Iosco County Court Records Search

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    Iosco County, Michigan maintains an interconnected court system that generates a substantial volume of public records across criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Those records — written pleadings, court orders, audio recordings, and electronically stored case data — are kept by the clerks of the county's courts and created under Michigan Court Rules, Chapter 8. If you're researching a case, a party, or a court outcome, your first step is figuring out which court handled the matter and how that court's records can be accessed.

    Michigan residents and others researching Iosco County cases can start with MichiganCourts.us, which may help identify publicly available case information across the state's trial courts. Records can also be accessed through the court clerk's office, public terminals at the courthouse, and several online search systems maintained by Michigan's court administration. For certified copies or verification of specific case details, the county-level clerk's office and individual court divisions are your most direct contacts.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Iosco County?

    Start by identifying which court handled the matter. Iosco County operates three primary court divisions, all physically located within the Iosco County Building in Tawas City.

    Iosco County Courts — Locations and Contact:

    CourtAddressPhone
    23rd Circuit Court422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763(989) 362-3497
    81st District Court422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763(989) 362-4441
    Probate & Family Court422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763(989) 362-3991

    The primary online tool for searching Iosco County case records is the MiCOURT Case Search system, maintained by the Michigan courts. Depending on the court selected, MiCOURT provides access to civil, traffic, criminal, domestic (divorce/family), and probate case information. Certain case types are excluded from the online search entirely — adoption matters, juvenile and child protective proceedings, personal protection orders, mental illness proceedings, and name changes won't appear.

    For circuit court records specifically, the county's own online circuit court records portal lets you find case records, review upcoming hearing dates, and check outstanding balances. A separate Probate/Family Case Search is also available through the county's online services page.

    If you prefer to search in person, visit the Iosco County Clerk's Office at 422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, during regular business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. You can also submit requests by mail or email to countyclerk@ioscocounty.org, with case details and applicable fees included.

    Are Court Records Public in Iosco County?

    Most Iosco County court records are open to the public under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, which requires courts to make non-confidential records available for inspection and copying upon request. You don't need a special legal purpose or status to request a public court record.

    That said, a meaningful number of record categories are withheld from public access to protect individual privacy and preserve the integrity of certain proceedings. The following records are not available to the general public:

    • Juvenile case files and child protective proceedings
    • Sealed or expunged criminal records
    • Adoption records
    • Mental health and psychiatric evaluation records
    • Substance abuse treatment records
    • Documents containing personal identifiers subject to redaction
    • Juror personal data
    • Personal protection orders
    • Name change petitions

    It's also worth knowing that Michigan's MiCOURT Case Search system applies a seven-year criminal sentence filter for certain courts — criminal conviction records older than seven years may not appear online and must be requested directly from the court of record. Vital records such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce documents are handled separately under MCL § 333.2888 and are classified records restricted to eligible parties only.

    Iosco County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Iosco County are divided between two courts depending on the severity of the offense.

    The 23rd Circuit Court handles all felony charges and serious misdemeanor cases. The Iosco County Clerk's Office maintains these records. You can request them in person, by mail, or by email at countyclerk@ioscocounty.org. Include case details and fee payment with each request.

    The 81st District Court under Judge Christopher P. Martin handles:

    • Misdemeanor criminal cases (offenses punishable by up to one year in jail)
    • Preliminary hearings for felony cases before transfer to circuit court
    • Traffic violations, including speeding and seat belt infractions

    To contact the District Court about criminal records, call (989) 362-4441. Court-ordered fines and bonds for district court matters can be paid online through Government Payment Services at (888) 604-7888 (toll-free, 24 hours a day).

    Searching Criminal Records Online:

    The MiCOURT Case Search system covers criminal cases at both the circuit and district court levels for Iosco County. For a broader criminal history background check, the Michigan State Police operates the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) — the only public, name-based criminal history search available at the statewide level. ICHAT costs $10 per search and covers felonies and serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days that have been reported by law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts across all 83 Michigan counties. It does not include juvenile records, traffic records, local misdemeanors, suppressed records, warrant information, or records from other states.

    The Iosco County Sheriff's Office at 428 West Lake Street, Tawas City — reachable at (989) 362-6164 and open 24/7 — also maintains county warrants, handles sex offender registration, and processes concealed pistol license applications and fingerprinting services.

    Iosco County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Iosco County are split between the 23rd Circuit Court and the 81st District Court based on the dollar amount at issue.

