Newaygo County, Michigan Court Records
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Newaygo County sits in west-central Michigan and is served by three courts: the 27th Circuit Court, the 78th District Court, and the Newaygo County Probate Court. Each court keeps its own case files and records — covering criminal, civil, family, and probate proceedings — and each generates official documents that capture the full history of a legal matter from initial filing through final judgment.
You can search for court records in person at the clerk's office, use public access terminals at the courthouse, or search online. MichiganCourts.us can help you find publicly available case information across the state. The statewide MiCOURT Case Search system also lets you look up many case types without making a trip to the courthouse.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Newaygo County?
Start with the MiCOURT Case Search portal, the main online tool for Newaygo County court cases. Depending on which court you select, the portal covers civil, traffic, criminal, domestic (divorce and family), and probate cases. You can search by party name or case number.
For Circuit Court cases specifically, the Newaygo County Circuit Court docket and public case information page lets you search case details by date.
If you need copies of specific documents or have questions about a particular case type, contact the appropriate court directly:
27th Circuit Court – Newaygo County
| Address | 1087 Newell St., P.O. Box 885, White Cloud, MI 49349 |
|---|---|
| General Line | (231) 689-7252 |
| Clerk's Office | (231) 689-7269 |
| Civil Questions | (231) 689-7281 |
| Criminal Questions | (231) 689-7236 |
| Domestic/Family Questions | (231) 689-7291 |
| Juvenile/Abuse & Neglect | (231) 689-7275 |
| newaygocircuitcourt@newaygocountymi.gov | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–5:00 PM |
78th District Court – Newaygo County
| Address | 1092 Newell St., P.O. Box 129, White Cloud, MI 49349 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (231) 689-7257 |
| Fax | (231) 689-7258 |
Newaygo County Probate Court
| Address | 1092 Newell St., P.O. Box 885, White Cloud, MI 49349 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (231) 689-7270 |
| Fax | (231) 689-7276 |
If you need help navigating the legal process without an attorney, Michigan Legal Help offers do-it-yourself tools for creating court forms and understanding legal procedures, including information specific to the 27th Circuit Court in Newaygo.
Are Court Records Public in Newaygo County?
Michigan law generally presumes that court records are open to the public. Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, anyone may inspect pleadings and other papers filed in a court clerk's office and obtain copies, unless access is restricted by statute, court rule, or a specific court order. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (Act 442 of 1976) further supports public access to government records, though the judiciary often operates under its own court rules rather than FOIA.
That said, certain categories of records are restricted or sealed from public view in Newaygo County courts:
- Jury questionnaires — Under MCR 2.510, juror personal history questionnaires are confidential; only judges, court clerks, parties to the case, and their attorneys may examine them.
- Juvenile proceedings — Records in delinquency and abuse/neglect cases involving minors receive heightened protection.
- Search warrants — Warrants issued within 65 days may be restricted from public disclosure.
- Mediation records — Communications and submissions in mediation sessions are generally protected.
- Victim contact information — Personal contact details for crime victims are withheld from public court records.
- Records sealed by court order — Judges may seal individual records or entire case files upon finding good cause.
For electronic case records accessible through public web portals, Michigan courts are limited by MCR 8.119(H) to displaying case numbers, party names, and docket history entries online. Document images are not available for public internet access — though they can be reviewed at the courthouse on public access terminals.
Newaygo County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Newaygo County is split between two courts based on the seriousness of the offense. The 27th Circuit Court handles all felony matters — offenses punishable by more than one year in state prison. The 78th District Court handles misdemeanor offenses where punishment does not exceed one year, as well as felony arraignments and preliminary examinations before cases are bound over to Circuit Court.
Searching Criminal Records
- Online: Use the MiCOURT Case Search and select the appropriate court type. A full name is typically required to initiate a search.
- Circuit Court docket: The public case information portal provides docket-level information for 27th Circuit Court cases, searchable by date.
- In-Person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 1087 Newell St. or the District Court at 1092 Newell St. during business hours.
The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains warrants, indictments, bonds, tickets, and all related documents for criminal proceedings. Records in cases still within the 65-day search warrant window may not yet be accessible. Felony cases involving defendants under age 17 are typically handled in the Family Division of the Circuit Court's Juvenile Division rather than through the adult criminal docket.
For official criminal history background checks — which are separate from court case records — submit requests to the Michigan State Police rather than the county clerk. Arrest records may appear as part of a court case file once charges have been formally filed, but pre-charge arrest information is held by law enforcement agencies.
Newaygo County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Newaygo County depends on the dollar amount at stake. The 27th Circuit Court handles civil lawsuits seeking more than $25,000 in damages, injunctive relief, or equitable remedies. The 78th District Court has exclusive civil jurisdiction for claims up to $25,000 and also handles garnishments, eviction proceedings, land contract foreclosures, and mortgage foreclosures.
