Wayne County Court Records
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Wayne County is Michigan's most populous county, taking in the City of Detroit and more than 40 surrounding cities, townships, and villages — including Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, Taylor, Southgate, and the Grosse Pointe communities. Its court system processes hundreds of thousands of cases every year across Circuit, District, Probate, and Municipal courts. Docket entries, orders, judgments, filed papers, transcripts, and hearing schedules are all maintained by the respective court clerks and by the Wayne County Clerk's Records Division.
If you're searching for case information, you have several official options: clerk offices, courthouse public-access terminals, and online portals. MichiganCourts.us can help you locate publicly available case data across the state. The statewide MiCOURT Case Search tool lets you search by party name, case number, and case type for participating trial courts. For Wayne County specifically, the Third Judicial Circuit Court has its own Odyssey Public Access portal, and the Wayne County Probate Court runs a separate eAccess system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Wayne County?
The right starting point depends on which court handled the case and what type of matter it was. Here's a breakdown of your options.
Online search options:
- MiCOURT Case Search — Visit the Michigan Courts case search portal and select the appropriate court. You can search civil, criminal, traffic, domestic, and probate cases by name, case number, or citation number.
- Odyssey Public Access (OPA) — The Third Judicial Circuit's case search page gives you access to Circuit Court records, including registers of action and civil judgments. You'll need to acknowledge a disclaimer before searching. Note that electronic copies of filed documents are not currently available through OPA — it's limited to case results and docket information.
- Wayne County Probate Court eAccess — The Probate Court eAccess portal lets you search probate matters by case number or party name. Records from proceedings before 1976 are not available through this system.
- Wayne County Clerk Online Search — The Clerk's Records Division offers an online search function for civil and domestic court records by name or docket number.
In-person access:
Public-access kiosks are in the lower level of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit). You can also view paper records at the Wayne County Clerk's Records Division in Room LL-61 of the same building. Files from 2014 to the present are available the same day for viewing in the records room; older files must be ordered from Archives and become available the following business day after 2:00 p.m., held for five days.
Mail and email requests:
The Clerk's Records Division accepts mail requests (money orders only) and email requests. For email orders, pay online at GovPayNow using Pay Location Code 6223, then email the receipt along with your required documentation to wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov.
Copy fees at the Clerk's Records Division:
| Document Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Uncertified copy | $2.00 per page |
| Certified/Authenticated copy | $10.00 certification + $1.00 per page + $2.00 per page copy fee |
| Credit/debit card surcharge | $2.50 per transaction |
The Records Division can be reached at (313) 224-5530 or by fax at (313) 967-3712.
Are Court Records Public in Wayne County?
Wayne County court records are generally open to the public under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at MCL 15.231 et seq. This law creates a presumption that records held by public bodies are available for inspection and copying, subject to specific statutory exemptions.
Records that are typically public include:
- Civil case dockets, complaints, and judgments
- Criminal case registers of action and sentencing records
- Divorce decrees and related filings
- Probate records such as wills, inventories, and estate accountings
- Property records filed with the Register of Deeds
Records that may be restricted or sealed include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child protective proceedings
- Certain family law matters involving minors
- Cases where a court has granted an order to seal or expunge records under MCL 780.621
- Adoption records
- Mental health proceedings handled by the Probate Court
- Records containing personal identifying information protected by court rule
Michigan's Clean Slate law expanded eligibility for setting aside certain convictions, and qualifying records may be automatically sealed. Individuals may also petition the court to seal or expunge records; once sealed, those records are inaccessible to the general public and typically require a court order to view.
One practical note: criminal records within the City of Detroit or recorded after 1983 are maintained by the Criminal Justice Center records room at (313) 224-2502, not by the general Records Division. Criminal records from 1942 to 1983 for areas outside Detroit but within Wayne County are available through the Clerk's Records Division.
Wayne County Criminal Court Records
Felony cases in Wayne County are heard in Circuit Court, while misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and felony preliminary examinations go to the various District and Municipal Courts. The criminal division of the Third Judicial Circuit Court operates from the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center.
