Oakland County Court Records
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Oakland County is one of Michigan's most populous counties, with Pontiac as the county seat. Its court system is extensive, made up of the 6th Judicial Circuit Court, eleven district courts spread across different municipalities, and a dedicated Probate Court. Criminal filings, civil disputes, family law matters, and probate proceedings are all maintained primarily by the Legal Records Division of the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office, the individual district court clerks, and the Probate Court.
If you need Oakland County court records, you have several ways to get them. The county clerk's office offers both in-person and online search options, and individual courthouses keep records for their own jurisdictions. Michigan's statewide court resources — including tools available through MichiganCourts.us — can also help you find publicly available case information from courts across all 83 counties. Public access terminals at courthouses and the county's own electronic portals round out your options.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Oakland County?
Oakland County offers several ways to search court records, depending on whether you need circuit, district, or probate court information.
Online Search Options
- Court Explorer — Run by the Legal Records Division of the Oakland County Clerk's Office, this free portal lets you search circuit court cases by party name or case number. An advanced search option lets you filter by party type, case year, and case type code. You can view the Register of Actions, party and attorney information, and order copies of documents online. Probate Court records on Court Explorer can only be searched by case number.
- Probate Access — A free, view-only tool for searching Oakland County Probate Court cases by name. You cannot view or order documents through this portal; you'll need to contact the court directly for copies.
- MiCourt Case Search — Michigan's statewide case search tool covers civil, traffic, criminal, domestic, and probate cases across participating courts. Select the county and court, then search by name or case number with additional filters for status, type, and filing date. This tool is especially useful for district court records.
In-Person Search
Visit the Oakland County Clerk's Office or the courthouse where the case was filed. Public terminals are available at the clerk's office for searching circuit court records at no charge.
Oakland County Clerk's Office Legal Records Division
Address: 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Dept. 413, Pontiac, MI 48341
Phone: (248) 858-0582
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Mail Requests
Send a written request with the case name, case number, or other identifying details to the Clerk's Office at the address above. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a money order or certified check for the applicable fees.
Copy Fees
| Document Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certified copy | $10.00 |
For questions about ordering circuit court documents, email CourtExplorer@oakgov.com. For questions about circuit court filings, email ClerkLegal@oakgov.com.
Are Court Records Public in Oakland County?
Court records in Oakland County are generally accessible to the public under two key legal authorities. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) establishes broad public access rights to government-held records, and Michigan Court Rule 8.119 (MCR 8.119) specifically governs access to court case records. Under MCR 8.119, case records filed with a court are presumed to be public and open for inspection and copying, unless a specific rule, statute, or court order restricts access.
Certain categories of records are not publicly available:
- Juvenile records — Delinquency, abuse, and neglect proceedings involving minors are confidential.
- Adoption records — Files related to adoption proceedings are sealed from public access.
- Mental health records — Proceedings involving involuntary commitment or treatment contain protected information.
- Sexual assault victim information — Records identifying victims of sexual assault are restricted.
- Set-aside (expunged) records — Criminal records set aside under Michigan's Clean Slate laws are nonpublic.
- Bound-over district court files — Under MCR 6.110(G)(ii), district court case files become nonpublic upon bindover to circuit court (effective July 2, 2024), though parties and their counsel retain access.
Anyone may file a motion to seal or restrict access to specific records, and courts can issue protective orders limiting disclosure where appropriate. Records that are improperly restricted may be challenged through a motion to the court.
Oakland County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Oakland County are handled at two levels. Felony cases are prosecuted in the 6th Judicial Circuit Court, which sits at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac. Misdemeanor cases, drunk driving offenses, and traffic violations go to the district court in the municipality where the offense occurred.
6th Judicial Circuit Court Criminal Division
Address: 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Dept. 404, Pontiac, MI 48341
Phone: (248) 858-0344
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The Legal Records Division of the Oakland County Clerk's Office maintains all felony criminal case files that have been bound over from district courts to the circuit court. Search these records through Court Explorer or view them in person at the clerk's office. For district court criminal records, contact the specific district court that handled the case — many of those records are also searchable through the MiCourt portal.
Criminal Background Checks
The Michigan State Police operates the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), which provides name-based searches of public criminal history records. ICHAT includes felony arrests and convictions, as well as serious misdemeanors punishable by more than 93 days. It does not include suppressed records, warrant information, federal records, tribal records, traffic records, juvenile records, local ordinance violations, or criminal history from other states.
The Michigan Department of Corrections' Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) provides information about prisoners, parolees, and probationers currently under supervision or within three years of their discharge date.
Oakland County Sheriff's Office Records Unit
The Records Unit handles criminal record checks, incident reports, and inmate jail files. Criminal record checks cost $5 and require a valid ID. Court-ordered fingerprints are by appointment only at (248) 858-0172; all other services are walk-in on a first-come, first-served basis.
Address: 1201 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341 (east side of Main Jail)
Phone: (248) 858-5011
Fax: (248) 858-1012
Email: ocsorecords@oakgov.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (walk-in fingerprint clients not accepted after 4:30 p.m.)
Expungement and Set-Aside
Michigan's Clean Slate laws, effective April 11, 2021, expanded the types and number of offenses eligible for set-aside. If you have a qualifying conviction, you may petition to have it removed from your public criminal history. Once set aside, those records become nonpublic under MCR 8.119.
Oakland County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Oakland County is split between the circuit and district courts based on the nature and amount of the claim.
The Circuit Court Civil Division hears cases involving personal injury, auto negligence, medical malpractice, contract disputes, business claims, and appeals from district court. The circuit court also includes a designated Business Court for commercial disputes. Most circuit court civil filings must be submitted electronically through MiFILE, Michigan's statewide eFiling system. Excluded case types (such as AP, EM, NC, UD, UE, UF, UI, UM, UN) can still be filed in person or by mail.
