Macomb County Court Records
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Macomb County sits in southeastern Michigan and runs a multi-tiered court system that generates a substantial volume of public case records every year. Whether you need criminal case files, civil judgments, divorce proceedings, or probate matters, you can access records through the Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds, individual courthouses, and several digital search platforms. This guide covers the procedures, fees, office locations, and online tools available for finding court records across all Macomb County courts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Macomb County?
Michigan court records are maintained at both the county and state levels. MichiganCourts.us can help you locate publicly available court case information statewide. Within Macomb County specifically, you can search records through the Clerk's Office, public-access terminals at courthouses, and two primary online portals: CourtView and MiCourt.
CourtView is the public case management system operated by the 16th Judicial Circuit Court and the Macomb County Probate Court. You can search case information—including dockets, events, dispositions, and receipts—from civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and small claims proceedings. Searches work by party name, company name, case number, case type code, case status, or date range.
MiCourt, the Michigan Judicial Case Management Portal, covers district court records. To search Macomb County district court cases on MiCourt, select the appropriate county and court, then enter a party name, business name, or case number.
If you'd rather search in person, the Macomb County Clerk's Office on the first floor of the Circuit Court Building has public computer terminals where you can review court indexes and case records at no charge. The office also takes requests by mail, fax, and through an Online Records Request Form.
Key details for in-person or mail requests:
- Name search fee: $2 per name
- Certified copies: $10 certification fee plus $2 per page
- Order form:File Room Order Form (PDF)
- Fax filing cover sheet and fax number: (586) 469-5353
Macomb County Clerk's Office Court Records Section
Address: 40 North Main Street, 1st Floor, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5351
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (counter service closes at 4:15 p.m.)
Mail requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to the Macomb County Clerk's Office.
Are Court Records Public in Macomb County?
Court records in Macomb County are generally open to public inspection. Michigan Court Rule 8.119(D) establishes that case records qualify as public records and must be accessible under MCR 8.119(H). That means any eligible member of the public can request and review records kept by the Macomb County Clerk or any court in the county.
That said, not all records are available. Several categories are shielded from public access under the same court rules:
- Records sealed or expunged by court order or statute
- Court administrative and fiscal records
- Non-record documents and internal materials
- Personal identifying information that courts are required to protect
- Juvenile records (except as authorized by law)
- Adoption records
- Records in cases involving domestic violence where confidentiality protections apply
- Any other case materials exempted by Michigan law
Under MCR 1.109, courts are also prohibited from providing public access to document images through the internet. While case summaries, docket entries, and party information are viewable online through CourtView, full document images generally require a visit to the Clerk's Office or a formal request.
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 1976 PA 442, also governs public access to government records. FOIA lets you inspect and copy public records held by government bodies, though it includes specific exemptions for law enforcement records, investigative files, and records whose release would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Incarcerated individuals are excluded from making FOIA requests.
Macomb County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Macomb County go before either the Circuit Court or one of the district courts, depending on the seriousness of the offense. The 16th Judicial Circuit Court handles all felony cases and serious misdemeanors. The county's district courts manage misdemeanors with sentences under one year and conduct preliminary examinations in felony cases.
You can search criminal court records through several channels:
- In-person visit to the Clerk's Office at 40 North Main Street, 1st Floor, or the clerk's office of the district court where the case originated
- Public access terminals at the courthouses
- CourtView for Circuit Court criminal records
- MiCourt for district court criminal records
- Mail or fax requests using the File Room Order Form
For statewide criminal history searches, the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) provides name-based criminal record checks.
Macomb County Sheriff's Office Records Division
The Sheriff's Records Office keeps police reports, arrest records, and related law enforcement documents. Record requests must be submitted in person with a handwritten request. The cost depends on labor, number of copies, and delivery method.
Additional services at the Records Division include:
- Police clearance letters: $6 if the individual has a record; free if no record exists
- Proof of incarceration: $4
- Valid photo identification is required for clearance letters and incarceration verification
Sheriff's Records Office
Address: Macomb County Sheriff's Office, 43565 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5151
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Wednesday: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (closed daily 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.)
Criminal records involving arrests that did not lead to convictions, expunged records, and sealed juvenile records are not available to the public without a court order.
Macomb County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Macomb County is divided between the Circuit Court and the district courts based on the amount in dispute. The Circuit Court handles civil cases where the amount exceeds $25,000, along with cases seeking equitable relief. The district courts take civil claims of $25,000 or less, including small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, civil infractions, and garnishments.
To obtain civil court records, you can:
- Visit the Circuit Court or district court Clerk's Office during business hours
- Use the public computer terminals at any courthouse
- Order documents online through the Online Records Request Form
- Send a completed File Room Order Form by mail or fax with payment enclosed
- Search CourtView for Circuit Court civil records or MiCourt for district court civil cases
Having the case number, party names, or other identifying information on hand will speed up any search. Fees for copies vary depending on the custodian court and type of document.
