Michigan Court Case Lookup
In Michigan, a court case is a legal proceeding in which a party which could be (a person, family or organization) brings a dispute or allegation against another in a court of law. The reason for bringing the matter to Court is for a judge or jury to decide guilt or liability.
Michigan court cases are civil, criminal, or administrative matters heard in the state courts. Courts in Michigan Include the Michigan Supreme Court, which is the highest Court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's Court of last hope and consists of seven justices. The Michigan Court of Appeals is the middle-level appellate Court of Michigan. In Michigan, the District courts are courts of limited jurisdiction.
In Michigan, the Circuit Court is a trial court with the broadest powers. Generally, the Circuit Court is in charge of all civil cases with claims greater than twenty five ($25,000) and all felony criminal cases (cases where the summon if found guilty, could be sent to prison). The family division of the Circuit Court controls all issues regarding paternity, divorce, adoptions, personal protection actions, minors release, treatment and testing of infectious diseases, safe delivery of newborns, juvenile offences and delinquency, juvenile guardianship, and child abuse and neglect. Michigan also has a court for money damage issues called the Court of Claims, mainly for filing a case against the State of Michigan in which a claim for money damages is made.
Lastly, The Michigan Probate Court handles wills, administers estates and trusts, appoints custodians and conservators, and decrees treatment for mentally ill and developmentally disabled individuals.
Members of the Public can look up information about criminal or civil cases heard in the Michigan courts online, in person, or by other electronic means. Federal case files are maintained electronically and are available through the internet-based Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. PACER allows anyone with an account to search and locate appellate, district, bankruptcy court case and docket information.
NOTE: Electronic and paper court records retained at the court site can be viewed at the courthouse for free; however, there is a fee per page to print from a public access terminal.
Are Court Cases Public Record in Michigan?
Yes, The Michigan Court record website is designed to provide electronic access to public court records. It also includes information on the state's judicial structure, starting from the Michigan Supreme Court, which administers all courts, to the courts of appeal, district courts, circuit courts and probate courts, among others.
Access to criminal court records, civil court records, and other public records is established under the Michigan Freedom of information Act, which guarantees the right of the Public to inspect, receive, copy, file, review or request government records except in instances exempted by law or court order.
Can I Get Michigan Court Case Documents Online?
Yes, an individual can obtain case documents generated by Michigan courts online. As soon as a court document is filed in a criminal lawsuit, a family matters, a small claims court, or other judicial cases, it is accessible for public examination in Michigan. As with many guidelines, there are exceptions. A party to a legal proceeding can inquire about having documents stationed "under seal". Assuming that the request gets permitted, the records would not be a part of the public record. This request will need to be approved by the judge. Michigan law and court orders protect certain information. A court may restrict access to court papers in civil or criminal cases. However, getting court papers requires a trip to the courthouse and submitting a written request to the clerk.
How to Conduct a Michigan Court Case Search by Name?
The step to take when trying to obtain court cases by name in Michigan is determining the courthouses where such proceedings took place. Under MCR 8.199 (E), there is a presumption in favour of public access to court records. Requesters can access many files unless access is restricted by statute or the Court seals records. Interested parties may file their request in writing to the court clerk or fill out request forms provided by the Court. They may also be able to access court records online.
What is a Court Case Number?
A court case number is a unique number that allows easy and memorable reference to specific civil and criminal cases. It is used to identify the year the suit was filed, the office in which it was filed, and the judicial officer(s) to whom it is assigned. Using case numbers allows uniform access to case information within the federal system. Every document filed with the Court must reference the correct case number. This will assist in the proper routing of documents within the Court. A case in Michigan court starts when a complaint or petition is filed. The court clerk assigns a case number, and at the end of the case number is the case-type code.
How to Conduct a Case Number Search in Michigan
One way to conduct a case number search in Michigan, interested persons may use the MiCOURT Case Search and provide their names in the search field. Such persons should enter their terms without a comma and click the submit button. This search portal can provide details on traffic, domestic, civil, criminal, and probate cases. Juvenile and delinquency cases are also available through this portal. The requesters can fetch their case numbers from the result page at the end of the search. Alternatively, interested individuals can obtain their case numbers in Michigan by contacting the Court of records. However, some nominal fees may apply for such inquiries.
