Sanilac County Court Records Search
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Sanilac County, Michigan maintains an extensive system of court records spanning criminal, civil, family, and probate proceedings. These records are created and preserved by the respective courts during the course of litigation and are held primarily by the Clerk of Court for each judicial division. Whether you need records related to a criminal matter, a civil dispute, an estate, or a family law proceeding, understanding which court holds the records and how to request them is the first step toward a successful search.
Finding Court Records in Sanilac County:
Residents and researchers looking for court case information in Michigan have several avenues available to them, including visiting clerk offices in person, using public access terminals at the courthouse, and searching through online case lookup tools. MichiganCourts.us provides a starting point for locating publicly available case information and connecting with the individual court systems that serve each county. Official court portals for each Sanilac County court division also allow direct case lookups by name or case number.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Sanilac County?
Sanilac County’s judicial system is served by three courts: the 24th Circuit Court, the 73A District Court, and the 76th Probate Court. Each maintains separate case records, and searching the correct court for your matter will yield the most accurate results.
The most direct method for locating a case is through the online case search portals maintained by each court:
- 24th Circuit Court Case Search — handles felonies, major civil matters, and family cases
- 73A District Court Case Search — handles misdemeanors, civil cases under $25,000, and traffic matters
- 76th Probate Court Case Search — handles estates, guardianships, and conservatorships
Each portal allows searches by party name or case number. In-person requests are handled at the clerk’s window at each court. All three courts are located at the Sanilac County Courthouse, with offices on different floors:
24th Judicial Circuit Court
Address: 60 West Sanilac Avenue, Room 303, Sandusky, MI 48471
Phone: (810) 648-2120 | Fax: (810) 648-5466
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
73A Judicial District Court
Address: 60 West Sanilac Avenue, Room 302, Sandusky, MI 48471
Phone: (810) 648-3250 | Fax: (810) 648-3271 | Magistrate: (810) 648-3424
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sanilac County Probate Court
Address: 60 West Sanilac Avenue, Room 213, Sandusky, MI 48471
Phone: (810) 648-3221 | Fax: (810) 648-2900
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The County Clerk’s Office, located at Room 203 of the same courthouse, serves as the Clerk of the 24th Judicial Circuit Court and also maintains vital records such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. The clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (with a lunch hour from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.), and can be reached at (810) 648-3212. Court fees and fines may also be paid online through the county’s online payments portal.
Are Court Records Public in Sanilac County?
Michigan law generally makes court records accessible to the public. Access is governed by Michigan Court Rule 8.119, which defines what constitutes a court record and specifies the conditions under which such records may be inspected or copied. This rule distinguishes between records that are open to inspection by the public and those that are nonpublic by default.
In addition to MCR 8.119, access to government-held records is regulated by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Under FOIA and the Michigan Court Rules, certain categories of records are shielded from public disclosure, including:
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and not available to the general public
- Juvenile records — records involving juvenile offenders or abuse and neglect proceedings are restricted
- Mental health records — involuntary treatment proceedings are confidential
- Wills in safekeeping — wills filed for safekeeping prior to probate are not public records
For criminal records, the court’s online portal limits the information displayed for convictions older than seven years — in those cases, only the case number may appear in search results. Records that fall within restricted categories must generally be requested directly from the court, and the requester may need to demonstrate a legal basis for access. Courts are authorized by MCR 8.119 to require electronic access to public documents to the same extent as paper access. Redaction of personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and financial account information is standard practice before release of copies.
Sanilac County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in Sanilac County are generated when a person is charged with a crime — whether a misdemeanor or a felony — and document every stage of the proceeding from arraignment through final disposition.
The two courts with criminal jurisdiction in Sanilac County divide cases based on severity:
- 24th Circuit Court — handles felony prosecutions and serious misdemeanors that could result in a prison sentence. The Circuit Court also hears felony cases on appeal from the District Court following a preliminary examination.
- 73A District Court — handles all adult misdemeanors where the maximum punishment does not exceed one year of incarceration, as well as preliminary examinations in felony cases, traffic violations, and civil infractions.
To search for a criminal case record, use the 24th Circuit Court case search portal for felony matters or the 73A District Court case search portal for misdemeanors and traffic cases. Both portals allow searches by name or case number. Researchers can also review the Sanilac County court public hearings docket for scheduled proceedings across all three courts.
