Oakland County Court Records
An Oakland County Court record is official information or document that is generated, collected, or maintained by a court system for legal proceedings. Court records are generated by their respective courts, and Oakland County has various courts that facilitate and manage different kinds of court cases. These include the 6th Circuit Court and the county's district courts, which handle civil and criminal cases. The two main types of court records in Oakland County, Michigan, include:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
Civil records are court documents regarding legal disputes between entities or individuals that do not involve criminal charges. They mainly include lawsuits, judgments, and court orders related to various civil matters, including property disputes, contract disputes, family law matters, personal injury claims, and child custody. On the contrary criminal records are official records regarding a person's criminal history involving cases such as arrests, charges, convictions, and sentencing. The cases might either be an infraction, a misdemeanor, or a felony case. By default, these records are categorized as Oakland County Public Records unless their disclosure is restricted by judicial order.
Are Court Records Public in Oakland County?
According to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, county court records within the state can be made available to members of the public within the state. This record includes property records, county court records, and other essential records created, collected, or maintained by the county departments and offices. While, in general, county court records are available to the public, there may be some restrictions regarding access to certain records, especially those containing sensitive or confidential information or those protected by either the state or federal law. The records are made available at the county clerk’s office. Some of the confidential court records in Oakland County include:
- Juvenile court records
- Mental health court records
- Adoption records
- Sealed cases.
What Do Oakland County Court Records Contain?
The standard kinds of information Oakland County Court records contain include the following:
- Name of parties involved in the case
- Filing date
- Case number
- Case status
- Case type
- Case caption
- Case citation
- Case category
- Presiding judge’s name
- Judgement date
- Briefs (date filed, due date, party, and attorney, and notes)
- Docket information (description, date, notes)
- Hearing details (time/date, type, and location)
- Oral argument time/date
- Disposition information (description, date, publication status, and disposition type)
Where to Conduct an Oakland County Case Lookup?
Court records consist of information related to a judicial proceeding, which are created, collected, or maintained by the county court. Inquirers can conduct a case lookup in Oakland County via the following:
- The Oakland County Clerk’s office
- Contact the County Court physically
- Using a Third-Party Service
How to Conduct an Oakland County Court Case Search
There are various ways to conduct an Oakland County court lookup. Requesters can search for an Oakland County Court case online or directly. An individual can access the online county court case lookup tool in the Michigan Court System official website. Here is a concise description on how to find county court records on a person:
- Tap on the “Online Services” section on the navigation bar, and choose the “Court Records Search” option from the drop-down menu.
- Provide essential details related to the specific case, such as a party name, the case number
- Otherwise, search using the following: a date range, attorney name, docket number, or judge name.
Alternatively, a requester can visit the Oakland County Clerk’s Office physically and appeal to access the records. The County Clerk’s Office is located at 1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Pontiac, MI 48341. Similarly, the requester will need to input the certain information related to the required case, such parties involved or case number. However, court cases can only be accessed and viewed on the court premises. This is because access to case records is restricted to the court premises, and requesters are not allowed to take or remove any of the records or documents from the court premises.
Additionally, the Oakland County Clerk might charge some fees for users to view and access County Court records. These varying fees depend on the kind of record and the amount of time the requester will need to retrieve the record. For instance, the Oakland County Circuit Court charges requesters $1 per page for document copies, and there is a $10 research fee for court cases that require more than 10 minutes of research time. Also, the Oakland County Probate Court charges $1 per page for document copies, and enforces a $10 lookup fee for cases that require more than 10 minutes of lookup time. Thus, it is a good practice to check with the County Clerk’s office or specific court before time to confirm if there are any additional fees regarding checking for Oakland County records and confirm that you have the recommended payment method (such as credit card or cash).
Requesters can also contact the presiding court where the case was heard directly and appeal for access to the court records. When granted access, the user will need to provide details concerning the case such as the case number and names of either or both parties of the specific case.
Finally, there are renowned third-party sites where members of the public may consult for information concerning Oakland County Court records. These external sites provide more extensive information on the court cases within the city and, as a result, charge higher for their services. Thus, individuals seeking information concerning Court cases in Oakland County can check these sites. Some of the popular and authorized websites that provide these professional services for court case lookup in Oakland County, Michigan include Michigan Legal Help and CourtReference, while other platforms which are renowned but not-recognized by the government include the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), and the Oakland County Legal News.
Oakland County Civil Court Case Records
Oakland County civil court records refer to information and documents regarding private individuals or organizations. These court records are collected and maintained by the Court Clerk’s Office. They contain an extensive account of the legal proceedings in a certain case, such as the names of the parties involved, the claims made, and the result of the case. Also, while these records are accessible to the general public, they are also subject to some fees and restrictions. Plus, individuals may only be able to access some records via third-party services or websites. Some examples of civil county cases the Circuit Court handles includes:
- Personal Injury: These are legal cases where a person has suffered injury, loss, or harm due to intentional actions or negligence of another party. For example, slip and fall accidents, fire accidents, medical malpractice, even product liability cases.
