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The Guide to Michigan Courts


The Michigan trial court system consists of Circuit Courts, District Courts, Probate Courts, Municipal Courts, and The Court of Claims.
 
Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all cases, but usually only handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. District Courts, Probate Courts and Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases. The Court of Claims has limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil cases against the State of Michigan or one of its departments.

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Please select a Michigan county below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find Michigan court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and county level. Go to the court records pages for another state.
 


 
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Michigan Circuit Courts

Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, but usually handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

Criminal cases heard by the Circuit Courts include felony criminal cases and lesser-included offenses and juvenile delinquency.

Civil cases heard by Circuit Courts include general civil cases with more than $25,000 in dispute, equity cases, appeals of administrative agency decisions, domestic relations and juvenile cases.

Each Circuit Court has a Family division that hears domestic relations and juvenile cases. Cases heard by the Family division include divorce, paternity, adoption, abuse prevention, child protection and juvenile delinquency.

Circuit Courts also have a Friend of the Court office that handles domestic relations cases that involve minor children.

Michigan District Courts

District Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.

Criminal cases heard by District Courts include misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felony criminal cases and most traffic violations.

Civil cases heard by District Courts include general civil cases with less than $25,000 in dispute and most landlord-tenant cases.

Each District Court has a Conciliation division that is available for most general civil cases involving claims for less than $3000, if the parties agree to use the simplified procedure of Small Claims Court.

Michigan Probate Courts

Probate Courts have limited jurisdiction over probate cases and some juvenile matters.

Cases heard by Probate Courts include the probate of wills, administration of estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and the care and protection of people with mental illness or developmental delay.

Probate Courts may have jurisdiction over some juvenile delinquency cases.

Michigan Municipal Courts

Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.

Criminal cases heard by Municipal Courts include misdemeanor criminal cases, some traffic and ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings for felony criminal cases.

Municipal Courts handle some general civil cases with limited amounts of money in dispute, generally up to $5000, but limits may vary by court. A Municipal Court may have a Conciliation division for certain types of small claims.

Michigan The Court of Claims

The Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases against the State of Michigan or one of its departments, if the amount in dispute is more than $1000 and if a Circuit Court does not otherwise have jurisdiction.

The Court of Claims handles cases for the entire state but operates out of the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County.

The State Administrative Board handles cases involving disputes for less than $1000 against the State of Michigan or one of its departments.

Where to find court cases in Michigan

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in Michigan.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilCircuit CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsMunicipal Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
General Civil - Limited
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Small Claims 
Most or all Small Claims cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Civil Equity
Some Civil Equity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Complex Commercial
Most or all Complex Commercial cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Foreclosures and Liens
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Most or all Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Landlord / Tenant 
Most or all Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Ordinance Violations 
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Most or all Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
CriminalCircuit CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsMunicipal Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Misdemeanors 
Most or all Misdemeanors cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Ordinance Violations 
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Juvenile
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Juvenile cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Traffic and Infractions 
Most or all Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Domestic RelationsCircuit CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsMunicipal Courts
Divorce
Most or all Divorce cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Child Custody and Visitation
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Child Support
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Child Support cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Paternity
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Paternity cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Most or all Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
JuvenileCircuit CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsMunicipal Courts
Adoptions
Most or all Adoptions cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Juvenile Delinquency
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Child Abuse and Neglect
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Termination of Parental Rights
Most or all Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Children in Need of Supervision
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Mental HealthCircuit CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsMunicipal Courts
Involuntary Commitments
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Other Mental Health Cases
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
ProbateCircuit CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsMunicipal Courts
Wills & Estates  
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Name Changes
Most or all Name Changes cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
   
Trusts  
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 

Note: Some courts in Michigan are not included in the chart above. Please use the following links for descriptions and types of cases heard:
 
  The Court of Claims


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