Wayne County Criminal Justice Center
Address: 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48211
Phone: (313) 224-6262
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
36th District Court (serving the City of Detroit)
Address: 421 Madison Street, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 965-2200
Fax: (313) 965-3951
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Wednesdays until 7:00 p.m.)
Misdemeanor records for cases outside Detroit are held by the District Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed. Wayne County has over twenty District and Municipal Courts spread across the county. Key locations include:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 16th District (Livonia) | 32765 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154 | (734) 466-2500 |
| 17th District (Redford) | 15111 Beech Daly Rd, Redford, MI 48239 | (313) 387-2790 |
| 18th District (Westland) | 36675 Ford Rd, Westland, MI 48185 | (734) 595-8720 |
| 19th District (Dearborn) | 16077 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126 | (313) 943-2060 |
| 20th District (Dearborn Heights) | 25637 Michigan Ave, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 | (313) 277-7480 |
| 23rd District (Taylor) | 23365 Goddard Rd, Taylor, MI 48180 | (734) 287-6550 |
| 34th District (Romulus) | 11131 Wayne Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | (734) 941-4462 |
| 35th District (Plymouth) | 660 Plymouth Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170 | (734) 459-4740 |
Searching criminal records:
Felony case information can be searched on the Odyssey Public Access portal by defendant name, case number, or attorney name. For misdemeanor cases, contact the clerk's office of the District or Municipal Court that handled the matter.
Criminal history checks:
The Michigan State Police operates the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), which searches public criminal history record information maintained statewide. ICHAT searches cost $10 per query. For local arrest, warrant, and inmate information, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office can be contacted at:
Wayne County Sheriff's Office
Address: 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48211
Phone: (313) 833-0864
Email: info@sheriffconnect.com
The Sheriff's Office also offers an inmate search tool with basic information about individuals currently held at the Wayne County Jail.
Expungement: Under MCL 780.621, individuals may petition to set aside eligible convictions. Michigan's Clean Slate legislation also provides for automatic expungement of certain qualifying offenses after specified waiting periods.
Wayne County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Wayne County are split between the Circuit Court and District Courts based on the dollar amount in dispute.
Jurisdiction thresholds:
- Circuit Court: Civil cases with claims exceeding $25,000, equity matters, and appeals from lower courts
- District Courts: Civil cases with claims up to $25,000, small claims (generally up to $6,500), and landlord/tenant disputes
- Municipal Courts: Civil matters up to $3,000
The civil division of the Third Judicial Circuit Court is located at:
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Address: 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-6262
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Civil case records can be searched on the Odyssey Public Access portal by case number, filing date, or party name. The portal displays registers of action and civil judgments, but electronic copies of filed documents are not currently available through this system.
Physical copies of civil records are available from the Wayne County Clerk's Civil Court Services division. The available inventory covers civil court records (including divorce records) from 1942 to the present. Uncertified copies cost $2.00 per page; certified copies require a $10.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page on top of the $2.00 per-page copy fee. You can make requests in person at Room LL-61, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226; by mail (money orders only); or by email to wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov after paying online through GovPayNow.
For District Court civil cases, contact the specific court where the matter was filed. Name change documents filed after 1998 are available at the Wayne County Clerk Records Division; those filed before 1998 are held by the Wayne County Probate Court.
Property records are maintained by the Wayne County Register of Deeds and can be searched through the Wayne County Land Records website for documents recorded after 1986. Online searches require a credit card account: $6 for 15 minutes of access or $24 for 60 minutes, plus $2 per page for copies. The Register of Deeds office is located at:
Wayne County Register of Deeds
Address: 400 Monroe Street, 7th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-5850
Email: rodhelp@waynecountymi.gov
Hours: By appointment only (first appointment 8:00 a.m., last appointment 3:50 p.m.)
Wayne County Family Court Records
Wayne County doesn't have a standalone family court. Instead, the Family Division of the Third Judicial Circuit Court — divided into Domestic Relations and Juvenile sections — handles all family law matters, including divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, and personal protection orders.
