St. Clair County Court Records Search
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St. Clair County is situated along Michigan’s eastern border, with its county seat in Port Huron. The county’s judicial system consists of three distinct courts: the 31st Circuit Court, the 72nd District Court, and the Probate Court. Each handles different categories of cases and maintains its own records. The 31st Circuit Court, which is the trial court of general jurisdiction, also includes a Family Division that handles domestic-relations matters. The 72nd District Court operates from two locations — one in Port Huron and one in Marine City — and focuses on misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, and civil disputes up to $25,000. The Probate Court manages estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings.
For anyone trying to locate Michigan court records, several channels exist. The Michigan court system provides online case-search tools, and in-person access is available at individual clerk offices and courthouse terminals. MichiganCourts.us can also help users find publicly available court case information across the state. Additionally, the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office serves as the official record custodian for 31st Circuit Court filings and offers both online and mail-based request options.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Clair County?
Identifying the correct court is the first step. The type of case determines which court holds the file:
- 31st Circuit Court — Felony criminal cases, civil claims over $25,000, appeals from the district court, and all family-division matters (divorce, paternity, child support, juvenile cases, name changes).
- 72nd District Court — Misdemeanors, traffic infractions, general civil cases under $25,000, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes.
- Probate Court — Decedent estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings.
Court Locations and Contact Information
| Court | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31st Circuit Court | 201 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060 | (810) 985-2031 | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Fri opens at 9:00 AM) |
| 72nd District Court — Port Huron | 201 McMorran Blvd., Room 2900, Port Huron, MI 48060 | (810) 985-2072 (Traffic/Criminal); (810) 985-2077 (Civil/Small Claims) | Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| 72nd District Court — Marine City | 2088 South Parker, Marine City, MI 48039 | (810) 765-4057 | Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| St. Clair County Probate Court | 201 McMorran Blvd., Room 2700, Port Huron, MI 48060 | (810) 985-2066 | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Fri opens at 9:00 AM) |
Online Case Searches
St. Clair County provides two primary electronic search tools:
- MiCourt Case Search — The statewide Michigan courts portal. Select the specific court (31st Circuit Court or 72nd District Court) and search by party name, case number, filing date, or hearing officer. Case categories include civil, traffic, criminal, domestic, and probate.
- St. Clair County Web Inquiry — A local portal that provides case records and daily court schedules for circuit, district, and probate courts.
Both tools are free and do not require registration.
Requesting Copies from the County Clerk
The St. Clair County Clerk’s Office is the custodian of 31st Circuit Court records. It does not hold district or probate court files. The office is located at 201 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060.
- Phone: (810) 985-2200
- Fax: (810) 985-2241
- Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:15 PM; Friday 10:00 AM – 4:15 PM
To request copies online, complete the Court Document Request Form on the Clerk’s website. Fees for online requests:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Emailed PDF of requested document | $15.00 |
| Certified copy (up to 25 pages) mailed in addition to PDF | Additional $10.00 |
| Online processing fee (all transactions, non-refundable) | $5.00 |
In-person requests can also be made at the Clerk’s office during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued ID and provide the case number or the full name of a party to the case.
Are Court Records Public in St. Clair County?
Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119(D), court records are presumptively public. Any member of the public may inspect and obtain copies of most case files unless a specific statute, court rule, case law, or court order restricts access. MCR 8.119 defines court records broadly to include all documents filed with or created by the court, whether in paper, electronic, photographic, video, or audio format.
Michigan uses an Access Security Matrix to assign levels of public visibility across different case types and docket codes. Under this framework, the following categories of records have limited or no public access:
- Mental health treatment records
- Juvenile court records (generally confidential under Michigan law)
- Personal information of jurors
- Forensic and psychological evaluation reports
- Driving records obtained from the Secretary of State
- Drug and alcohol treatment facility records (protected under federal regulations)
- Case inventory from domestic-relations proceedings
- Sealed records and expunged records (including those set aside under Michigan’s Clean Slate legislation)
- Records where a court has issued a protective or sealing order
The court maintains safeguards to balance public access with operational needs and the privacy rights of parties involved in sensitive proceedings. If you are uncertain whether a specific record is accessible, contact the relevant court clerk before submitting a request.
