Michigan Court Locations and Records
FamilyCourtHelp is an independent educational platform. It is not a court, law firm, government agency, or government partner. We organize and link to publicly available resources published by courts and government agencies. Official requirements may change. Always confirm current requirements with the applicable court or clerk.
Family cases in Michigan are heard in the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Division. The Circuit Court's Family Division handles divorce, custody, and support. Michigan's 83 counties are organized into judicial circuits.
The clerk's office is a different thing from the court itself. The clerk accepts filings, keeps the record, and collects fees, while judges and hearings belong to the court. For a filing question, the clerk is the right first call. The official Michigan directory and case record search are below.
Official Michigan court locators
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Michigan trial court directory (by county) (Michigan judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your area, with locations and contact details. https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/courtdirectory/
MiCOURT Case Search (Michigan courts): Look up existing case records. Access is listed as free and the system is organized mixed. https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/
Michigan state courts website (Michigan judicial branch): The official home of the Michigan court system, with statewide rules, news, and links to every court. https://www.courts.michigan.gov
MiFILE (Tyler Technologies): MiFILE is Michigan's statewide e-filing system and family cases in circuit court are covered across the state. Attorneys must e-file; if you do not have a lawyer you may e-file, and a few courts now require it, so check your county's rules. https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/
Michigan court self-help resources (Michigan courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Michigan family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.courts.michigan.gov/self-help
MiCOURT Case Search: No account needed. Not every local court participates (Oakland and Wayne run their own portals). Juvenile, adoption, mental-health, and sealed records are excluded. https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/
Open micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search
Search by party name, case number, or attorney
Official link data for Michigan was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Which court hears family cases in Michigan?
Family cases in Michigan are heard in the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Division. The Circuit Court's Family Division handles divorce, custody, and support. Michigan's 83 counties are organized into judicial circuits.
Can I look up an existing Michigan case online?
MiCOURT Case Search is the official search. No account needed. Not every local court participates (Oakland and Wayne run their own portals). Juvenile, adoption, mental-health, and sealed records are excluded.
Is the clerk the same as the court?
No. The clerk of court accepts filings, keeps records, and collects fees. Judges and hearings belong to the court itself. For filing questions, start with the clerk's office.