- Contract disputes: These are cases whereby there is a disagreement between two parties regarding the performance or terms of a contract. For example, a party breaches a contract, real estate disagreements, or employment disputes.
- Property disputes: These are cases that involve disagreements over personal property or real estate. For example, boundary disputes, property damage claims, or landlord-tenant disputes.
- Family law cases: These are legal cases involving family-related disputes like child custody, divorce, or child support.
- Debt Collection cases: These are cases where a creditor seeks to collect a debt from a debtor. This includes medical bills, unpaid loans, or credit card debts.
- Probate and estate cases: These are cases related to the distribution of property and assets after the death of someone. For example, guardianship proceedings, trust disputes, or will contests.
While the above list outline the types of civil court cases heard in Oakland County Courts, they are not exhaustible and there may be more information regarding them. Requesters can acquire these records online or directly physically at the presiding court or the County Clerk’s Office. As stated earlier, copies of the records come at a cost.
Oakland County Criminal Court Case Records
Oakland criminal court case records are legal documents comprising information regarding a criminal case that has been filed in court against an individual or organization. Typically, this type of case is filed when a person or organization has been charged to court by the government for defaulting the laws or committing a crime. Usually, the criminal court case records contain details regarding the charges that have been filed, the court hearings and proceedings that have occurred, additional evidence that has been provided, and the outcome of the proceedings.
Criminal court case records in Oakland County are likely to be created, collected, or maintained by either the District Court or the Oakland County Circuit Court. The specific detail contained on the records will depend on the individual case and the nature of the charge. Moreover, criminal records are usually opened and accessible to members of the public who request for access, but are also subject to restrictions if they carry sensitive information. Also, access to these records may also come at specific requirements like access fee. Below are the major kinds of criminal cases an individual may find at an Oakland County Court lookup:
Infractions: Infractions are minor offenses that are punishable by fines or other minor penalties. They are considered less serious than misdemeanors or felonies and generally do not result in a criminal record. Some examples of infractions include traffic violations like speeding, running a stop sign or a red light, and parking violations.
Misdemeanors: Misdemeanors are criminal offenses or violations that are considered less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction. They are usually punishable by a period of imprisonment up to a year or fines up to $1,000. However, the penalties may depend on the types severity of the offense or the jurisdiction. Examples of misdemeanors include petty theft, driving under the influence (DUI), or disorderly conduct.
Felonies: These are the most serious type of criminal offense and can be punishable by imprisonment for a year or more, fines, or both. Felonies are considered the most serious offenses and can have significant consequences, such as loss of voting rights or the right to possess firearms. Some examples of felonies include murder, rape, grand theft, drug trafficking, and white-collar crimes like embezzlement.
How to Get Oakland County Court Records Online for Free
Inquirers can obtain Oakland County Court records online for free by visiting the County Clerk’s official website. When there, the requester will need to select the “Records Search” button located at the left-hand side of the dashboard.
On the Records Search page are the various search options an inquirer may use that suits their search needs. They can search for a particular case number, the names of any of the parties, or the document type. After choosing the desired search option, the requester must provide the exact details for the given search field (such as the case number, party name, or document type). After tapping on the “Search” button, the website will provide a list of available county records that match the one the requester has searched. Then, the individual may locate the records and click on it to open it. If the record is available, then the individual will be able to view it online. If it is not, then the requester will need to pay a little fee to access the documents by mail or in-person.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
Courts in Oakland County
The following are the addresses and contact information of all the courts in Oakland county, Michigan:
6th Circuit Court – Oakland County
1200 N. Telegraph Road,
Pontiac, MI 48341
Phone: (248) 858-0349
43rd District Court - Hazel Park
111 E. Nine Mile Road,
Hazel Park, MI 48030
Phone: (248) 547-3034
44th District Court - Royal Oak
400 E. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Phone: (248) 246-3600
45A District Court – Berkley
3338 Coolidge Highway,
Berkley, MI 48072
Phone: (248) 658-3400
45B District Court – Oak Park
13600 Oak Park Boulevard,
Oak Park, MI 48237
Phone: (248) 691-7440
46th District Court – Southfield
26000 Evergreen Road,
Southfield, MI 48076
Phone: (248) 796-5800
47th District Court – Farmington Hills
31605 West Eleven Mile Road,
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
Phone: (248) 871-2900
48th District Court – Bloomfield Hills
4280 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Hill, MI 48302
Phone: (248) 647-1141