Civil case records from the circuit court can be searched and copies ordered through Court Explorer. Plain copies cost $1 per page and certified copies cost $10, payable by cash, card, money order, or certified check.
The District Courts handle civil disputes involving smaller claims, landlord-tenant matters, and small claims cases. Oakland County has eleven district courts:
| Court | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 43rd District Court | Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights | (248) 547-8700 / (248) 547-3033 / (248) 583-1800 |
| 44th District Court | Royal Oak | (248) 246-3600 |
| 45th District Court | Oak Park | (248) 691-7440 |
| 46th District Court | Southfield | (248) 796-5800 |
| 47th District Court | Farmington Hills | (248) 871-2900 |
| 48th District Court | Bloomfield Hills | (248) 647-1141 |
| 50th District Court | Pontiac | (248) 758-3800 |
| 51st District Court | Waterford | (248) 674-4655 |
| 52nd District Court, Div. 1 | Novi | (248) 305-6080 (Civil) |
| 52nd District Court, Div. 2 | Clarkston | (248) 625-4880 |
| 52nd District Court, Div. 3 | Rochester Hills | (248) 853-5553 |
| 52nd District Court, Div. 4 | Troy | (248) 528-0400 |
For district court civil records, contact the court that handled the case directly. Many district courts offer case search tools on their own websites, and the MiCourt statewide portal also covers district court records.
Oakland County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the Oakland County Circuit Court was created by Public Act 388 of 1996 and began operating on January 1, 1998. It brought all family-related legal matters — previously split between the circuit and probate courts — into a single division. The Family Division operates under Administrative Order 2020-02J and assigns cases to judicial teams that include judges, referees, case assistants, and family counselors.
The Family Division handles the following case types:
- Divorce (with and without children)
- Child custody, support, and parenting time
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Personal Protection Orders (PPOs)
- Juvenile delinquency and juvenile traffic
- Child protective proceedings (abuse, neglect)
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders
- Youth Community Service
Family court records are maintained by the Legal Records Division of the Oakland County Clerk's Office and can be searched through Court Explorer. Domestic case types including divorce, custody, parenting time, and paternity are searchable by name or case number.
Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) can be filed by emailing petitions to PPO@oakgov.com. For questions about PPO forms or post-grant inquiries, call (248) 303-1534. Additional PPO motions and filings should be eFiled through MiFILE.
The Friend of the Court office assists with child support, custody, and parenting time enforcement and modification. In-person clinics are held on Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
Phone: (248) 858-0424
Automated Phone System: (248) 858-1565
Address: 230 Elizabeth Lake Road, P.O. Box 436012, Pontiac, MI 48343-6012
Confidentiality Restrictions
Juvenile records involving delinquency, abuse, and neglect are confidential and not publicly accessible. For juvenile case inquiries, email oaklandjuvenile@oakgov.com or call (248) 766-7533. Adoption records are also sealed. Some domestic violence-related records may be restricted by court order.
Marriage and Divorce Records
Divorce records are part of the circuit court's domestic case files and can be accessed through the Clerk's Office or Court Explorer. Certified divorce records cost $10 per copy.
Marriage records are handled by the Vital Records Division of the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds. You can request copies online, in person, or by mail. Marriage records filed before 1942 are not available online. If you don't know the exact marriage date or party names, the Genealogy Research Service can help locate older records. In-person visitors may schedule an appointment or walk in during business hours with a completed Marriage Request Form.
| Vital Record | 1st Copy | Additional Copies |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | $15 | $5 each |
| Birth certificate | $15 ($10 for seniors 65+ requesting own record) | $5 each |
| Death certificate | $15 | $5 each |
Mail requests should include the completed request form, payment by money order payable to the Oakland County Clerk, and a stamped self-addressed envelope. Birth certificates are not public — they can only be requested by the record subject, a parent, or a legal guardian or heir with appropriate identification. Death records are public and available to anyone who provides the name of the deceased and the date of death.
Oakland County Probate Court Records
The Oakland County Probate Court handles estate administration, will validation, appointment of personal representatives, guardianships, conservatorships, and related proceedings. The court is located in the Oakland County Courthouse complex in Pontiac.
Oakland County Probate Court
Address: 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Dept. 457, Pontiac, MI 48341
Phone: (248) 858-0260
Fax: (248) 452-2016
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
eFiling Requirement
As of June 12, 2025, the Oakland County Probate Court requires all filings to be submitted electronically through MiFILE. The court no longer accepts in-person, fax, or mail filings except for a limited set of categories: Emergency Mental Health Transport Petitions, Petitions and Orders for Assignment, the deposit of original wills, and payment of the Inventory Gross Estate Fee. A public eFile center is available at the court for those without home or office internet access.
Searching Probate Records
The Probate Access portal offers a free, name-based search of probate case information. This tool is view-only — you cannot order documents through it. On Court Explorer, probate records can only be searched by case number. If you don't know the case number, use MiCourt to retrieve it first, then return to Court Explorer to view case details and order documents.
Copy Fees and Requests
You can get copies of probate court documents at the court or by mailing a written request with a check or money order for the applicable fee. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $10. A $10 fee applies to searches that take more than ten minutes of staff time. You can also view public files at the court during business hours at no charge.
Older Probate Records
The Clerk's Office holds probate records filed after 1971. Records filed before 1971 have been transferred to the Archives of Michigan and must be requested through that office.
Guardianship Petitions
Before filing a Petition for Guardian of an Adult, the Probate Court recommends reviewing the document titled Options You Should Know Before Filing a Petition for a Full Adult Guardianship (PC 666), which outlines less restrictive alternatives that may be appropriate.