Van Buren County Court Records
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Van Buren County sits in southwestern Michigan, with the village of Paw Paw as its county seat. Three judicial bodies make up the county's court system: the 36th Circuit Court, the 7th District Court, and the Probate Court — each handling different categories of legal proceedings. The County Clerk, an elected official serving a four-year term, also acts as Clerk of the Circuit Court, managing filings, maintaining records, and certifying documents under the Circuit Court Seal. Whether you need to check a criminal case status, pull civil litigation records, or review probate filings, the courts and clerk's offices offer both in-person and electronic access to most documents.
You can research court records through official clerk offices, public-access terminals inside the courthouses, and electronic search tools at the state and county level. MichiganCourts.us is a useful central hub for locating publicly available case information across Michigan trial courts, including those in Van Buren County.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Van Buren County?
There are several ways to search court records in Van Buren County — from free online searches to formal written requests submitted by mail or in person at the courthouse.
Online Case Search
The most efficient place to start is the MiCourt Case Search portal, maintained by the Michigan courts. This free public tool lets you search civil, criminal, traffic, domestic relations, and probate case records. You can filter by court — including the 36th Circuit Court, the 7th District Court, and the Probate Court — and narrow results by case category, party name, or case number. Van Buren County also maintains a local case search page with direct links to each court's lookup tool.
In-Person Requests
You can visit the Van Buren County Clerk's Office during regular business hours to review court records. Public-access terminals and case file inspection may be available at the courthouse. The Clerk's Office is located at:
Van Buren County Clerk's Office
212 East Paw Paw Street
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: (269) 657-8218, option 6
Fax: (269) 657-8298
Email: clerk@vanburencountymi.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Mail Requests
Written requests for court records may be sent to the Clerk's Office at the address above. Include as much identifying information as possible — case number, names of the parties, and the approximate date of the proceeding. Applicable fees for copies or certification should be included with the request. The office accepts cash, checks, credit or debit cards, and money orders.
FOIA Requests
Certain records held by county offices, including the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office, can be requested through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Michigan's FOIA statute, MCL 15.231 et seq, requires public bodies to make records available for inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies.
Are Court Records Public in Van Buren County?
Court records in Van Buren County are generally open to the public. Michigan Court Rule 8.119 governs access to court records statewide and establishes that case records maintained by court clerks are available for public inspection unless a statute, court rule, or court order restricts access. Under this rule, court clerks must maintain case files and make them accessible during normal business hours.
That said, the right of public access is not absolute. Michigan law and court rules identify specific categories of records that are shielded from disclosure. The following types of information are generally nonpublic or subject to restricted access:
- Personal identifying information (PII) — Social security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth may be redacted from publicly available filings under MCR 1.109.
- Juvenile records — Proceedings involving minors in delinquency and child protective matters are generally confidential under MCL 712A.28.
- Sealed and expunged records — Cases that have been sealed or set aside by court order are not available for public inspection.
- Certain family law records — Adoption files, mental health evaluations, and medical records submitted in family proceedings are typically restricted.
- Victim and witness information — Identifying details of victims and witnesses may be withheld to protect their safety.
- Investigation techniques — Law enforcement methodologies and confidential investigative records are exempt from disclosure.
Accessing restricted records ordinarily requires a court order. If you believe you have a legal right to inspect a sealed or otherwise nonpublic record, you'll need to petition the appropriate court for permission.
Van Buren County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Van Buren County are handled at two levels. The 7th District Court processes all criminal arraignments, conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases, and has trial jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses. Felony cases that move past the preliminary examination stage are transferred to the 36th Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over all felony trials and serious misdemeanors.
The 7th District Court operates from two locations:
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th District Court – Paw Paw | 212 East Paw Paw Street, Paw Paw, MI 49079 | (269) 657-8222 | (269) 657-8223 | 7dc@vanburencountymi.gov |
| 7th District Court – South Haven | 1007 East Wells Street, South Haven, MI 49090 | (269) 637-5258 | (269) 639-4517 | 7dc@vanburencountymi.gov |
The 36th Circuit Court is located at:
36th Circuit Court
212 East Paw Paw Street, 2nd Floor
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: (269) 657-8200
Email: 36circuitcourt@vanburencountymi.gov
Searching Criminal Records Online
Two main online tools are available for criminal record searches in Van Buren County:
- MiCourt Case Search — The MiCourt portal gives the public access to criminal case records filed in the 36th Circuit Court and the 7th District Court. Select Criminal under the case category filter and search by the defendant's name or case number.
- ICHAT (Internet Criminal History Access Tool) — The Michigan State Police maintains the ICHAT system, which lets registered users run statewide name-based criminal history searches. ICHAT returns conviction records held by the Criminal Justice Information Center. You'll need to provide the individual's first name, last name, date of birth, race, and gender. There is a fee per search.
Additional Criminal Justice Resources
The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office maintains an Inmate Lookup tool for checking current jail bookings. If you're looking for someone under state supervision or incarcerated in a state facility, the Michigan Department of Corrections offers the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS).