    • 23rd Circuit Court — has jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding $25,000, equity cases, administrative appeals, and appeals from the 81st District Court and certain state administrative agencies.
    • 81st District Court — handles civil claims up to $25,000, most landlord-tenant matters, and small claims cases.

    Requesting Civil Records:

    Civil case records held by the Circuit Court are maintained by the Iosco County Clerk. You can submit requests in the following ways:

    • In person at 422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763, during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed 12:30–1:30 p.m.)
    • By mail to the County Clerk's Office at 422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763, with case details and fee payment enclosed
    • By email to countyclerk@ioscocounty.org, with case details and payment arrangement
    • Online through the county's circuit court records search portal for basic case information

    For District Court civil matters, contact the court directly at (989) 362-4441. Small claims forms are available through the 81st District Court page. If you can't afford filing fees, ask about a fee waiver request through the district court. Civil fines and court-ordered costs can be paid online through Government Payment Services.

    The statewide MiCOURT Case Search also covers civil cases at both court levels and is a useful tool to check before contacting the clerk's office directly.

    Iosco County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Iosco County fall under the Family Division of the 23rd Circuit Court, which shares the same building and address as the other courts at 422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763. The Probate & Family Court can be reached at (989) 362-3991.

    The Family Division has jurisdiction over a broad range of domestic and family-related proceedings, including:

    • Divorce and legal separation
    • Child custody and parenting time
    • Child support and paternity
    • Adoptions
    • Juvenile delinquency and neglect/abuse proceedings
    • Emancipation of minors
    • Personal protection proceedings
    • Guardianship and conservatorship when ancillary to a family matter

    Friend of the Court (FOC) is a statutory agency of the Circuit Court that assists with the domestic relations docket. The FOC office helps resolve disputes and enforces court orders for custody, parenting time, and child support. Child support payments ordered through the FOC can be made online through the county's online services portal.

    Family court records can be searched online through the Probate/Family Case Search available on the county website. Adoption records, juvenile proceedings, and personal protection orders are not displayed in MiCOURT or the county's online search tools — those must be requested directly through the court clerk.

    Vital Records Related to Family Matters

    Marriage and divorce records are classified under MCL § 333.2888 and are not public records. Access is restricted to the individuals named in the record, their immediate family members, legal counsel, or anyone presenting a valid court order. The Iosco County Clerk's Office maintains both marriage and divorce records. Certified copies cost $15.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. You can request them in person, by mail, or online through the county clerk's Order Now portal. Electronically certified copies valid for 180 days are available for urgent requests. For assistance, contact the Clerk's Office at (989) 362-3497.

    Iosco County Probate Court Records

    The Iosco County Probate Court operates under Judge Christopher P. Martin and holds jurisdiction over matters involving decedent estates and related proceedings. Probate records serve as formal legal documentation of property status and estate administration outcomes.

    Types of matters handled by the Probate Court include:

    • Informal and unsupervised formal estate proceedings
    • Supervised estate administration
    • Trust administration and determination of rights to intestate estates
    • Small estate petitions (Petitions for Assignment) for estates under $20,000
    • Guardianships and conservatorships for minors and adults, including those with developmental disabilities
    • Limited guardianship of minors
    • Petitions for hospitalization of mentally ill individuals
    • Adult and minor name change petitions

    Probate records are maintained by the Probate Court Administrator/Register's office. Many probate and family cases can be searched online through the Probate/Family Case Search tool on the county website. However, certain probate case types — including mental illness proceedings, name changes, and guardianships — are excluded from the public online search and must be requested in person or through the clerk.

    To request Iosco County probate records:

    • Search for the case number using the county's online probate case search portal.
    • Contact the Probate Court Administrator's office at (989) 362-3991 to confirm availability and identify any applicable fees.
    • Visit the court in person at 422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763, during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), or submit a written request by mail.

    Records in confidential proceedings — including mental illness petitions and certain guardianship matters — are not available to the general public.

    For historical probate records and real property documents relevant to estate administration, the Iosco County Register of Deeds maintains all real estate records from 1858 onward, including deeds, mortgages, land contracts, surveys, and condominium records. Records indexed back to the early 1970s are searchable online through the Register's Deeds Search portal. Older documents require an in-person visit to the Register of Deeds office at 422 West Lake Street, Tawas City, MI 48763. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with documents accepted for recording between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Reach the office at (989) 362-2021.