St. Clair County Court Records
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St. Clair County sits along Michigan's eastern border, with Port Huron as the county seat. Three distinct courts make up the county's judicial system: the 31st Circuit Court, the 72nd District Court, and the Probate Court. Each handles different types of cases and keeps its own records. The 31st Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction and includes a Family Division for domestic-relations matters. The 72nd District Court operates from two locations — Port Huron and Marine City — handling misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, and civil disputes up to $25,000. The Probate Court manages estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings.
If you're trying to locate Michigan court records, you have several options. The Michigan court system offers online case-search tools, and in-person access is available at individual clerk offices and courthouse terminals. MichiganCourts.us can also help you find publicly available court case information across the state. The St. Clair County Clerk's Office is the official record keeper for 31st Circuit Court filings and accepts both online and mail-based copy requests.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Clair County?
Start by identifying the right court — the type of case determines where the file is held:
- 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 offers two electronic search tools at no charge:
- 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.
Neither tool requires registration.
Requesting Copies from the County Clerk
The St. Clair County Clerk's Office keeps 31st Circuit Court records but does not hold district or probate court files. The office is 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, fill out 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 are also welcome at the Clerk's office during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued ID and have the case number or a party's full name ready.
Are Court Records Public in St. Clair County?
Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119(D), court records are presumptively open to the public. Anyone may inspect and copy most case files unless a specific statute, court rule, case law, or court order limits access. MCR 8.119 defines court records broadly — all documents filed with or created by the court, regardless of whether they're in paper, electronic, photographic, video, or audio format.
Michigan uses an Access Security Matrix to assign visibility levels across different case types and docket codes. The following categories generally 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 and expunged records (including those set aside under Michigan's Clean Slate legislation)
- Records covered by a protective or sealing order
The court balances public access against the privacy rights of parties in sensitive proceedings. If you're unsure whether a specific record is accessible, call the relevant court clerk before submitting your request.
St. Clair County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction is divided 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 runs 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 is free to search through MiCourt Case Search by selecting the 31st Circuit Court or the 72nd District Court. Search by defendant name, case number, filing date, or offense date. Results show 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 covers 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. Keep in mind that 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. Submit records requests using the department's FOIA Request Form 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 are divided by claim amount. The 31st Circuit Court handles cases exceeding $25,000, while the 72nd District Court manages 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 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 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 — 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 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 keeps marriage and divorce records. You can request these vital records online using the Clerk's dedicated forms: 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 also 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 covers three main areas: decedent estates and trust supervision, guardianships and conservatorships for 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 belong to the circuit and district courts.
Estates and Trusts
When a person dies and leaves property, the Probate Court may be called upon to administer the estate. It appoints a personal representative to collect assets, pay debts and expenses, and distribute the remaining property according to the will or Michigan's intestacy laws. The court also supervises trusts when required, ensuring proper management and resolving disputes.
Guardianships and Conservatorships
The court determines whether a person can manage their own personal needs (guardianship) or financial matters (conservatorship) and appoints a guardian or conservator accordingly. 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 go 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 open to the public. However, records involving mental health proceedings, certain guardianship details, and sensitive financial information may be restricted to the parties involved. Call the Probate Court at (810) 985-2066 to confirm the availability of a specific record before visiting.
Property Records
If you're researching real estate 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 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.