Washtenaw County Court Records
In line with rule 1.109 of the Michigan Court Rules, court records refer to any information generated by or filed with Washtenaw Courts. They include pleadings, judgments, orders, notices, arrest warrants, and audio and video recordings. In Washtenaw County, these documents are legally created and managed by the Clerk of the Court’s Office.
Court records are essential for various reasons. One, they help shed light on the actions of the judiciary and enable the members of the public to make sense of cases that affect them and their communities. The existence of court records also enables an appellate review for the losing party, as the records of the lower court are reviewed to determine if the defendant received a fair trial.
Are Court Records Public in Washtenaw County
Yes, court records are public in Washtenaw County. This is in accordance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which grants all citizens of the State the right to access all records of public bodies. However, certain court records and information are redacted from public court records. Examples of such records/information are:
- Adoption records
- Domestic violence records
- Medical records
- Personal identifying information like date of birth, passport number, driver’s license number, social security number, financial account number, national identification number, and state-issued personal identification card number.
Where to Conduct a Washtenaw County Case Lookup
Interested persons can conduct a court case lookup c at the following record custodian offices in Washtenaw County:
- Washtenaw County Trial Court
- Washtenaw County Courts (14A, 14B, and 15th District Courts)
- Washtenaw County Probate Court
How to Conduct a Washtenaw County Case Records Search
The following outlines the processes for conducting a case records search at the Washtenaw County Trial Court and the District Court:
Washtenaw County Trial Court
Court case records searches can be conducted in person or online at the Washtenaw Trial Court. In-person requesters can conduct name searches using the public terminals available at the main office of the Clerk of the Court. This can be done from Monday through Friday, between the working hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the other hand, online requesters should visit the Washtenaw County public access, where they can access criminal, civil, family, and probate court case records.
Washtenaw District Courts
Washtenaw County has three District Courts: 14A, 14B, and the 15th District Courts. To view the court case records of any of these courts, requesters should visit the MiCOURT Case Search portal, where they can conduct a search by name or case number. This system provides access to civil, traffic, criminal, domestic (divorce/family), and probate case records. However, records concerning adoptions, wills, mental illnesses, and name changes cannot be accessed via this case search. Individuals may also visit the courthouses during working hours to conduct a case records search.
Washtenaw County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records are all documents or materials that contain information about disputes between two or more parties. Washtenaw County Courts handles civil cases at various degrees. For example:
- The Washtenaw County Trial Court’s Civil/Criminal Division has jurisdiction only over civil cases involving more than $25,000.
- The 14A District Court handles civil infraction (traffic) cases.
- The 14B District Court handles civil infractions such as traffic tickets, dog licensing violations, property maintenance code and zoning violations, landlord/tenant, small claims, and cases where the claim amount is $25,000 and below.
- The 15th District Court Civil Division handles civil disputes of about $25,000 or less, small claims disputes of $6,000 or less, and landlord/tenant issues.
To obtain the records of the above civil cases, requesters may visit the civil divisions at the respective courthouse locations. For online requesters, The Trial Court has a Civil, Family, & Probate Case Records portal that can be used to view civil records. The search criteria are by case, party, attorney, or date filed. The MiCourt Case Search portal can be used to view civil cases heard in the District Courts.
Washtenaw County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records include any documents or materials generated and maintained by the court concerning the criminal offenses committed by an individual. These include felonies, delinquency proceedings, and juvenile offenses. In Washtenaw County, the Trial Court’s Civil/Criminal Division handles all felonies and serious misdemeanors. On the other hand, the 14A and 14B District Courts and the 15th District Court’s Traffic/Criminal Division handle misdemeanors only.
Criminal court records can be found online or in person at the Washtenaw Courts. Online requesters can use the Criminal Case Records portal to find criminal cases handled by the Trial Court. The search criteria are by case, defendant, citation, attorney, or date filed. District Courts' criminal records can be found online through the MiCOURT Case Search tool. Requesters are to fill in the case type box with the relevant abbreviation to get specific search results. This case search tool only displays records where the sentencing occurred within the last 7 years. To conduct an in-person search, requesters should visit any of the District Courts and the civil/criminal division in the Trial Court during work hours.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
The Washtenaw Couty Trial Court has public terminals that can be used to view court records online at no cost. Individuals can also visit the Washtenaw public access and the MiCOURT Case Search to access the civil, criminal, family, traffic, domestic, and probate case records recorded in the Trial and District Courts, respectively.
Courts in Washtenaw County
Below is an overview of the addresses of all the courts in the Washtenaw County:
14A District Court
4133 Washtenaw Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 973-4545
Fax: (734) 973-4693
14A-2 District Court
415 W Michigan Avenue
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: (734) 484-6690
Fax: (734) 484-6697
14A-3 District Court
122 S Main Street
Chelsea, MI 48118
Phone: (734) 475-8606
Fax: (734) 475-0460
14A-4 District Court
1000 N Maple Road
Saline, MI 48176
Phone: (734) 429-2504
Fax: (734) 429-2879
14B District Court
7200 S. Huron River
Dr. Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: (734) 544-4000
15th District Court
Ann Arbor Justice Center
301 E Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone: (734) 794-6000
Washtenaw County Trial Court
101 E Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645
Phone: [(734) 222-3270]([https://www.washtenaw.org/991/(734) 222-3270](https://www.washtenaw.org/991/(734) 222-3270))
