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Clinton County Court Records Lookup

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Clinton County Court Records Lookup

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Clinton County Courts, MI *

Clinton County Courts, MI

People living in Clinton County, Michigan, just north of Lansing, need access to court records for various reasons. Lawyers use court records to prepare for an upcoming case. Residents may need court records for their business to see that there's a response to a lawsuit. They may file a family law case, such as a divorce or child custody case. Employers use court records to check the criminal records of prospective employees, while landlords use records to check a prospective tenant's previous evictions. No matter what people in Clinton County need the courts for, it's important to understand how the county's courts work and how to access court records to save time and frustration.

How to Access Clinton County Court Records

How to Access Clinton County Court Records

Online Access

The state of Michigan provides online access to its District Court, Probate Court, and Circuit Court records via the MiCOURT page. Residents need to provide as much information as possible to find their court case; case numbers, names of litigants, where the case was filed, and the date of filing are helpful.

Alternative Online Options

Although Michigan has digitized its court records in some areas in the early 2000s, not all court records throughout the state were digitized at the same time. This makes court records in some counties more difficult to find. People who need help finding a court record in Clinton County can use an alternative online option, CourtCaseFinder. This aggregator pulls records from across the state and nationwide, making it easier to find court cases.

In-Person Requests

Clinton County residents may need to visit either the County Court Clerk's Office or the District Court Clerk's Office to obtain records they can't get online. For example, the Court Clerks may be able to help those who need to view archived case records that aren't available online. Also, people might need certified copies of court records for another court, government agency, or financial institution. People may also need to see documents for cases that are not accessible online. Be sure to visit the correct Court Clerk, because the District Clerk and the County Clerk handle different caseloads.

Archived Records

Archived records consist of court cases that have been dismissed or decided by a judge. People looking for archived records should first check with the appropriate Court Clerk, because the Clerks may still have the records even after the case has been decided. The Archives of Michigan is the repository for all state and local records, including court cases. Michigan also has an online historical records search called Michiganology, which includes court cases.

Overview of the Clinton County Court System

Overview of the Clinton County Court System

The State of Michigan operates on a three-tier court system. The highest tier is taken up by the Michigan Supreme Court in Lansing. The Supreme Court of Michigan is known as the court of last resort, which means it is the final stop for all state appeals. The second-highest court tier belongs to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Instead of one court, the state has four courts located throughout the state. Clinton County sits in the District Four Court of Appeals, located in Lansing.

At the lowest level of state courts are the state trial courts. The Circuit Court is the major trial court within the state, and hears felony cases as well as civil cases over $25,000 and family court cases at the Clinton County Courthouse in St. Johns. The District Court handles misdemeanor cases and civil cases under $25,000 at the courthouse in St. Johns. The District Courts replaced municipal courts in nearly all counties in Michigan.

Types of Courts in Clinton County, Michigan

Circuit Court

The 29th Judicial Circuit Court represents the highest level of trial court in the county, and covers two counties: Clinton and Gratiot. The two circuit court judges rotate through the court on alternating weeks. There are three divisions within the Circuit Court: the Criminal Division, the Civil Division, and the Family Division.

Jurisdiction:

  • All felony cases, including preliminary hearings (Criminal Division)
  • Any juvenile felony cases moved to adult court (Criminal Division)
  • Any civil case over $25,000 (Civil Division)
  • Divorce, adoption, child custody and child support (Family Division)
  • Juvenile delinquency or dependency (Family Division)

Primary Location: Clinton County Courthouse, St. Johns

District Court

Clinton County also has the 65A District Court, located at the courthouse in St. Johns. Unlike the Circuit Court, the District Court does not have court divisions.

Jurisdiction:

  • All misdemeanor cases, including hearings
  • All traffic citations and county or city ordinance violations
  • Search warrants and arrest warrants in criminal cases
  • All civil cases under $25,000
  • Small claims cases
  • Evictions and foreclosures
  • Garnishments

Primary Location: Clinton County Courthouse, St. Johns

Probate Court

Clinton County has a Probate Court that is separate from either the Circuit Court or the District Court. The Probate Court has a separate clerk as well, called the Probate Register. In general, Probate Courts in Michigan primarily handle the estates of deceased persons, but they have other jurisdictions as well.