Criminal Court Filing Fees and Assessments
Under Michigan's Circuit Court fee schedule, key criminal assessment amounts include:
- Minimum state cost: $50 per misdemeanor count; $68 per felony count
- Crime victim rights assessment: $75 per misdemeanor case; $130 per felony case
- DNA assessment: $60
- Appeal filing fee: $150
Van Buren County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Van Buren County are split between two courts depending on the amount in dispute. The 36th Circuit Court handles civil lawsuits where the claim exceeds $25,000. The 7th District Court has jurisdiction over smaller civil matters, including small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and land contract disagreements.
Searching Civil Records
Start with the MiCourt Case Search portal, which is the primary online tool for locating civil case records. Select the appropriate court — 36th Circuit or 7th District — and choose Civil under the case category. You can search by party name, business name, or case number.
If the records you need aren't available online, or if you need certified copies, contact the Van Buren County Clerk's Office at (269) 657-8218, option 6, or visit in person at 212 East Paw Paw Street in Paw Paw, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
Civil Filing Fees
Under Michigan's statewide circuit court fee schedule (MCL 600.2529), the following fees apply to civil actions filed in the 36th Circuit Court:
- Civil filing fee: $150
- Electronic filing system fee: $25
- Jury demand fee: $25
- Motion fee: $20
- Writ of garnishment, attachment, execution, or judgment debtor discovery subpoena: $15
Fees may be waived or suspended for parties who qualify as indigent under MCR 2.002. The Clerk Fee Schedule page on the county website has additional information about fees charged at the county level.
Property-Related Civil Records
Real property records — including deeds, liens, and property transfers — are maintained by the Van Buren County Register of Deeds. You can search these records online using the Register's Document Search Tool or the county's Parcel Viewer. All documents cost $30.00 to record regardless of page count, and copies are $1.00 per page.
Van Buren County Register of Deeds
219 East Paw Paw Street, Suite 102
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: (269) 657-8242
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Van Buren County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the 36th Circuit Court handles all domestic relations matters in Van Buren County. This includes divorce proceedings, child custody and parenting time disputes, child support enforcement, paternity actions, personal protection orders, and juvenile matters. Reach the court at (269) 657-8200 or by email at 36circuitcourt@vanburencountymi.gov.
Divorce Records
Divorce records are maintained by the Van Buren County Clerk's Office, which is the local custodian for all vital records. The Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) also holds statewide records.
To request an uncertified divorce verification, submit a Verification of Michigan Divorce Form to MDHHS. For a certified copy, you'll need to complete the Application for a Certified Divorce Record. Both spouses' names and the year of the divorce must be provided.
Marriage Records
The Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records. You can submit your request in three ways:
- Online: Use the Online Vital Records Request Form
- By mail: Use the Vital Record Request Form (PDF) or a written letter including both spouses' names, the marriage date, and the applicable fee
- In person: Visit the Clerk's Office during business hours
A certified marriage record costs $15, with additional copies at $5 each. Eligibility to receive marriage records is limited to the spouses named on the record, their immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals authorized by court order. Marriage indexes from 1974 to the present are searchable online through the Van Buren County Clerk's website.
Family Court Fees
Michigan statute sets specific fees for family division filings in circuit court:
- Custody and parenting time fee: $80
- Support fee (if custody/parenting time fee is not paid): $40
- Friend of the Court service fee (non-IV-D services): $3.50 per month
- Driver license clearance fee (FOC suspensions): $45
If you're representing yourself in a domestic relations case, review the forms available through the Friend of the Court and the resources page maintained by the Van Buren County Courts administration.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are frequently needed in family law proceedings. The Van Buren County Clerk's Office acts as the Register of County Vital Statistics, recording and indexing all births, deaths, and marriages that occur in the county. Birth records date back to 1867, and death records go back to the same year. Death records from 1987 onward and marriage records from 1974 onward are searchable online.
Certified copies of birth or death records cost $15, with additional copies at $5 each. Birth record requests are restricted to the individual named on the certificate, their parents, heirs, legal guardians, or legal representatives. Requests may be submitted online, by mail, or in person using the same vital records request methods described above.
Van Buren County Probate Court Records
The Van Buren County Probate Court has jurisdiction over estate administration, the probate of wills, the appointment of guardians and conservators, trust matters, mental health commitments, and certain other proceedings including secret marriages. The court is presided over by the Hon. Susan Metzger.
Probate Court Contact Information
Van Buren County Probate Court
212 East Paw Paw Street, Suite 220
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: (269) 657-8225
Fax: (269) 657-7573
Email: probate@vanburencountymi.gov
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case records can be searched online through the MiCourt Case Search portal. Select the Van Buren County Probate Court and filter results by party name or case number. The tool covers estate proceedings, guardianships, conservatorships, and related filings.
For records not available electronically, or when you need certified copies, contact the Clerk of the Probate Court by phone, mail, or in person. Provide as much case-identifying information as possible — the decedent's or ward's name and the case number if you have it.
Payment Methods at Probate Court
Payments at the Probate Court window can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card. Online payments are accepted using a credit or debit card through the court's pay portal (Pay Location Code: A000SV). Phone payments can be made by calling (888) 604-7888.
Probate Filing Fees
Probate filings in Michigan follow the statewide fee schedule established under MCL 600.2529. The general filing fee for probate matters is $150. A petition to open an estate, appoint a personal representative, or commence a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding is subject to this fee. Fee waivers are available for individuals who demonstrate financial inability to pay under MCR 2.002.