Tuscola County Court Records Search
MichiganCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on MichiganCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Tuscola County is located in Michigan’s Thumb region, with the city of Caro serving as its county seat. The county’s judicial system is anchored at the Tuscola County Courthouse at 440 North State Street, where three separate courts operate: the 54th Circuit Court, the 71B District Court, and the Probate Court. Each of these courts generates and maintains its own set of case records, though the County Clerk serves as the constitutional clerk of the Circuit Court and manages a significant portion of the county’s legal filings. Whether a person is trying to locate a criminal case disposition, a divorce judgment, a civil lawsuit, or probate estate documents, understanding which office holds those records—and how to reach it—is the practical starting point.
Michigan provides several avenues for searching court records at both the state and county level. The MiCOURT Case Search platform, operated by the Michigan judiciary, allows anyone to look up civil, criminal, domestic, traffic, and probate cases filed in courts throughout the state, including those in Tuscola County. Court records can also be searched in person at the various clerk windows inside the Tuscola County Courthouse, by telephone during business hours, or by mailing written requests to the appropriate office. MichiganCourts.us may also help users locate statewide judicial resources and public case information.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Tuscola County?
The method for locating a court case in Tuscola County depends on the type of case and which court handled it. Each court operates under slightly different procedures.
Online searches are available through MiCOURT Case Search, the state’s free public access system. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney name, and can filter by court. Tuscola County’s three courts are all accessible through this portal. Civil, criminal, traffic, domestic relations, and probate case docket information is available, though not all underlying documents can be viewed remotely.
In-person searches can be conducted at the courthouse during regular hours:
- Courthouse hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- District Court / Magistrate’s Office (Criminal & Traffic): Located in the basement; closed 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. for lunch
- District Court Civil Division: Located in the basement
- Probate Court: Open 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone inquiries should be directed to the office that manages the records:
| Court / Office | Phone | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| County Clerk (Circuit Court records) | (989) 672-3775 | Civil, criminal, and family division records |
| Circuit Court Assignment Clerk | (989) 673-3330 | Scheduling and general circuit matters |
| District Court – Civil Division | (989) 672-3800 | Civil cases, landlord-tenant, small claims |
| District Court – Magistrate (Criminal/Traffic) | (989) 672-3790 | Traffic tickets, misdemeanors, criminal matters |
| Probate Court | (989) 672-3850 | Estates, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health |
Mail requests for Circuit Court record copies should be addressed to the Tuscola County Clerk at 440 North State Street, Caro, MI 48723. A Search Request Form must be completed first to obtain a case number, after which a Copy Request Form can be submitted. All mail requests should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The Clerk’s office charges $1.00 per page for copies of Circuit Court documents. Certified copies cost $10.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Payment by check or money order should be made payable to the Tuscola County Clerk.
Are Court Records Public in Tuscola County?
Michigan operates under a strong presumption of public access to court records. Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified as MCL Act 442 of 1976, grants the public the right to examine and obtain copies of government records, including many types of court records. Both the 71B District Court and the Probate Court maintain their own records that are generally open for inspection during business hours.
However, certain categories of records are sealed or restricted by statute or court order. The following types of Tuscola County court records are typically not available to the general public:
- Juvenile records: Most juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect case files are confidential
- Adoption records: Sealed and available only to qualifying parties through a petition process
- Mental health records: Proceedings under the Mental Health Code are restricted
- Birth records: Under MCL Section 333.2882, birth certificates are confidential and available only to the person named, their parents, heirs, or legal representatives; records over 100 years old are open to the public
- Personally identifiable information: The 71B District Court requires that filings not contain dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, or financial account numbers
Court records that have been expunged or sealed by judicial order are removed from public search results. Whether a will is on deposit with the Probate Court is treated as confidential information; the court will only check for a will upon receiving a death certificate or obituary for the named testator. If the court denies a records request, the requester may pursue the matter through the appeals process established under FOIA.