Civil cases can also be initiated electronically. The Macomb County Clerk's Office accepts e-filings for all civil cases and certain domestic relations and personal protection order case types. E-filings are accepted around the clock and date-stamped on the day submitted.
The following table summarizes the Macomb County courts that handle civil matters:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 16th Judicial Circuit Court | 40 N. Main St., Mt. Clemens, MI 48043 | (586) 469-7171 |
| 37th District Court (Warren) | 8300 Common Rd., Warren, MI 48093 | (586) 574-4900 |
| 38th District Court (Eastpointe) | 16101 Nine Mile, Eastpointe, MI 48021 | (586) 445-5020 |
| 39th District Court (Roseville) | 29733 Gratiot Ave., Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 773-2010 |
| 40th District Court (St. Clair Shores) | 27701 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 | (586) 445-5280 |
| 41A District Court (Sterling Heights) | 40111 Dodge Park Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48313 | (586) 446-2500 |
| 41B District Court (Clinton Twp.) | 22380 Starks Dr., Clinton Township, MI 48036 | (586) 469-9300 |
| 42-1 District Court (Romeo) | 14713 33 Mile Rd., Romeo, MI 48065 | (586) 752-9679 |
| 42-2 District Court (New Baltimore) | 35071 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore, MI 48047 | (586) 725-9500 |
Macomb County Family Court Records
Domestic relations and family law matters in Macomb County fall under the Family Division of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. This division handles divorce, legal separation, custody and parenting time disputes, spousal support, domestic violence protection orders, and related proceedings. The Juvenile Division—also part of the Family Division—manages juvenile delinquency, child protective proceedings, adoptions, emancipations, and juvenile guardianships from its offices at 10 North Main Street in Mount Clemens.
Searching family court records follows the same general procedures as other Circuit Court records. The County Clerk's Office keeps all family case files, and you can search in person, by mail, or online through CourtView. Keep in mind that juvenile records and adoption records carry strict confidentiality protections and are generally not available to the public.
Friend of the Court (FOC)
The Friend of the Court supports the Family Division by enforcing court orders related to child support, spousal support, health care, parenting time, and custody. The FOC also investigates contested matters and submits recommendations to the court.
Friend of the Court
Address: 10 North Main Street, 6th Floor (Main Office), Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Phone service: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
24-hour interactive voice response: (877) 543-2660
Juvenile Division
Address: 10 North Main Street, 8th Floor, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5240
Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Marriage and Divorce Records
Marriage licenses and certificates are maintained by the Macomb County Clerk's Vital Records Department. Certified copies of marriage licenses cost $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy. You can order them online, by mail using the Vital Records Request Form, or in person by appointment.
Vital Records Department
Address: 120 North Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5205
Divorce records are part of the court record system and can be retrieved through the County Clerk's Office or by searching CourtView. Certified divorce certificates cost $12 per copy.
Birth and Death Records
Birth certificates are restricted records available only to the person named on the record, their parents or legal guardians, or an heir with a court order. Requests require valid photo identification. Death certificates, by contrast, may be obtained by any interested person who can provide the decedent's name, place, and date of death. Both can be ordered online, in person, or by mail. Fees are $15 for the first certified copy and $5 for additional copies. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
Macomb County Probate Court Records
The Macomb County Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over decedent estates, wills and trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, protective proceedings, and mental health commitment proceedings. The court is currently served by Judges Sandra A. Harrison, Sara A. Schimke, and Aaron J. Hall.
You can search probate records in several ways:
- CourtView — The Probate Court shares the CourtView eAccess portal with the Circuit Court. Search probate cases by party name to find case numbers, assigned judges, and case summaries for estate, trust, guardianship, and other probate matters.
- In-person requests — Visit the Probate Court on the 5th Floor of the Circuit Court Building during business hours. Staff can help locate files and provide copies.
- Phone inquiries — For wills and estates questions, call (586) 469-5290. For the mental health division, call (586) 469-5320.
Macomb County Probate Court
Address: 40 North Main Street, 5th Floor, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5290 (Wills & Estates) | (586) 469-5320 (Mental Health Division)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. (filings not accepted after 4:00 p.m.; filings not accepted via email or fax; emergency filings must be filed in person by 3:00 p.m.)
Probate records in Macomb County are generally public, though certain records involving mental health commitments or proceedings concerning minors may carry access restrictions. Guardianship and conservatorship files are typically available for review, but it's worth confirming specific access policies with the Probate Register's office—individual cases may have protective orders limiting disclosure.
The Macomb County Probate Court website provides additional information about the probate process, court staff, and applicable procedures. The court's disclaimer notes that information on its website is provided as a public service and should not be treated as legal advice.