Domestic Relations Division
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Juvenile Division
Lincoln Hall of Justice
1025 E. Forest Avenue, Detroit, MI 48207
Friend of the Court
Penobscot Building
645 Griswold Street, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (844) 785-7593
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The Wayne County Friend of the Court assists with child support enforcement, custody investigations, and parenting time disputes. All motions in family cases must be filed through the Wayne County Clerk's Office, making the Clerk the official custodian of family court records.
Searching family records: Public family court records are available through the Odyssey Public Access portal under the non-criminal case option. Search by case number, filing date, or party name. Certain family records involving minors or sealed documents may require a court order to access.
Divorce records: Copies of divorce decrees are available from the Clerk's Records Division. The fee is $2.00 per page for uncertified copies and $10.00 for a certified copy (plus per-page fees). Mail requests should include a completed Divorce Decree Application Form, available through the Wayne County Records page, along with a money order sent to Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Room LL-61, Detroit, MI 48226.
Marriage licenses: The Wayne County Clerk's General Office issues marriage licenses and records marriages. The office is located at:
Wayne County Clerk General Office / Vital Records
Address: 400 Monroe Street, 6th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 967-6938
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Thursday 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
The Michigan Vital Records Department also issues certified copies of marriage and divorce records statewide.
Birth and death records: The same General Office processes birth and death certificates. Wayne County birth certificates cost $24.00 for the first certified copy and $7.00 for each additional copy. Individuals aged 65 and older requesting their own records pay $2.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for additional copies. Birth records are confidential and available only to the individual named, parents listed on the certificate, or legal guardians. The Clerk's Office issues adoption birth records only for children adopted in Wayne County between 1960 and 1968. In-person requests require a scheduled appointment.
Wayne County Probate Court Records
The Wayne County Probate Court handles estate administration, will contests, guardianships, conservatorships, trust supervision, mental health commitments, and civil actions within its jurisdiction. The court is located at:
Wayne County Probate Court
Address: 1307 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-5706
Email: info@wcpc.us
Hours:
| Function | Hours |
|---|---|
| Filing | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Customer Service / Business | 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Staff Operations | 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Searching probate records: The Probate Court eAccess portal lets you search case information by case number or party name. Records from proceedings before 1976 are not available online. For older records or documents not accessible through eAccess, contact the Records Department at filedept@wcpc.us or by fax at (313) 967-4041.
Filing and copy fees:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deceased Estate petition | $175.00 (plus inventory fee) |
| Guardianship petition | $175.00 |
| Conservatorship petition | $175.00 |
| Protective Order petition | $175.00 |
| Supervision of Trust | $175.00 |
| Civil Actions | $175.00 |
| Petition to Reopen | $150.00 |
| Small Estate | $25.00 (plus inventory fee and $12.00 certification) |
| Will filed for Safekeeping | $25.00 |
| Registration of Trusts | $25.00 |
| Subsequent Petitions/Motions/Objections | $20.00 |
| Accounts / Claims | $20.00 |
| Letters of Authority | $12.00 |
| Order of Discharge | $11.00 |
| Certified document | $10.00 certification + $1.00 per page |
| Uncertified copy | $2.00 per page |
Inventory fees are calculated based on estate value using the Michigan Courts Inventory Fee Calculator. If an estate's value is zero, the inventory fee is $5.00.
The court accepts cash, checks (Michigan only), money orders, and credit/debit cards. Online credit card payments are processed through ePayment with a convenience fee of 3.5% or $3.00, whichever is greater. You can mail certified document requests to Wayne County Probate Court, Attn: Records Supervisor, 1307 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit, MI 48226, or email them to filedept@wcpc.us.
Guardianship petitions for individuals with developmental disabilities and petitions for involuntary psychiatric treatment carry no filing fee. The Probate Court also handles name changes filed before 1998 — those filed after 1998 are processed by the Clerk's Records Division.