Tuscola County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Tuscola County are divided between the 54th Circuit Court (felonies) and the 71B District Court (misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and civil infractions). The Magistrate’s Office in the basement of the courthouse serves as the initial processing point for traffic tickets, civil infractions, and arraignments. Felony cases that survive the preliminary examination in District Court are bound over to the Circuit Court, where the County Clerk’s office manages the ongoing records.
Searching criminal records can be done through the following methods:
- MiCOURT Case Search — search for criminal cases filed in either the 54th Circuit Court or the 71B District Court by party name or case number
- In person — visit the Magistrate’s Office (criminal/traffic) at (989) 672-3790 or the County Clerk’s office for Circuit Court criminal files at (989) 672-3775
- ICHAT — the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) provides public criminal history records maintained in the state’s central repository; the fee is $10 per search
Arrest and incarceration records are maintained by the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office:
Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 420 Court Street, Caro, MI 48723
Phone: (989) 673-8161
Fax: (989) 673-8164
Lobby Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Sheriff’s Office publishes a live jail inmate list on its website. The Michigan Department of Corrections provides an offender tracking information system for individuals sentenced to state facilities.
Expungement: Individuals seeking to set aside a criminal conviction may file an Application to Set Aside Conviction (SCAO form mc227) through the Circuit Court. Specialty courts—including the Thumb Regional Sobriety Court and the Tuscola Mental Health Court—operate within the local system and maintain their own program records.
Tuscola County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Tuscola County is split between the 54th Circuit Court and the 71B District Court based on the amount in controversy. Circuit Court handles civil cases where the claim exceeds $25,000, while District Court has jurisdiction over claims up to $25,000, landlord-tenant proceedings, and small claims matters.
Circuit Court civil filing fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil case (initial filing) | $175.00 |
| Petition for driver’s license restoration | $175.00 |
| Appeal from Circuit Court | $25.00 |
| Jury demand fee | $85.00 |
| Motion fee (open case) | $20.00 |
District Court civil filing fees:
| Claim Amount | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $600 | $35.00 |
| $600.01 – $1,750 | $55.00 |
| $1,750.01 – $10,000 | $75.00 |
| $10,000.01 – $25,000 | $160.00 |
| Motion fee | $20.00 |
Small claims are heard by the Magistrate for disputes involving $7,000 or less. Filing fees for small claims range from $30.00 (claims up to $600) to $70.00 (claims up to $7,000). Parties represent themselves in small claims proceedings without attorneys. The Affidavit and Claim form (SCAO form dc84) is required to initiate a case and can be obtained at the courthouse or on the court’s printable forms page.
Summary proceedings (landlord-tenant eviction cases) cost $55.00 for possession only, with higher fees when money damages are also sought. Forms for landlord-tenant actions are available through the State Court Administrative Office website.
Civil records from the Circuit Court can be obtained through the County Clerk’s office. District Court civil records are available from the Civil Division clerk in the basement of the courthouse. Payments at the courthouse are accepted in cash, personal check, money order, or credit/debit card. Online payments can be made through the court’s AllPaid payment portal.
Tuscola County Family Court Records
The Family Division operates under the 54th Circuit Court and handles domestic relations matters including divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, and personal protection orders. The Friend of the Court (FOC) office, located at 440 South State Street in Caro, provides enforcement, mediation, and investigation services in family cases.
Divorce filing fees:
- Divorce involving minor children: $255.00
- Divorce not involving minor children: $175.00
- Post-judgment motions (closed cases): Order to show cause $20.00; spousal support $20.00; child support $60.00; parenting time or custody $100.00
The FOC can be reached at (989) 673-4848 for questions about child support enforcement, custody, parenting time modifications, or payment information. Child support payment status is available online at Michigan.gov/michildsupport. Forms for modifying court orders, filing grievances, requesting dispute resolution, or requesting a support review are available on the court’s forms page.