Small Claims
The 78th District Court includes a small claims division for disputes up to $6,500 (effective January 1, 2021). In small claims proceedings, parties waive the right to a jury trial, formal rules of evidence, attorney representation, and the right to appeal the district judge's ruling. If either party objects to small claims treatment, the case moves to the District Court's general civil division.
Requesting Civil Records
- Online search: The MiCOURT Case Search covers civil cases for both the Circuit and District Courts.
- In-Person at Circuit Court: 1087 Newell St., White Cloud, during office hours. For civil-specific questions, call (231) 689-7281.
- In-Person at District Court: 1092 Newell St., White Cloud. Phone: (231) 689-7257
- By Mail: Send written requests to P.O. Box 885 (Circuit) or P.O. Box 129 (District), White Cloud, MI 49349.
Self-represented litigants can access Michigan Supreme Court-approved forms through Michigan Legal Help, which offers guided document preparation for common civil matters including landlord-tenant disputes and small claims filings.
Newaygo County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Newaygo County fall under the Family Division of the 27th Circuit Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, adoptions, name changes, juvenile delinquency, abuse and neglect proceedings, personal protection orders, emancipation of minors, and parental consent proceedings. The Family Division also covers guardianship and conservatorship matters and proceedings involving mentally ill or developmentally disabled individuals.
Divorce Records
Divorce case records are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. To review them in person, visit the Circuit Court at 1087 Newell St. during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–5:00 PM). Have the full names of both parties, the case number if you know it, and the approximate date of the divorce ready. Copy and search fees apply.
For divorce verification letters — as opposed to full certified copies of case records — the Michigan Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics issues those separately. Complete a vital records request form and mail it with a money order for $34 to:
Michigan Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics
333 S. Grand Ave., P.O. Box 30195, Lansing, MI 48909
Marriage Records
The Newaygo County Clerk maintains marriage license records and issues certified copies. A marriage certificate request form is available through the county clerk's office. You'll need to include the names of both parties at the time of the license application, the date of marriage, a return address and daytime phone number, and your signature.
Marriage Certificate Fees (via County Clerk):
| Copy | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $20.00 |
| Additional copies (same request) | $7.00 each |
Mail completed requests to:
Newaygo County Clerk
1087 Newell St., P.O. Box 885, White Cloud, MI 49349
The County Clerk's office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, though marriage license applications are only processed until 4:15 PM.
Birth Records (Family Reference)
Birth records in Newaygo County are confidential and not available to the general public. Access is limited to the person named on the record or a parent named on the certificate. Certified copies cost $20.00 for the first copy and $7.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Individuals 65 and older requesting their own birth record pay a reduced rate of $14.00 for the first copy. Mail requests must include a copy of a valid driver's license or state-issued ID (front and back), parent names including the mother's maiden name, date of birth, and payment by check or money order payable to the Newaygo County Clerk.
Death Records
To request a death certificate through the County Clerk, include the decedent's name, date of death, a return address and daytime phone number, and your signature. The fee is $20.00 per copy, with $7.00 for each additional copy requested at the same time. Payment should be by money order or check payable to the Newaygo County Clerk, mailed to the same address as above.
Full details on all vital records requests, including requirements and fees, are available on the certified copies of vital records page of the Newaygo County website.
Newaygo County Probate Court Records
The Newaygo County Probate Court handles wills, estate administration for deceased persons, guardianships and conservatorships for minors and incapacitated individuals, guardianships for developmentally disabled individuals, involuntary psychiatric commitments, protective orders, and civil actions involving trusts, estates, or fiduciaries. Most probate matters proceed without a jury, though the court has authority to empanel one when required.
Filing Fees
The Probate Court's current fee schedule is published on the Newaygo County Probate Court fees page:
| Proceeding Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Guardianship Petition | $150.00 + $25 EFS fee |
| Conservatorship Petition | $150.00 + $25 EFS fee |
| Protective Order | $150.00 + $25 EFS fee |
| Deceased Estate | $150.00 + $25 EFS fee + Inventory Fee |
| Trust Supervision | $150.00 + $25 EFS fee |
| Small Estate | $25.00 + Inventory Fee |
| Wills Filed for Safekeeping | $25.00 |
| Trust Registration | $25.00 |
| Subsequent Petitions, Motions, Objections | $20.00 |
| Accounts and Amended Accounts | $20.00 |
| Claims | $20.00 |
| Civil Actions | $150.00 + $25 EFS fee |
| Certified Copies and Letters of Authority | $11.00 (first page) + $1.00 (each additional page) |
| Guardianship of Individual with Developmental Disability | No Fee |
| Petition for Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment | No Fee |
Searching Probate Records
Probate case docket information is available through the same Circuit and Probate Court docket portal used for Circuit Court records, searchable by date. For copies of specific probate documents, contact the Probate Court directly at (231) 689-7270 or visit in person at 1092 Newell St., White Cloud.
Self-represented litigants handling probate matters can find resources for self-represented litigants on the Michigan Courts website. If you need a court interpreter, submit a Request and Order for Interpreter form to the Probate Court. Individuals with disabilities may request accommodations by completing the ADA Request form available through the court.