Macomb County, Michigan Court Records

Macomb County court records contain information on court proceedings, judicial actions, and filed court documents. Such documents are crucial for legal research, as they provide accurate, official details about specific events. For example, researchers may use divorce court records to trace lost relations in genealogy research. Besides their significance in research, these records help to ensure that the courts follow standard and fair practices.

Trial-level courts, such as the circuit and probate courts, create court records in Macomb County. The county clerk’s office, along with the courthouses, maintains and discloses court records in line with the state’s public records law. The law requires these entities to release court documents to interested and legally eligible parties.

Court records in the custody of these entities may include documents filed during case proceedings. For example, inquirers may find filed financial statements, contracts, and agreements in civil case records.

Are Macomb County Court Records Public?

Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, most court records in Macomb County are public. The law allows the public to inspect and obtain copies of court documents from appointed public custodians. Custodians, like the Macomb County Clerk’s Office, offer online and offline options for the public to obtain court documents. Generally, almost anyone can access court records, including dockets, case files, transcripts, judgments, orders, and complaints.

Nevertheless, specific court documents are classified and out of reach of unauthorized parties. Such documents contain information whose disclosure may harm concerned parties. Examples of non-public court documents include the following:

Sealed and expunged court documents.
Information about juvenile offenders and minors in court cases.
Information protected under the client-attorney privilege.
Crime scene videos and images.
Documents used in the decision-making of specific court matters.

What Information is Available in Macomb County Court Records?

Macomb County court records typically include the following information:

Case parties’ information, including full names, birthdates, physical features, or addresses.
Case identifiers, such as case number, type, court name, filing date, and court location.
Names of other parties involved.
Case transcript
Docket information
Filed court documents, such as deeds, wills, arrest reports, and summons.

Court records may contain specific information based on the case type, status, and other factors. Case in point: active court cases may not include judgments or court orders. Depending on the case type, criminal court records may consist of exhibits, pleas, transcripts, and sentencing, while probate court records may include vital records, property deeds, and financial statements.

Macomb County Court Records Search

Macomb County court records are accessible via any of these options.

Online Access: The Macomb County Clerk, via the CourtView platform, allows online searches of circuit court cases. Inquirers may view records on the platform by inputting the case party names, number, case type, or attorney’s information. Note that the search platform may not contain confidential court documents; inquirers may submit offline requests for such records.

In addition to online searches, inquirers may request copies of the record via the court clerk’s online request system. Inquirers are required to complete the form and select the type of copy and the delivery method. Upon receiving the form, the county clerk’s office will retrieve and mail the requested documents to the inquirer.

In-Person Access: To access circuit court records in person, inquirers may make inquiries and requests to the Macomb County Clerk at this address:

40 North Main Street

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043.

Phone: (586) 469-5120

Email: clerksoffice@macombgov.org

The Clerk of Courts handles in-person requests from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

On the other hand, inquirers can obtain probate court records by visiting the probate courthouse at:

Macomb County Probate Court

40 North Main Street

5th Floor

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043.

Phone: (586) 469-5290

The probate courthouse may attend to in-person requests on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mail and Phone Requests: Persons or entities may send mail-based requests for circuit court records to the Macomb County Clerk’s Office at this address:

Macomb County Clerk’s Office

Attn: File Room

40 North Main Street

Mount Clemens, MI 48043

E-mail: fileroom@macombgov.org

The request must include the following:

A completed request form for court records.
Credit card information to pay the required fees. The county clerk charges $2 per copy and $10 per certification of court documents.

In contrast, inquirers may access probate court records by submitting a written request to the probate court at sheila.lipari@macombgov.org.

Fees for Court Records in Macomb County

Record seekers are required to pay specific fees when requesting court records in Macomb County. For instance, the county clerk’s office charges $2 per copy of a court document and $10 to certify each document. Faxed copies cost $10 and $2 for each document. Note that there are no fees required to view online court records on case search platforms.

Record seekers may use waivers to offset the cost of obtaining court records in Macomb County. The Michigan Do-it-Yourself Fee Waiver form allows inquirers to create and submit a waiver form.

Macomb County Courthouse Locations

Macomb County’s trial system consists of the circuit, district, and probate courts. Interested parties may find the courthouses at the following locations:

16th Circuit Court - Macomb

Macomb County Court Building

40 North Main Street

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043

Phone: (586) 469-5351

District Courts in Macomb County

37th District Court - Center Line

7070 East 10 Mile Road

Center Line, MI 48015

Phone: (586) 757-8333

Fax: (586) 759-9611

37th District Court - Warren

8300 Common Road

Warren, MI 48093

Phone: (586) 574-4900

Fax: (586) 574-4932

38th District Court - Eastpointe

16101 9 Mile Road

Eastpointe, MI 48021

Phone: (586) 445-5020

Fax: (586) 445-5060

39th District Court - Fraser

33000 Garfield Road

PO Box 10

Fraser, MI 48026

Phone: (586) 293-3137

Fax: (586) 296-8499

39th District Court - Roseville

29733 Gratiot Avenue

Roseville, MI 48066

Phone: (586) 773-2010

Fax: (586) 445-5070

40th District Court - St. Clair Shores

27701 Jefferson Avenue

St. Clair Shores, MI 48081

Phone: (586) 445-5280

Fax: (586) 774-5430

41-A District Court - Shelby Township

51660 Van Dyke Avenue

Shelby Township, MI 48316

Phone: (586) 739-7325

Fax: (586) 726-4555

41-A District Court - Sterling Heights

40111 Dodge Park Road

Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Phone: (586) 446-2500

41B District Court - Clinton Township

22380 Starks Drive

Clinton Township, MI 48036

Phone: (586) 469-9300

Fax: (586) 469-1651

42nd District Court - Division 1 - Romeo

14713 33 Mile Road

PO Box 6

Romeo, MI 48065

Phone: (586) 752-9679

Fax: (586) 752-1906

42nd District Court - Division 2 - New Baltimore

35071 23 Mile Road

New Baltimore, MI 48047

Phone: (586) 725-9500

Fax: (586) 725-1404

Probate Courts in Macomb County

Macomb County Probate Court - Mental Division

440 North Rose Street

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043

Phone: (586) 469-5320

Fax: (586) 783-0905

Macomb County Probate Court - Wills & Estates Division

21850 Dunham Road

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043

Phone: (586) 469-5290

Fax: (586) 783-0971.

The Macomb County courts share jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. However, the circuit court has broad authority over family law and juvenile cases, while probate cases are under the purview of the probate court.

Criminal Records Access in Macomb County

The Michigan State Police, via the Criminal Justice Center, handles requests for criminal history checks in Macomb County. The agency allows name- and fingerprint-based checks for criminal history records. Inquirers may conduct name-based searches for criminal history by using the agency’s IChat search tool. To use the tool, inquirers may first choose to search as a guest or a registered user before providing relevant information.

However, inquirers can conduct a fingerprint-based check for criminal history records by using these steps:

Visit the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office to get your prints taken on an RI-008 card. However, non-residents must request fingerprinting on the FBI Applicant Fingerprint card (FD-258).
Attach a cover letter explaining the reasons for requesting a criminal history check.
Attach a $30 search fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the State of Michigan.
Submit the form to:

Michigan State Police

CJIC

P.O. Box 30266

Lansing, Michigan 48909-7766.

Local criminal record histories are handled by the Macomb County Clerk’s Office. Inquirers may search the records by using an online case search platform or by submitting an in-person request to the court clerk.

Macomb County Probate Records

Macomb County probate records reveal information regarding probate-related cases heard in the probate court. The court hears cases concerning the administration of a deceased’s estate, the appointment of guardians or conservators, and name changes.

Probate records mostly contain confidential data, which is restricted from public access. Confidential information in probate records may include personal financial data and information about minors.

Persons or entities may access probate court records by using resources provided by government entities in Macomb County. For instance, the county clerk hosts an online search platform for probate cases heard in the county. Inquirers may search the records by providing the case party name, number, or case type.

On the other hand, inquirers may request the records by emailing the probate court at sheila.lipari@macombgov.org.

Macomb County Family Court Records

In Macomb County, family court records are official recordings of family law case proceedings and related documents. Such records provide information on cases like divorce, child custody, adoption, support, and termination of parental rights.

The Macomb County Clerk’s Office is the official custodian of family court records. Furthermore, the agency allows online searches or offline access to these records. Record seekers may search the records by providing relevant data in the agency’s online searchable platform. In contrast, inquirers may request the records via mail or in-person request to the county clerk at:

Physical address

40 North Main Street

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043.

Phone: (586) 469-5120

Email: clerksoffice@macombgov.org

Mail address:

Macomb County Clerk’s Office

Attn: File Room

40 North Main Street

Mount Clemens, MI 48043

The mail request must include a written request form along with the required fees. The court clerk charges $2 per page of copied document and $10 per certification.

Federal Court Records in Macomb County

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has jurisdiction over federal cases in Macomb County. Federal cases under the court’s jurisdiction include bankruptcy, drug trafficking, and civil rights violations. Record seekers may access federal court records by using the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The online search platform provides access to online copies of federal court records.

Alternatively, inquirers may obtain physical copies of the records by visiting the district court at these addresses:

Clerk’s Office - Detroit

Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse

231 West Lafayette Boulevard

Room 599

Detroit, MI 48226

Clerk’s Office - Bay City

U.S. Post Office Building

1000 Washington Avenue

Second Floor

Bay City, MI 48708

Clerk’s Office - Flint

Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse

600 Church Street

Room 140

Flint, MI 48502.