Personal protection orders (PPOs) are filed through the County Clerk’s office. The Victim Services unit at the Sheriff’s Office, reachable at (989) 673-8161 ext. 2241, can assist with completing PPO paperwork.
Adoption and name change petitions are also handled through the Family Division. The filing fee for both adoptions and name changes is $175.00, the same as any other civil action. Post-adoption requests for a certified copy of an Order of Adoption require filing SCAO form PCA 327, with a $20.00 filing fee plus $10.00 per certified copy.
Marriage records are maintained by the Tuscola County Clerk. Marriage licenses require an in-person application after completing the form online. Fees are $20.00 for Michigan residents and $30.00 for out-of-state residents. Certified copies of existing marriage certificates cost $15.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy at the same time. Requests can be made in person or by mail using the Vital Record Request Form. Death certificates follow the same fee schedule and are open to the public. Birth certificates are restricted under MCL 333.2882 to eligible individuals and cost $15.00 for the first certified copy. All vital record requests by mail must include a check payable to Tuscola County Clerk, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and (for birth records) a notarized signature and copy of photo ID. Allow 7 to 10 business days for mail processing. The Clerk’s Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Michigan Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics also maintains copies of Tuscola County vital records and can be reached at (517) 335-8666.
Tuscola County Probate Court Records
The Tuscola County Probate Court handles estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, mental health commitments, and related proceedings. The court is presided over by Hon. Nancy L. Thane, with Probate Register Janie Hemerline and Deputy Probate Register Kristi Phipps managing filings and records. The court is located on the main floor of the courthouse at 440 North State Street, Caro, and can be reached at (989) 672-3850 or by email at tuscolaprobate@tuscolacounty.org.
Probate case searches can be conducted online through the MiCOURT Probate Court search for Tuscola County, or in person at the Probate Court clerk’s window during business hours (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
Filing fees for common probate matters:
| Proceeding Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New petition (most types) | $175.00 |
| Small estate (Petition and Order for Assignment) | $25.00 |
| Petition in already open case | $20.00 |
| Developmentally disabled guardianship | No fee |
| Electronic filing system fee | $25.00 |
| Letters of Authority (certified copy) | $12.00 |
| Safekeeping of will | $25.00 |
| Petition to open safe deposit box | $10.00 |
| Delayed registration of foreign birth | $150.00 |
| Drain Commission Board of Review appeal | $150.00 |
| Photocopies | $1.00 per page |
The court accepts cash, money orders, and personal checks (with driver’s license and phone number required for checks).
Estate proceedings in Tuscola County may follow one of three tracks: a Formal Estate (filed by petition with a court hearing), an Informal Estate (filed by application with the Probate Register), or a Small Estate (for assets under $22,000, opened and closed the same day). Detailed filing instructions and the full list of required forms for each track are published on the Estates page of the Probate Court website. Key forms—including the Petition for Probate, Testimony to Identify Heirs, Notice of Hearing, Inventory, Sworn Statement to Close, and Certificate of Completion—are available through the court’s forms page and the Michigan Courts SCAO forms website.
Guardianship and conservatorship petitions for incapacitated adults, minors, and individuals with developmental disabilities are processed through the Probate Court. Letters of Guardianship and Letters of Conservatorship now carry annual expiration dates to ensure that fiduciaries file required annual reports. Administratively closed files due to a fiduciary’s failure to submit paperwork are subject to a $100.00 court cost.
Trust registrations can be filed for $25.00 (plus the $25.00 e-filing fee), while petitions to amend a trust require the standard $150.00 filing fee. Mental health petition forms and instructions are available on the Probate Court’s website, including the Petition for Mental Health Treatment (SCAO form pcm201) and the Order for Examination/Transport (pcm209a). Tuscola Behavioral Health Systems, reachable at (989) 673-6191 or (800) 462-6814, may assist families in preparing these petitions.