Emmet County Court Records Search
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Emmet County, Michigan, sits in the northern Lower Peninsula along the shores of Little Traverse Bay, with Petoskey as the county seat. The county’s judicial system is organized into three primary courts — the 57th Circuit Court, the 90th District Court, and the 7th Probate Court — all housed in the Emmet County Building at 200 Division Street. Together, these courts generate and maintain a wide range of case files, judgments, orders, and dockets that individuals may need for legal, employment, or personal purposes.
Under Michigan Court Rules (MCR) Rule 1.109, court records are broadly defined as all recorded information that has been created by a court or filed with a court in the course of a judicial proceeding. Understanding which court handled a particular matter is the essential first step before requesting any record.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Emmet County?
Court records in Emmet County can be reached through multiple pathways — online case search systems, the county clerk’s office, individual court clerk windows, or formal written requests. The most efficient starting point for most searches is the MiCOURT Case Search portal, Michigan’s statewide online access tool. This system covers civil, traffic, criminal, domestic, and probate cases and allows searches by party name or case number at no cost. For those unfamiliar with the Michigan court system, MichiganCourts.us can help orient users toward publicly available case information and the relevant official resources for locating records.
For in-person access, all three Emmet County courts are located in the same building:
| Court | Suite | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 57th Circuit Court | Suite 130 | (231) 348-1744 |
| 90th District Court | Suite G12 | (231) 348-1750 |
| 7th Probate Court | Suite 280 | (231) 348-1764 |
Emmet County Building
200 Division Street, Petoskey, MI 49770
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Emmet County Clerk’s Office serves as the official custodian and keeper of the Seal for all 57th Circuit Court records. County Clerk Suzanne Kanine and her staff — including Chief Deputy Clerk Andrea Hughey and Senior Court Clerks Monica Klawuhn and Erin Felski — handle record requests during regular business hours. The clerk’s office can be reached directly at (231) 348-1744.
Are Court Records Public in Emmet County?
Michigan courts operate under a broad presumption of public access. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) entitles most individuals — excluding currently incarcerated persons — to inspect or obtain copies of public records held by government agencies, including courts. Additionally, Michigan Court Rules set forth specific access standards: unless a file is restricted by statute, court rule, or a protective court order under MCR 8.119(I), any person may inspect pleadings and other documents maintained in a case file.
Several categories of records are, however, classified as nonpublic or limited-access under state law:
- Juvenile court case information and delinquency records
- Adoption proceedings and related filings
- Paternity records, depending on the posture of the case
- Mental health commitment records and guardianship files
- Sealed records entered by court order
- Mediation communications and settlement records
- Confidential personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
- Records pertaining to victims’ addresses in domestic violence cases
For county agency records not maintained by a court, the Emmet County FOIA process applies. Written requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by fax, or by email to the FOIA Office, Emmet County Building, Suite G70, 200 Division Street, Petoskey, MI 49770. The FOIA Coordinator is Priscilla Meyer, reachable at (231) 348-0678 or by fax at (231) 348-1790. Requests must identify the records sought with reasonable specificity, along with the requester’s name, address, phone number, and email address.
Emmet County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases — those in which a conviction could result in a state prison sentence — are heard exclusively by the 57th Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Jennifer Deegan. The circuit court also hears criminal appeals from the district court. All felony case records are maintained by the County Clerk as Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Misdemeanor criminal cases fall within the jurisdiction of the 90th District Court, presided over by Judge Angela J. Lasher. The district court handles all misdemeanor offenses — those carrying potential jail time of up to one year — as well as most traffic violations and ordinance infractions. The district court’s criminal division is staffed by Senior Criminal Clerk Amber Wilber and Deputy Criminal Clerk Ashley Kalbfleisch.
To search for case records from either court, the MiCOURT Case Search tool provides free online access to basic case information. For in-person inquiries, contact the relevant clerk’s office during business hours.
For statewide criminal history information, the Michigan State Police (MSP) maintains the central repository under MCL § 28.241 et seq. Two methods are available to the public:
- Name-Based Search (ICHAT): The Internet Criminal History Access Tool allows online searches of the MSP’s public criminal history database for $10.00 per search, paid by credit card. ICHAT returns felony arrests, convictions, and reportable misdemeanor convictions statewide.
- Fingerprint-Based Search: Required for specific licensing, employment, immigration, or adoption purposes. Applicants complete the RI-030 Live Scan Fingerprint Background Check Request form and visit an approved Live Scan vendor. Personal-use or immigration fingerprint requests may also be processed using a Michigan Applicant Fingerprint Card (RI-008), with a $30.00 fee payable to the State of Michigan mailed to the MSP Criminal Justice Information Center, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909-7766. Processing typically takes three to five weeks. For questions, contact the MSP Criminal History Help Desk at (517) 241-0606.
For arrest-related records held by the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, FOIA requests may be submitted in person at 450 Bay Street, Petoskey, MI 49770 (Administrative Office/Correctional Facility) or at the Richard L. Zink Law Enforcement Center, 3460 M-119, Harbor Springs, MI 49740. The Enforcement Division can be reached at (231) 439-8900, and the Corrections Facility at (231) 347-2032. Both locations are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Emmet County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Emmet County is split between the 57th Circuit Court and the 90th District Court based on the dollar amount in dispute. The Circuit Court handles all civil claims exceeding $25,000, including complex commercial litigation, equity matters, and appeals from lower courts. The District Court has jurisdiction over civil cases with claims up to $25,000, as well as landlord-tenant disputes and small claims matters.
