURT display. The portal confirms whether a case exists and its current status, but you need to visit the courthouse or submit a mail request to get copies of actual documents.
For records that don't appear in MiCOURT, the file may be sealed, a restricted case type like adoption or juvenile, or may predate the system's available search window. Older case files may require a written request to the Clerk with the approximate year and full party names. MiCOURT does not include juvenile or adoption cases. Those are restricted under MCL 712A.28 and MCL 710.67 respectively.
Washtenaw County Court Records Portal
The Washtenaw County homepage at washtenaw.org connects residents to the Trial Court, the County Clerk, and local family court resources relevant to records access.
From the county homepage you can navigate to the Trial Court directory, locate the Clerk's office contact information, and find links to the MiCOURT portal for online case searches. The site also lists Friend of the Court contact details for Washtenaw County child support and custody enforcement matters.
What Washtenaw County Family Court Files Contain
The 22nd Circuit Court Family Division handles the full range of domestic relations matters. Divorce case files hold the complaint or joint petition, proof of service, financial disclosure forms, property settlement agreements, and the final judgment of divorce. Contested divorces add motions, responses, exhibits, and multiple interim orders before a final disposition. Once a case closes, parties can return to modify orders, and those post-judgment filings become part of the original case file under the same case number.
Child custody files in Washtenaw County contain the original custody order, parenting time schedules, and any modifications granted by the court over time. Paternity cases result in an order of filiation establishing legal parentage. That order is connected to child support obligations managed in part through the Washtenaw County Friend of the Court office. The FOC keeps payment records and handles enforcement actions separate from the main case file. For FOC-specific records or payment history, contact the Washtenaw County FOC office directly. The statewide Friend of the Court Bureau at the Michigan Courts website provides policy guidance about FOC services statewide.
Certain case types are not publicly accessible. Adoption records are sealed under MCL 710.67. Juvenile court records carry access restrictions under MCL 712A.28. Personal protection order details are not available to the public under MCR 3.705. None of these appear in MiCOURT search results.
Note: Washtenaw County cases involving University of Michigan students or faculty sometimes involve custody arrangements across state lines, which can complicate the records trail if modifications were entered in another state's court.
Copy Fees for Washtenaw County Family Court Records
Washtenaw County generally follows Michigan's standard copy fee structure under MCL 600.2546. Non-certified copies of family court records cost $1.00 per page at the Clerk's counter. Standard certification adds $10.00 per document. Certified copies of divorce decrees specifically carry a $15.00 fee. Viewing records in person at the courthouse is free under MCR 8.119. Courts may not charge a fee just to inspect publicly available records on site. Fees apply only when you request copies to take with you.
Some courts charge an additional name search fee when no case number is provided. To avoid that cost, run a free MiCOURT search first to get the case number before contacting the Clerk. Providing a case number when you call or visit speeds up the request and typically avoids extra charges. In-person payments are usually accepted by cash or check. Mail requests should include a check or money order made out to the Washtenaw County Clerk, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough for the documents you expect to receive.
Certified copies require the physical embossed seal of the Clerk. They cannot be issued electronically or by email. If you need a certified copy mailed to you, include enough return postage for multiple pages and allow up to several weeks for processing during busy periods.
In-Person and Mail Access to Records
Visit the Washtenaw County Clerk at 200 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 to request family court records in person. Bring a valid photo ID. Know the case number or the full names of the parties and the approximate filing year. Staff can copy files on hand while you wait. For older or archived files, call (734) 222-6720 ahead of your visit to ask about retrieval time.
Public access terminals at the courthouse allow free viewing of case records without a copy fee. These terminals are available during regular business hours. They show the same information as MiCOURT but may include document images in some cases. If you find what you need on screen, you can ask for copies at the counter and pay the per-page rate at that time.
Mail requests go to the Washtenaw County Clerk, 200 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Include the case number, full names of the parties, the approximate year the case was filed, and a list of the specific documents you want. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the estimated copy cost. If you're unsure of the exact cost, call the office first. SCAO-approved forms for filings in the 22nd Circuit are available at courts.michigan.gov/scao-forms. Use the current version from that official source to avoid rejection at filing.
Michigan Statutes Governing Access to Washtenaw County Records
Michigan court records are presumed public under MCR 8.119. That rule establishes the baseline right to inspect and copy court files for any member of the public. Exceptions are specific and set by statute or court rule. MCL 600.2546 establishes the framework for copy fees that Washtenaw County applies when you request documents.
Several record types in the Family Division are not subject to the general public access rule. Adoption files are sealed by MCL 710.67, meaning the public has no right to inspect them. Juvenile court records involving minors are restricted under MCL 712A.28, with access limited to parties, attorneys, and specified agencies. Personal protection orders have restricted public detail under MCR 3.705. These restrictions apply uniformly across all 83 Michigan counties, including Washtenaw.
The Michigan Legislature website at legislature.mi.gov hosts the full text of the Michigan Compiled Laws. You can search by statute number to read the exact language of MCL 710.67, MCL 712A.28, or MCL 600.2546. SCAO forms available at the Michigan Courts site are the official forms required for most Washtenaw County family court filings.
Nearby Counties
Family court cases near Washtenaw County may also be filed in one of these neighboring Michigan counties.