Leelanau County Court Records Search

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    Leelanau County, Michigan, is a small but fully operational judicial jurisdiction whose courts process criminal felonies, civil disputes, family law matters, and probate proceedings each year. The records generated through those proceedings — pleadings, motions, judgments, orders, and supporting documents — form the official documentary account of every case heard in the county. Attorneys confirming case histories, individuals checking their own files, researchers conducting background investigations, and family members tracing genealogical records all rely on these documents. Knowing which court produces which records and how to access them is the critical first step.

    Searching Court Records in Michigan:

    Michigan court records are accessible through a combination of official county clerk offices, individual court offices, courthouse public access terminals, and online tools. MichiganCourts.us can help you locate publicly available court case information from across the state. The Michigan Courts' statewide case search portal and individual county-level systems provide electronic access to many trial court records, with in-person and mail options available for complete file requests.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Leelanau County?

    Leelanau County is served by three trial courts — the 13th Circuit Court, the 86th District Court, and the Leelanau County Probate Court — all located at the Leelanau County Government Center complex in Suttons Bay. The Leelanau County Clerk, Michelle L. Crocker, also serves as the Clerk for the 13th Circuit Court and maintains the official court files for circuit-level cases.

    Leelanau County Clerk / 13th Circuit Court Clerk

    Address: 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 103, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
    Phone: (231) 256-9824
    Fax: (231) 256-8295
    Email: clerk@leelanau.gov
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (except holidays)

    Leelanau County 86th District Court

    Address: 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
    Phone: (231) 256-8250
    Fax: (231) 256-8275

    Leelanau County Probate Court

    Address: 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 203, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
    Phone: (231) 256-8236
    Fax: (231) 256-9845
    Email: kmattis@leelanau.gov or smrdeza@leelanau.gov
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (call ahead to confirm staff availability)

    Online search options:

    MiCOURT Case Search — Michigan's statewide court case search portal. Depending on the court, civil, traffic, criminal, domestic (divorce/family), and probate cases may be searchable. The 86th District Court case search is directly accessible through MiCOURT.

    13th Circuit Court civil and criminal records — The Grand Traverse County website hosts the civil and criminal records search interface for the 13th Circuit Court, which serves Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties.

    Criminal Records Search — Leelanau County Prosecutor — Provides direct links to both the 86th District Court and 13th Circuit Court case search portals for criminal record lookups.

    In person — Visit the County Clerk's Office at Suite 103. Requests may also be submitted by mail, fax, or phone. Prepayment of applicable fees is required for copy requests.

    Are Court Records Public in Leelanau County?

    Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL Act 442 of 1976, court records held by public bodies in Michigan are presumptively open to public inspection and copying. Any person may inspect non-exempt court records at the Clerk's office and obtain copies upon payment of applicable fees.

    Records generally available to the public include:

    • Circuit Court civil case filings, orders, and judgments
    • Felony criminal case dockets and sentencing records
    • General civil and traffic records from the District Court
    • Probate estate filings, wills admitted to record, and guardianship orders
    • Marriage license records maintained by the County Clerk
    • Death certificates (post-1867)

    Records that are confidential or subject to restriction include:

    • Juvenile court proceedings, which are protected under Michigan law
    • Adoption records, which are sealed by statute
    • Birth records, which are confidential for 100 years under Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.2888) and available only to the registrant (age 18+), parents named on the certificate, a legal guardian, or an heir
    • Sealed cases and records restricted by court order
    • Sensitive personal information (Social Security numbers, financial account details), which may be redacted before release

    Leelanau County maintains a FOIA Procedures and Guidelines document that outlines the county's public records policy, including procedures for submitting formal requests and the county's standards for balancing disclosure against privacy interests.

    Leelanau County Criminal Court Records

    Felony criminal cases in Leelanau County are heard in the 13th Circuit Court, which covers Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties. Circuit Court Judges Charles M. Hamlyn and Kevin A. Elsenheimer preside over the circuit. The County Clerk's Office (Suite 103) maintains all felony criminal files — indictments, arraignment records, plea agreements, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders.

    Misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance infractions are processed by the 86th District Court. That court's Criminal/Traffic Division handles violations of the State's Criminal Code, schedules hearings, manages case opening and closing, coordinates with the jail on sentencing, and notifies the Department of State Police of case dispositions.

    Searching criminal records:

    For arrest records not yet in the court system, contact the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office directly. The Sheriff can be reached via the county government directory at (231) 256-8692.

    Leelanau County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Leelanau County are split between two courts based on the dollar amount at issue. The 13th Circuit Court handles civil actions with claims exceeding $25,000, as well as appeals from lower courts and administrative agencies. The 86th District Court's Civil Division processes civil disputes involving $25,000 or less, including small claims actions and summary proceedings such as landlord-tenant cases.

    The District Court's Civil Division schedules civil hearings and trials, processes civil writs and garnishments, and receives filing fees for cases filed. The County Clerk maintains circuit-level civil files at Suite 103.

