Saginaw County Court Records Search

Saginaw County, Michigan, is served by a multi-tiered court system that includes the 10th Circuit Court, the 10th Circuit Juvenile & Family Court, the 70th District Court, and the Saginaw County Probate Court. All four courts operate out of or near the Saginaw County Governmental Center at 111 South Michigan Avenue in Saginaw. Court records generated in these courts—filings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, and related documents—are maintained by the Saginaw County Clerk’s Circuit Court Division and by the individual court clerks, in accordance with Michigan Court Rules of 1985 (MCR 1.109). This guide covers how to search for, request, and obtain records from each court, the applicable fees, and the rules governing public access.

Michigan court records are searchable through multiple channels, including clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and web-based tools. The statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal allows the public to look up civil, criminal, traffic, domestic, and probate cases across participating courts. Saginaw County also operates its own Odyssey Portal for local case information. Additional Michigan court resources are available at MichiganCourts.us.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Saginaw County?

Saginaw County provides both online and in-person methods for locating court case information.

Online search options. The Saginaw County Court Case Information portal (Odyssey Portal) is the primary local search tool. It covers Circuit Court, District Court, and certain Probate Court records. To run a search:

Visit the Odyssey Portal.
Select a search type: Record Number, Case Number, or Party Name (Last, First, Middle).
Enter search criteria. For name searches, try alternative spellings and add date ranges or case-type keywords to narrow results.
Review the results list and select a case to view register of actions and hearing information.

The statewide Michigan Courts Case Search provides a second avenue for locating Saginaw County cases, particularly opinions and appellate records.

In-person searches. Requesters can visit the Saginaw County Clerk’s office on the first floor of the courthouse. Staff can assist with locating circuit court case files in the computerized database, which contains records from 1985 to the present.

Saginaw County Clerk – Circuit Court Division
Address: 111 S. Michigan Avenue, First Floor, Room 101, Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5540
Email: circuitcourtrecordsfiling@saginawcountymi.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (filings not processed after 4:45 p.m.)

Copy and certification fees at the Clerk’s office (per the county fee schedule):

Court copy, paper or digital: $1.00 per page
Certification fee: $10.00 (plus $1.00 per page)
Copies of transcripts filed with Clerk: $0.90 per page
Register of action: $1.00 per page

The courthouse is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The Clerk’s office uses the same general hours but has specific cutoff times for various services.

Court locations at a glance:

Court	Address	Phone
10th Circuit Court	111 S. Michigan Ave., Saginaw, MI 48602	(989) 790-5544
10th Circuit Juvenile & Family Court	3360 Hospital Road, Saginaw, MI 48603	(989) 799-2821
70th District Court	111 S. Michigan Ave., 3rd Floor, Saginaw, MI 48602	(989) 790-5200
Saginaw County Probate Court	111 S. Michigan Ave., Saginaw, MI 48602	(989) 790-5279

Are Court Records Public in Saginaw County?

Under Michigan Court Rule MCR 8.119(I), any person may access and inspect court case records at no charge, regardless of format. This right of public access applies broadly across all Michigan courts, including every division in Saginaw County. The presumption of openness is strong; records are considered public unless a specific statute, court rule, or court order restricts them.

Categories of information that are restricted or redacted under MCR 8.119 include:

Social Security numbers – routinely redacted from publicly available records to prevent identity theft
Juvenile records – proceedings involving minors are generally confidential, with narrow exceptions
Mental health records – information related to mental health treatment or commitment is protected
Protective order details – certain specifics within domestic violence or personal protection orders may be shielded
Trade secrets – courts may redact proprietary business information when presented in litigation
Sealed records – a court may order an entire case file sealed under specified circumstances, making it inaccessible to the public

Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) governs access to records held by executive-branch agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office. The county maintains a FOIA request process for records outside the court system. Court records themselves are governed by the court rules rather than FOIA.

Parties who believe a record should be sealed or that access should be restricted may file a motion with the court. Conversely, members of the public may challenge the sealing of records by filing an objection. The court must balance the interest in confidentiality against the presumption of public access before issuing any restrictive order.