St. Clair County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in St. Clair County is split between two courts. The 31st Circuit Court handles all felony prosecutions and appeals from the district court. The 72nd District Court processes misdemeanor charges, ordinance violations, and traffic infractions and also conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases. The county also operates a Mental Health Court — a joint program with St. Clair County Community Mental Health — for eligible defendants with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities who are charged with criminal offenses.
Searching Criminal Cases
Criminal case information can be searched at no cost through the MiCourt Case Search by selecting either the 31st Circuit Court or the 72nd District Court. Search fields include defendant name, case number, filing date, and offense date. Results display charges, hearing dates, case status, and dispositions.
At the courthouse, the Clerk’s office provides access to electronic case dockets in its records viewing room at 201 McMorran Blvd. Staff can also assist with manual index searches for older cases.
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
The Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center maintains the state’s criminal history record repository. Public name-based searches are available through the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). ICHAT contains felonies and serious misdemeanors (punishable by over 93 days) reported by law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts statewide. The fee is $10.00 per search, payable by credit or debit card. ICHAT does not include federal records, tribal records, traffic records, juvenile records, local ordinance-level misdemeanors, or out-of-state criminal history.
Government agencies and non-profit charitable organizations may qualify for no-fee ICHAT searches.
Sheriff’s Office Records
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records and incident reports for individuals processed by the Sheriff’s Department. Records requests are made through the department’s FOIA Request Form and can be submitted in person or by mail:
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 1170 Michigan Road, Port Huron, MI 48060
Phone: (810) 987-1700
Fax: (810) 966-4302
Email: sherifffoia@stclaircounty.org
The Michigan Department of Corrections also operates the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS), which contains information on current prisoners, parolees, and probationers, as well as those discharged within the past three years.
St. Clair County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in St. Clair County are divided by claim amount. The 31st Circuit Court handles cases involving claims exceeding $25,000, while the 72nd District Court manages civil disputes up to $25,000, including small claims, landlord-tenant evictions, and general civil actions.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case information is available through both the MiCourt portal and the St. Clair County Web Inquiry system. For circuit court civil records, copies can also be ordered through the Clerk’s Court Document Request Form. District court records must be requested directly from the 72nd District Court at either the Port Huron or Marine City location.
Filing Fees
Filing fees in St. Clair County are set by statute and court administrative order. The following tables summarize key fees as listed on the county’s Filing Fees page:
Circuit Court Filing Fees
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil filing fee | $175.00 |
| Jury demand (Circuit Court only) | $85.00 |
| Motion fee | $20.00 |
| Certified copies | $10.00 + $1.00 per page |
District Court Filing Fees — Small Claims
| Claim Amount | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $600 | $30.00 |
| $601 – $1,750 | $50.00 |
| $1,751 – $6,000 | $70.00 |
District Court Filing Fees — General Civil
| Claim Amount | Fee |
|---|---|
| Claim and deliver | $75.00 |
| Up to $600 (supplemental money judgment) | $35.00 |
| $601 – $1,750 | $55.00 |
| $1,751 – $10,000 | $75.00 |
| $10,001 – $25,000 | $160.00 |
Additional district court fees include landlord-tenant possession filings ($55.00), jury demand ($50.00), writ of restitution ($15.00), garnishment ($15.00), writ of execution ($15.00), and appeal fee ($25.00).
Court Forms
Standardized Michigan court forms for civil, family, probate, and other proceedings are available through the Michigan Courts SCAO forms page.
St. Clair County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the 31st Circuit Court handles all domestic-relations matters in St. Clair County. This includes divorce and legal separation, paternity, child custody and parenting time, child support, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, some guardianship matters, and name changes.