    Searching and requesting civil records:

    • Use the 13th Circuit Court civil records search portal for circuit-level civil cases; records from 1986 to the present include case information and register of actions and are open to the public with no ID required.
    • Use the MiCOURT case search for District Court civil matters.
    • For complete document copies, visit or contact the County Clerk's Office in person, by mail, or by phone. The Leelanau County Clerk Fee Schedule details applicable copy costs. Certified copies require an additional certification fee beyond the per-page cost.

    A case number is the most efficient search identifier. If no case number is available, a fee for a name-based case search applies. All fees must be prepaid.

    Leelanau County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Leelanau County fall under the Family Division of the 13th Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Steven Paciorka (who was elected Probate Court Judge in 2024 and also serves as the Circuit Court–Family Division judge for Leelanau County). The Family Division handles divorces, child custody and support, paternity actions, adoptions, personal protection orders, emancipation of minors, juvenile offenses and delinquency, juvenile guardianship, and child abuse and neglect proceedings.

    The Circuit Court–Family Division works in conjunction with the Friend of the Court for the 13th Circuit, which manages domestic relations matters involving minor children, including child support enforcement and custody arrangements. The Friend of the Court for the 13th Circuit covers Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties.

    Divorce records are maintained by the County Clerk at Suite 103. Divorce decrees are generally public records; however, certain documents within a family case — such as minor children's identifying information or sealed financial records — may be restricted. Divorce records from recent years may also be verified through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office.

    Marriage licenses are issued by the Leelanau County Clerk's Office. Both parties apply online in advance through the county portal, then attend in person to complete the process. Requirements include:

    • Current driver's license or state-issued ID
    • Social Security proof (card or W-2 with full SSN)
    • Full names, birthdates, birthplaces, address, and prior marriage history

    Marriage license fees:

    • Leelanau County residents: $20.00 per couple
    • Out-of-state residents: $30.00 per couple

    The license becomes valid on the third day after application and must be used within 33 days. Certified copies of the executed marriage license cost $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy purchased at the same time. The Clerk's Office also offers marriage ceremonies for a $25.00 fee.

    Certified copies of marriage records from the Clerk's Office cost $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. For statewide marriage and divorce verifications, contact the Michigan MDHHS Vital Records Office (333 S. Grand Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933; Phone: (517) 335-8666). The basic search fee for a certified vital record copy from the state is $34.00.

    Birth and death certificates from Leelanau County are issued by the Leelanau County Clerk's Office (records since 1867) and the Michigan MDHHS Vital Records Office. From the County Clerk:

    • Birth certificates: $10.00 first copy; $5.00 each additional (ages 65+ pay $7.00 for first copy); request using the birth certificate request form
    • Death certificates: $10.00 first copy; $5.00 each additional; requests accepted by phone at (231) 256-9824, by mail (with check or money order), or by email at clerk@leelanau.gov

    Birth records are confidential by law and available only to eligible relatives. Death records are public and accessible to anyone.

    Adoption records are sealed under Michigan statute and require a court order for access. Juvenile court records are similarly confidential and are not available through standard public records requests.

    Leelanau County Probate Court Records

    The Leelanau County Probate Court, overseen by Judge Steven Paciorka, handles wills, estate administration, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health and developmental disability proceedings. Probate Register Kristina Mattis and Deputy Register Sage Mrdeza manage day-to-day operations and are the primary contacts for record requests and filing questions.

    Probate records available to the public typically include wills submitted for probate, estate inventory and appraisement filings, applications for letters of authority, guardianship and conservatorship orders, and trust accountings. Records involving minors or sealed by court order may not be accessible without a court order.

    Copy fees: Probate Court copies cost $1.00 per page. Note that some records involving protected persons may be sealed.

    How to request or file probate records:

    • In person — Walk-in hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Call ahead to (231) 256-8236 to confirm staff availability, as Probate staff may be unavailable during hearings.
    • By mail or FedEx — Mail filings and requests to: Leelanau County Probate Court, 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 203, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Include payment for applicable filing and copy fees.
    • By Fax: (emergencies only) — Emergency filings may be faxed to (231) 256-9845 (limit 15 pages). Notify the court by phone or email if faxing emergency documents, as faxes may not be reviewed immediately.
    • Email — Routine filings are not accepted by email. Contact kmattis@leelanau.gov or smrdeza@leelanau.gov for questions only.
    • Online case search — Use MiCOURT to search for probate case information available in the public electronic docket.

    Payment of fees is accepted by cash, money order, check, cashier's check, or credit/debit card. All filings must comply with the Michigan Court Rules (MCR) and SCAO guidelines. Under MCR 2.406(E), documents received during regular court hours are deemed filed that business day; those received after hours are filed the next business day.

    For wills on deposit, the Probate Court charges a $25.00 filing fee each time a will is deposited, though the testator may retrieve their will at any time at no charge. Historical Leelanau County probate records and wills predating the current court system may be accessible through the Leelanau County courts page or through genealogical resources that index early Michigan probate filings.