Jurisdiction:

  • Wills, trusts, and estates
  • Mental health hearings
  • Guardianships of mentally ill or incapacitated adults
  • Conservatorships
  • Marriages and name changes

Primary Location: Clinton County Courthouse, St. Johns

How to File a Case in Clinton County

How to File a Case in Clinton County

It is important to know how to file a case in Clinton County to avoid wasting time and money. In general, residents of Clinton County will only file civil cases, including probate cases. Criminal cases are filed by law enforcement, health inspectors, or code enforcement.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

In Clinton County, choosing the correct court is the first step to filing a successful case. There are three choices when it comes to filing a case in the county, but luckily, all cases are filed within a single building, the Clinton County Courthouse. If a resident is filing a civil case that asks for less than $25,000 in damages, they need to file in District Court. This would include evictions, foreclosures, and garnishments. If the lawsuit is asking for more than $25,000 in damages, it must be filed in Circuit Court. Any matters dealing with the estate of someone must be filed with the Probate Court.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

After choosing which court to file in, the next step is to fill out the required forms paperwork for the case. Michigan has a forms database where court forms are available to be downloaded and completed for District, Probate, and Circuit Courts. For residents who are unsure how to fill out forms correctly, Michigan provides a self-help, guided service to fill out forms, or residents can also visit the Circuit Court or District Court Clerks for help, as well as the Probate Register.

Step 3: File the Case

To file a case in Clinton County, residents have two options. While attorneys must file online, residents have the option of filing online or in person. If they file online, people can use the MiFILE platform for all three courts in Clinton County. Residents filing in person need to visit the Court Clerks of the District Court, the Circuit Court, or the Probate Court Register. Michigan also allows case filings by mail, but people must specify which court they are filing in.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Once the case has been filed, the filing fees for the case must be paid. If they filed in person, they will pay the Court Clerks or the Register using cash, money order, debit or credit cards, or cashier's checks. People paying by mail must enclose a cashier's check or a money order. Online filers will pay at the time of filing with MiFILE using a credit or debit card. Residents can request a waiver from court filing fees if they cannot afford them.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Michigan does not allow litigants involved in a civil case to serve each other with paperwork, but all litigants of the lawsuit must be informed at the time the case is filed. In Michigan, residents can choose to have the paperwork served by a sheriff, a certified officer of the court, or a professional process server. A Proof of Service form must be filed with the court before the case moves forward.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

Monitoring a case in Michigan is a simple process through the MiCOURT platform, which can be used for all three courts in Clinton County. For residents who do not want to use the platform, they can contact the Circuit Court Clerk, the District Court Clerk, or the Probate Court Register by phone or in person for case information.

Clinton County Courthouse Directory

Clinton County Courthouse (Circuit Court, District Court and Probate Court)

St. Johns

Address: 100 E. State Street, St. Johns, MI 48879

Phone: (989) 224-5190

Website: Clinton County Courthouse

Legal and Self-Help Resources

Clinton County's residents may find navigating the court systems in Michigan difficult. Luckily, the county has resources available to help.

  • Although the state does have some self-help topics available online, Michigan Legal Help is the state court's go-to help site. It provides information on the structure of the court system, how to find and fill out court paperwork, and a resource library.
  • Legal Services of South-Central Michigan helps low-income individuals, families, and seniors with civil cases in the Clinton County court system, as well as other counties in the area. They also provide help with benefits denials and criminal record expungements.
  • Lakeshore Legal Aid gives families, seniors, and domestic violence victims legal assistance with family law and civil cases. They can help with benefits issues, divorce, orders of protection, child custody and child support.

FAQs

How do I search for a criminal case in Clinton County?

Searching for a criminal case in Clinton County is a straightforward process using the MiCOURT platform. Whether the case was filed in Circuit Court or District Court, the platform can find it. However, if a resident is unsure of the jurisdiction for the court case, they may want to consider using a third-party records finder, such as CourtCaseFinder, since it can pull cases from all over Michigan as well as nationwide.

Are court records public in Clinton County?

In general, all dockets, records, and case information are public in Michigan by law. A few exceptions exist. Cases involving sensitive, identifying information, such as child custody, guardianships, adoptions, or mental health commitments, are not public. Some information from public court cases may also be redacted, such as names or Social Security numbers. Juvenile cases are not public, and judges are allowed to seal cases.

Where can I find eviction records?

Eviction records in Michigan are filed under the District Courts. Residents can access eviction information in general through the MiCOURT platform. However, if the eviction record is older than 2015, residents may want to call the District Court first to determine if they will need to view the case in person or online.

Other Counties in Michigan

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