In-person access to criminal records is available at the clerk’s office in the respective court. A copy fee may apply. Financial obligations including fines, costs, and restitution are due in full on the date of sentencing per Michigan Court Rules (MCR 1.110), and payments can be made online using the county’s payment portal.
Information about arrest records may appear within court case files when warrants have been issued or executed in connection with a criminal proceeding. For active warrants or broader law enforcement records, contact the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office directly.
Sanilac County Civil Court Records
Civil court records document legal disputes between private parties — individuals, businesses, or government entities — where one side is seeking a remedy such as monetary damages, an injunction, or a declaratory judgment.
In Sanilac County, civil jurisdiction is split between the two trial courts based on the dollar value of the claim:
| Court | Civil Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| 24th Circuit Court | Cases with claims exceeding $25,000; appellate civil matters |
| 73A District Court | Cases involving claims up to $25,000; small claims up to $6,500; landlord/tenant disputes |
Civil records held by the Circuit Court are accessible online through the 24th Circuit Court case search, while District Court civil matters can be found via the 73A District Court case search. Both portals support searches by party name or case number.
For in-person access, visit the clerk’s office at the appropriate court during business hours. A fee may apply for obtaining certified or plain copies of filed documents. The 73A District Court also handles civil infractions such as traffic and parking violations, with a full schedule of fines and costs available through the magistrate’s office. Electronic filing through MiFILE, Michigan’s statewide e-filing system, is available for parties wishing to submit court documents remotely.
Sanilac County Family Court Records
Family court matters in Sanilac County fall under the jurisdiction of the Family Division of the 24th Circuit Court. This division handles a broad range of domestic and juvenile proceedings, including:
- Divorce proceedings (with and without minor children)
- Paternity actions
- Child custody and parenting time disputes
- Child support matters
- Adoptions
- Name changes
- Juvenile offenses
- Child abuse and neglect cases
Family court case records can be searched through the Circuit Court’s online portal. However, certain family records — particularly adoptions and juvenile case files — are sealed and not available to the general public under Michigan law.
Friend of the Court
The Friend of the Court (FOC) is an office within the 24th Circuit Court that plays a central role in cases involving children. The FOC serves as a neutral third party, assisting the court in enforcing orders related to custody, child support, parenting time, and health care. Parties in active family cases can access their FOC records by submitting a Request to Access Friend of the Court Records form. The FOC maintains a library of standardized forms for motions and responses, including forms for filing a divorce with children, custody motions, parenting time motions, and support modification requests. A full schedule of filing fees for motions is available on the county’s website.
Marriage and Divorce Records
The County Clerk serves as the custodian of marriage and divorce records. Certified copies can be obtained in person at Room 203 of the courthouse, ordered online via credit card through the county’s vital records online order form, or requested by mail using the mail-in vital records application. Fees are $20 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Certified copies of divorce judgments cost $10 each. Marriage license applications require in-person appearance at the clerk’s office; a license costs $30 and is issued Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sanilac County Probate Court Records
The Sanilac County Probate Court — designated as the 76th Probate Court — handles legal matters arising from a person’s death or incapacity. The court oversees a wide range of proceedings, including:
- Decedent estates — formal and informal probate of estates following a person’s death
- Trusts — administration of trusts, including disputes between beneficiaries and trustees
- Guardianships — appointment of guardians for minors or incapacitated adults
- Conservatorships — court supervision of finances for individuals unable to manage their own affairs
- Involuntary mental health treatment — civil commitment proceedings
- Safekeeping of wills — wills may be deposited with the Probate Court prior to the testator’s death, though these documents are not public records until probate is opened
Probate case records are searchable by name or case number through the 76th Probate Court case search portal. Copies of probate records may be obtained in person at Room 213 of the Sanilac County Courthouse during regular business hours. Court fees may apply for copies, and payments can be made online through the county’s payment system using Pay Location Code (PLC) 1563 for probate estate, conservator, and guardianship matters.
The Probate Court has published a Mental Health Case Filing Guide and a Mental Health Treatment and Interception Guide for parties navigating involuntary treatment proceedings. Because mental health records are designated as nonpublic under MCR 8.119, access to those case files is restricted and not available for general public inspection. Parties or attorneys with a legitimate legal need must petition the court directly for access to sealed probate records.