Saginaw County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Saginaw County are divided between the 10th Circuit Court and the 70th District Court based on severity. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over felonies, lesser-included offenses stemming from felony charges, and appeals. The District Court handles misdemeanors, most traffic violations, and conducts preliminary examinations for felony cases before they are bound over to Circuit Court.

Searching criminal case records. The Odyssey Portal is the most direct way to look up criminal cases from either court. Users can search by defendant name, case number, or record number. For common names, incorporating a date range or offense-related keywords will improve accuracy.

Key phone contacts for criminal matters:

70th District Court, Criminal Division: (989) 790-5385; Fax: (989) 790-5589
70th District Court, Traffic Division: (989) 790-5390; Fax: (989) 790-5537
Circuit Court (felony case processing through the Clerk): (989) 790-5540

Criminal history background checks. Statewide criminal history records are maintained centrally by the Michigan State Police through the Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC). To obtain a personal criminal history:

Visit the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office at 618 Cass Street, Saginaw, MI 48602 (Phone: (989) 790-5456) with valid identification and request a Michigan Applicant Fingerprint Card (RI-008).
Complete the card in full, including a return address and phone number or email in Block F.
Include a cover letter explaining the purpose of the request.
Mail the completed fingerprint card with a $30.00 processing fee (check or money order payable to “State of Michigan”) to: Michigan State Police, CJIC, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909-7766.
Additional certified or notarized copies cost $1.00 per record. Allow 21–35 days for processing.

The CJIC does not accept in-person requests at its Lansing office. The Michigan State Police also offers the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) for name-based public background checks, which can be conducted online for a fee. Instructions for running an ICHAT search are available on the Saginaw County Clerk’s commonly used court forms page.

The Application to Set Aside Conviction (form MC 227) is available for eligible individuals seeking expungement through the Circuit Court.

Saginaw County Civil Court Records

Civil cases are split between the Circuit Court and the District Court depending on the amount in controversy. The 10th Circuit Court handles general civil cases valued over $25,000, equity matters, and appeals from administrative agencies. The 70th District Court has jurisdiction over civil claims of $25,000 or less, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims.

70th District Court civil filing fees (from the official fee table):

Claim Amount	Filing Fee	E-Filing Fee	Total
Up to $600	$25.00	$10.00	$35.00
$600.01–$1,750	$45.00	$10.00	$55.00
$1,750.01–$10,000	$65.00	$10.00	$75.00
$10,000.01–$25,000	$150.00	$10.00	$160.00
Motion fee	$20.00	—	$20.00

The small claims division handles disputes of $6,500 or less through a simplified process, provided both parties agree to participate. Small claims cases do not allow appeals. Forms are available at the Civil Division or through the Michigan Courts SCAO forms website.

Circuit Court civil filing fees:

Civil action filing fee: $175.00
Civil action filed by a governmental agency: $150.00
Garnishment fee: $15.00
Jury fee: $85.00
Motion fee: $20.00
Foreign judgment: $175.00
Appeal from District Court: $150.00

Court forms approved by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) are available on the Saginaw County Clerk’s commonly used court forms page, which links to documents including the Generic Complaint (MC 01a), Summons (MC 01), Default Request and Entry (MC 07), and various garnishment forms. Civil records from both courts are searchable through the Odyssey Portal.

Saginaw County Family Court Records

Saginaw County does not operate a standalone family court. Family law and juvenile matters are handled by the 10th Circuit Juvenile & Family Court, a division of the Circuit Court located at 3360 Hospital Road, Saginaw, MI 48603 (Phone: (989) 799-2821; fax: (989) 799-2171). The Honorable Barbara L. Meter serves as presiding judge.

This division has exclusive jurisdiction over adoptions, juvenile delinquency proceedings, child abuse and neglect (protective proceedings), juvenile traffic offenses, emancipation of minors, juvenile guardianships, and other legal matters involving children under the age of 18. The court is also responsible for determining guilt or innocence in delinquency cases, deciding dispositions, and assuming wardship when warranted.

