How to search Michigan court records

Michigan has no statewide trial-court search at all. Each county runs its own independent case-management system, so finding a record means first identifying the right county, then searching that county's own portal. Cost varies by record type — some searches are free, others require a paid account or a formal records request.

county by county varies criminal data

Open the official Michigan portal →

What's actually there

MiCOURT Case Search covers participating trial courts but searches one court at a time; there is no statewide trial-court name search. Other courts run their own systems.

Other official lookups for Michigan

How Michigan's courts are organized

Michigan has several kinds of trial courts. The 57 circuit courts are the general trial courts; they handle felony trials and larger civil cases and hear appeals from other trial courts and from state agencies. District courts handle most traffic tickets and civil infractions, civil cases up to $25,000, landlord-tenant cases and certain misdemeanors. Felony cases also begin in district court for bail and a preliminary examination, then move up to circuit court once the defendant is bound over. A few communities in the Grosse Pointes still have municipal courts instead of a district court.

Probate courts handle wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships and mental health treatment orders. Each county has one, except that ten northern counties share five probate districts. The Court of Claims hears civil suits against the state.

Appeals go to the Michigan Court of Appeals and then the Michigan Supreme Court. The state's MiCOURT Case Search lets you look up cases in participating trial courts, but you search one court at a time rather than statewide.

Searching MiCOURT and local court systems

MiCOURT Case Search is run by the Michigan judiciary and is open to the public. You choose a specific court, such as a district or circuit court, and then search that court's public cases. Many local court websites link straight into MiCOURT for their own court, and some also post a daily docket there. Because there is no system-wide search, you need to know or guess which court handled the case, typically by county of residence or where the incident happened.

Courts that are not on MiCOURT keep their own search systems or require a request to the clerk. A Michigan Bar Journal review notes that what each court makes available varies, and that some courts charge for a name search while others search for free and charge only for copies. Appellate dockets and opinions for the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court are on the Michigan Courts website.

Non-public cases are not shown, and some courts hide personal details such as date of birth.
For a statewide criminal history, the Michigan State Police runs ICHAT, a separate fee-based name search.

Getting copies and certified copies

Copies and certified copies come from the clerk's office of the court that handled the case. Each court sets its own copy charges, so check the court's website or call before ordering. Some courts charge per page for printouts from a public terminal, and fee waivers (form MC 20) are available to people who qualify based on income or public assistance.

Set-aside (expunged) convictions

Michigan calls expungement setting aside a conviction, under MCL 780.621 and following. Through the Clean Slate laws (Public Act 193 of 2020), certain convictions are set aside automatically under MCL 780.621g, which took effect April 11, 2023. Eligible misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or more are set aside seven years after sentencing, and eligible felonies ten years after sentencing or release from prison, whichever is later, as long as there are no new convictions or pending charges. Assaultive crimes, offenses punishable by ten or more years, operating while intoxicated, and several other categories are excluded. The State Police notifies the courts daily of set-asides.

For convictions that are not set aside automatically, you apply to the court that convicted you. The Attorney General's office lists waiting periods of seven years for multiple felonies, five years for a single felony or certain serious misdemeanors, and three years for most other misdemeanors, with a $50 processing fee to the State Police. Certain marijuana misdemeanors have their own process under MCL 780.621e. The Attorney General's Expungement Assistance page explains the steps; for advice about your record, talk to a lawyer or a legal aid office.

Tip: start with district court for criminal cases

Almost every Michigan criminal case, felony or misdemeanor, starts in district court. If you are looking for a felony, check the district court for the area where the arrest happened, which will show the early stages such as bail and the preliminary examination. Then check the circuit court for that county if the case was bound over. On MiCOURT these are two separate searches, one for each court.

Sources

Checked against the official sources above in October 2026. Court rules and fees change; the court's own site is the final word. This is general information, not legal advice.

Federal cases filed in Michigan

State portals don't cover federal court. If the case you're looking for might be a federal criminal prosecution, civil suit, or bankruptcy, use CourtRecordsFree's live federal search — it queries CourtListener/RECAP directly and isn't limited to any one state.

Search tips

Try both "Last, First" and "First Last" — courts index names inconsistently.
Middle initials and suffixes (Jr., III) often matter for common names.
A date of birth or case number is the only reliable way to confirm you found the right person.
An arrest or charge shown in a docket is not a conviction — read the disposition.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to search Michigan court records online?

It depends on what you're looking for. Some record types on Michigan's portal are free; others require payment or a formal request.

Does this include criminal records?

Yes. Michigan's portal includes criminal case records alongside civil cases, though sealed and expunged cases are not shown.

Does one search cover the whole state?

No single search. Michigan has no statewide index — you need to find the right county first, then search that county's own system.

Links move. If the Michigan portal link above is dead, tell us on the corrections page.