Michigan Court Records Lookup
It is possible to look up court cases in Michigan, provided they are not restricted from public viewing. Lawsuits with confidential and sensitive information are not usually accessible by members of the Public via any means. Interested persons can look up court cases online using the local courts' search portals in each county or person at the courthouses where such proceedings are being heard. The Case Search portal on the Michigan Courts website is equally helpful in looking up court cases in Michigan. This portal provides interested individuals with three search options. These are the docket number, party name, and case list by Attorney. Some third-party websites also offer court case lookup services but typically attract some fees.
How to Remove Court Cases From Public Record in Michigan
Michigan Law has long provided that individuals convicted of most state criminal offences could be deleted or set aside under certain circumstances and if certain pre-conditions are met. Crimes that could not be deleted or charged aside included murder, criminal sexual conduct or any traffic offence. When a record is deleted or set aside, it no longer becomes accessible to public records so employers and others cannot locate them, however, the records are still accessible in a non-public history available to law enforcement agencies.
Note: An expungement is a way to remove past offences from your public record. Expansions under the "Clean Slate" laws include eligibility for up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanours, excluding particular assault or weapons offences and felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
How to Check a Court Case Status in Michigan
Individuals can look up court cases in Michigan, provided they are not restricted from public viewing. Lawsuits with confidential and sensitive information are not usually accessible by members of the Public via any means. Interested persons can look up court cases online using the local courts' search portals in each county or person at the courthouses where such proceedings are being heard. The Case Search portal on the Michigan Courts website is equally helpful in looking up court cases in Michigan. This portal provides interested individuals with three search options. These are the docket number, party name, and case list by Attorney. Some third-party websites also offer court case lookup services but typically attract some fees.
How to Find Supreme Court Decisions in Michigan
The Supreme Court's decisions, cases, orders, and opinions of the Michigan Supreme Court are published online and publicly available. Individuals can search for judgments through the Cases, Opinions & Orders (michigan.gov) of the Michigan Courts website. The page allows visitors to filter search queries using the docket number, citation number, case title, author, and case topic.
Interested citizens can also send a request to the Supreme Court clerk for court records, including concluded case judgments. However, the most secure way to find the decisions and other Supreme Court case records is through the website owned by the Court.
What Percentage of Court Cases Go to Trial in Michigan?
According to the annual court statistics reports released by Michigan Supreme Court Caseload. The Michigan Supreme Court reviews an average of 2,000 applications for leave to appeal and a small number of original actions each year. Of those, roughly 2-3 per cent are trailed before the Court and decided by opinion. The remaining cases are decided by order. Currently, 28 law clerks and 18 commissioners research case law and write reports and views for the seven Justices. On average, the appeal process takes between 6 and 8 months from filing to disposition. The Court's annual clearance rate has been between 95 and 104 per cent for the past several years. Please review the provided links for monthly and yearly reports reflecting the work of your Supreme Court.
How Long Does a Court Case Last in Michigan?
On average, it takes six to eight months after applying for leave to appeal for the Court to render its decision. But some cases may be decided sooner and others much later, depending on the case's specifics. Approximately 85% of all appeals are concluded within 18 months of filing. Some appeals, however, are considered priority matters by the Court and have a significantly faster disposition. Those cases include child custody matters, involuntary mental health commitments, Freedom of Information Act matters, and appeals expedited by the Court of Appeals order. The time it takes for a solicitation to be decided, whether the request is a priority or not, depends on various factors, including the length of time the parties bring to file their briefs, delays with securing records from lower courts or agencies, the volume of appeals pending in the Court, and the Court's staffing resources. However, the due date of application for leave to appeal after the Court of Appeals decision, MCR 7.305(C)(2): Criminal = 56 days. Civil = 42 days.
How to File a Court Case in Michigan
"Filing" In law is the act of submitting a written document to the court clerk for the Court's immediate consideration and storage in the Court's files. Courts will only consider a move if an appropriate memorandum is filed before the deadline. However, a filing fee is paid, which is part of court costs.
To file a civil case and not a criminal case in Michigan, a person, company, or other entity must file a complaint against another; this begins a civil court case. Civil cases are private disputes between one or more people, businesses, or organizations. In Michigan, civil complaints can be filed at the courthouse, by mail, or electronically. The appropriate way to verify how a case can be filed is to call the relevant court clerk's office.
What Does It Mean if a Court Case Was Resolved Before the Trial Date?
There are several ways to resolve a case. A judge or jury, a settlement, or a default judgment can decide a trial. If a court case was settled before the trial date, the plaintiff and defendant agreed without requiring a bench or jury trial. This is a "settlement".
Note: If a case is settled before trial, the matter is considered closed, and no future proceedings will occur.