Domestic relations matters. Divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, and personal protection orders are processed through the Circuit Court’s domestic relations docket, with the Clerk’s Circuit Court Division maintaining the case files. Key filing fees include:

Divorce with minor children: $255.00
Divorce without minor children: $175.00
Custody/parenting time motion (open case): $20.00
Custody/parenting time motion (closed case): $100.00
Support motion (open case): $20.00
Support motion (closed case): $60.00
Order of filiation: $59.00

The county’s Friend of the Court office assists with child support enforcement, custody evaluations, and parenting time disputes. Friend of the Court forms, including custody motion packets and objection forms, are available through its website.

Access restrictions. Family and juvenile records carry heightened confidentiality protections. Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect proceedings are generally not available to the public. Access to domestic relations files may be limited depending on the nature of the information. The Confidential Case Inventory form (MC 21) is required at filing for domestic relations and juvenile cases.

Marriage records. The Saginaw County Clerk’s Vital Records Division maintains marriage records from 1867 to the present. Records from 1995 forward are searchable through the Vital Records Self-Service Portal. Marriage licenses are public records, and anyone may request a certified copy. Fees are $15.00 for the first copy in person ($7.00 each additional), $16.00 by mail ($7.00 each additional), or starting at $26.00 online. Marriage license applications for Saginaw County residents cost $20.00 ($30.00 for out-of-county residents). The Application for Marriage Record form is available for download. Applications are not processed after 4:30 p.m.

Birth and death records. The Clerk’s office maintains birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Saginaw County. Birth certificates over 100 years old are unrestricted public records. For certificates less than 100 years old, only the named individual, their parents, or someone with a valid legal interest may obtain a certified copy. Death certificates are public records available to anyone. Fees for both: $15.00 first copy in person, $7.00 additional; $16.00 first copy by mail, $7.00 additional; starting at $26.00 online. Certain older births or records involving adoption may be filed with the State of Michigan rather than the county. The Death Record Request Application is available for mail requests. All vital records requests should be directed to:

Saginaw County Clerk – Vital Records Division
Address: 111 S. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5251
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Saginaw County Probate Court Records

The Saginaw County Probate Court handles matters arising under Michigan’s Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC) and the Mental Health Code. Its jurisdiction includes the administration of decedents’ estates, testamentary and inter vivos trusts, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, involuntary mental health commitments, and related proceedings. The court also exercises jurisdiction over certain matters under the Concurrent Jurisdiction Plan, which allows any judge in the county to hear matters across court divisions to reduce delays.

Saginaw County Probate Court
Address: 111 S. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5279 (general) / (989) 790-5320 (estates)
Fax: (989) 790-5328
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m., Monday–Friday

Probate filing fees are set by Michigan statute (MCL 600.880 et seq.) and detailed in the Probate Court Fee Table published by the State Court Administrative Office (February 2025 edition):

Petition to open an estate (probate or administration): $150.00
Motion or objection fee (when proceeding is pending): $20.00
Petition for guardianship: $150.00
Petition for conservatorship or protective order: $150.00
Inter vivos trust proceeding: $150.00
Trust registration: $25.00
Will filed for safekeeping: $25.00
Electronic filing system fee (civil actions): $25.00
Demand for jury trial: $30.00
Certified copy of letters of authority: $10.00 plus $1.00 per page
Other certified copies: $10.00 plus $1.00 per page
Appeal to Court of Appeals: $25.00

Inventory fees are calculated separately based on the value of the estate under MCL 600.871 and cannot be waived. The Probate Court provides an online Inventory Fee Calculator to help filers estimate these costs. For estates valued under $1,000, the fee is $5.00 plus 1% of the amount over $500. The sliding scale increases through several brackets, reaching $362.50 plus 1/8 of 1% of the value over $100,000 for estates valued between $100,000 and $500,000.

Probate court forms. The court’s forms page provides instructions and links for estate, guardianship, conservatorship, name change, and other probate filings. Most forms are SCAO-approved and available as downloadable PDFs.

Searching probate records. The Odyssey Portal may contain limited probate case information. For comprehensive access, contact the Probate Court directly or visit the clerk’s office with the decedent’s or ward’s name, case number (if known), and approximate filing date. Mental health commitment records are confidential and not available for public inspection. Guardianship records involving minors or incapacitated adults may also carry access restrictions, with the ward’s own filings exempt from motion fees under MCL 600.880b(3) and (4).