Accessing Family Court Records
Family court cases can be searched through the MiCourt Case Search by selecting the 31st Circuit Court and filtering by domestic case category. Copies of circuit court family division records are available through the County Clerk’s online request form or in person at the Clerk’s office. Certain family court records — particularly those involving juveniles, custody evaluations, and domestic-relations case inventories — are restricted under MCR 8.119 and applicable Michigan statutes.
Friend of the Court
The St. Clair County Friend of the Court assists the circuit court in domestic-relations matters, including child support enforcement, custody and parenting-time disputes, and mediation services.
St. Clair County Friend of the Court
Address: 201 McMorran Blvd., Room 1600, Port Huron, MI 48060
Phone: (810) 985-2285
MiSDU Toll-Free: (877) 543-2660
Domestic Filing Fees
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce without children | $175.00 |
| Divorce with children | $255.00 |
| Friend of Court service fee (monthly) | $1.25 |
Marriage and Divorce Records
The St. Clair County Clerk’s Office maintains marriage and divorce records. Requests for these vital records can be submitted using the online forms on the Clerk’s website: the divorce judgment request form and the Register of Deeds page for marriage records. Documents can be delivered by email or standard mail.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records Division, also maintains statewide marriage and divorce records dating back to 1867. Requests can be made online through a third-party vendor, by mail, or by in-person appointment.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are available through the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office. Death certificate requests can be submitted through the Clerk’s online form or by mail. Fees are $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy of the same record, plus a $5.00 non-refundable processing fee for online transactions. Certificates are mailed via first-class U.S. Mail and typically arrive within 5 to 10 business days.
State-level vital records, including birth certificates, death certificates, birth verification, and stillbirth records, can be requested from the Michigan MDHHS Vital Records office by mail or in person.
St. Clair County Probate Court Records
The St. Clair County Probate Court handles three main categories of matters: decedent estates and trust supervision, guardianships and conservatorships of both minors and adults, and mental health proceedings. The Probate Court does not handle criminal cases, traffic matters, divorces, custody disputes, or civil lawsuits — those fall to the circuit and district courts.
Estates and Trusts
When a person dies and leaves property, the Probate Court may be asked to administer the estate. The court appoints a personal representative to collect assets, pay debts and expenses, and distribute remaining property according to the will or Michigan intestacy law. The court also supervises trusts when required, ensuring proper management and resolving disputes.
Guardianships and Conservatorships
The court determines whether a person is unable to manage personal needs (guardianship) or financial matters (conservatorship) and appoints a guardian or conservator as appropriate. This applies to both minors and adults, including individuals with developmental disabilities under Michigan’s Mental Health Code.
Key Probate Filing Fees
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deceased estate | $175.00 |
| Small estate (petition and order for assignment) | $25.00 |
| Minor or adult conservatorship | $175.00 |
| Minor or legally incapacitated guardianship | $175.00 |
| Developmentally disabled guardianship | $0.00 |
| Petition for hospitalization | $0.00 |
| Appeals from Circuit Court | $25.00 |
| Appeals to Circuit Court | $150.00 |
| Certified copies | $10.00 + $1.00 per page |
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records are accessible through the St. Clair County Web Inquiry and the MiCourt Case Search portal by selecting the Probate Court. In-person requests should be directed to the Probate Court office in Room 2700 at 201 McMorran Blvd. Standardized Michigan Probate Court forms are available through the State Court Administrative Office.
Most probate records are accessible to the public. However, records involving mental health proceedings, certain guardianship details, and sensitive financial information may be restricted to the parties involved. Contact the Probate Court at (810) 985-2066 to confirm the availability of a specific record before visiting.
Property Records
For those researching real estate matters connected to an estate, the St. Clair County Register of Deeds maintains land and property records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, plats, and surveys. The office is located at 200 Grand River Avenue, Suite 103, Port Huron, MI 48060, and can be reached at (810) 989-6930. Property records are also searchable online through the county’s property and land records portal and property tax information portal by owner name, address, or parcel number.