The 90th District Court’s civil division is staffed by Senior Civil Clerk Anna Riethmeier and Deputy Civil Clerk Jenniffer Azolas. For civil filings and case records at the district level, parties may contact the court directly at (231) 348-1750 or visit Suite G12 of the Emmet County Building.
For small claims cases — typically involving amounts up to $6,500 for individuals — the 90th District Court provides an accessible forum without the need for an attorney in most circumstances. Small claims proceedings are less formal, and parties represent themselves before the judge.
Both courts are searchable via the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which provides free access to basic civil case docket information by party name or case number. For copies of specific filings, requests must be submitted in person to the appropriate court clerk, accompanied by payment of applicable copy fees.
Property records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats — are maintained separately by the Emmet County Register of Deeds at Suite 150, 200 Division Street, Petoskey, MI 49770; Phone: (231) 348-1761 Images of land records dating back to 1852 are available through the free online records search portal, which requires free registration. Fees for document copies are $1.00 per page in-office or $1.05 per page online. Standard recording fees begin at $30.00 per document. The office also offers a free Fraud Notify email alert program for property owners who want to be notified whenever a document is recorded in their name.
Emmet County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Emmet County fall primarily under the Family Division of the 57th Circuit Court. The circuit court’s family division covers a broad range of proceedings, including divorce, paternity, child custody and parenting time, child support, adoptions, personal protection orders, emancipation of minors, juvenile offenses and delinquency, juvenile guardianship, safe delivery of newborns, name changes, and child abuse and neglect cases. Circuit Court Referee Kyle Legel handles motions on parenting time, custody, and related support disputes in close coordination with the Friend of the Court office.
Divorce filings require a filing fee. Individuals who choose to file without an attorney can obtain pro se divorce packets directly from the County Clerk’s Office. The packet costs $50.00 and includes all necessary pleadings. At the time of filing, additional court fees apply:
- Divorce without minor children: $175.00 filing fee
- Divorce with minor children: $255.00 filing fee
Payments at the clerk’s office are accepted by cash, check, or credit card (American Express excluded). Note that the 57th Circuit Court does not accept pleadings or other filings via email or fax; a judge’s copy must accompany every pleading submitted.
Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the County Clerk. At least one applicant must be an Emmet County resident, or both applicants may be non-Michigan residents marrying in Emmet County. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo ID (driver’s license or state ID) and a birth certificate. The current marriage license application is available online.
Marriage License Fees:
| Applicant Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| Emmet County resident | $20.00 |
| Out-of-state resident | $30.00 |
| Fee waiver (with documentation) | $40.00 |
Certified copies of recorded marriage records cost $15.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Users are advised to first search the Marriage Record Index, which covers records from 1860 to the present, to confirm whether Emmet County holds the record before submitting a request.
Birth and death records are similarly managed by the County Clerk under MCL § 333.2823 et seq. Birth certificates are restricted records accessible only to the registrant, a parent named on the record, a legal guardian (with certified guardianship papers), a licensed legal representative, an heir if the registrant is deceased, or pursuant to a court order. Death records are public. Certified copies of both record types cost $15.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. Requests may be submitted in person at the Clerk’s Office, by mail with a completed application form and money order or cashier’s check, or online through OfficialRecordsOnline. Faxed requests are not accepted, and mail-in requests are fulfilled within three to four business days of receipt.
Emmet County Probate Court Records
The 7th Probate Court in Emmet County handles all matters involving the estates of deceased persons, including the probate of wills, administration of intestate estates, and formal declaration of heirship. The court also has jurisdiction over guardianships and conservatorships for minors and incapacitated adults, mental health commitments for Emmet County residents, and certain juvenile matters including delinquency and child protective proceedings.
The Probate Court is located in Suite 280 of the Emmet County Building and can be reached at (231) 348-1764. Probate records are generally public unless sealed by court order, though certain mental health and juvenile records carry confidentiality protections under Michigan statute.
To search probate case information, the MiCOURT Case Search portal includes probate case data and can be searched by party name or case number at no charge. For certified copies of probate documents, requests should be made in person at the court clerk’s window during regular business hours, or submitted in writing with identifying case information and applicable copy fees.
When a person dies with a valid will, the executor named in the will must file a petition with the Probate Court to initiate the probate process. The court reviews whether the will meets Michigan’s legal requirements, appoints the executor (also called a Personal Representative), and issues an Order Probating the Will. Letters Testamentary are then issued authorizing the executor to administer the estate. When no will exists, the court appoints an Administrator and the estate is distributed according to Michigan’s intestate succession statutes.
For guardianships, the court issues Letters of Guardianship authorizing the appointed individual to act as legal representative. Guardians of the person are required to file an Annual Report with the probate court clerk each year. Guardians of both the person and the estate must file the Annual Report and Annual Account on the same day, and both documents must be notarized before submission. These filings are held at the clerk’s office for ten days before being forwarded to the judge for approval.
The Emmet County Probate Court also oversees the Charlevoix-Emmet Juvenile Drug Court program, a nationally recognized model for adjudicated youth dealing with substance abuse issues. Records from juvenile proceedings, including those within the drug court program, are not available for public inspection under Michigan law.