Search Michigan court records online in 2026 using official Michigan court tools. This guide explains MiCOURT Case Search, Michigan appellate case search, case number lookup, name search, criminal records, civil records, traffic tickets, family and probate records, certified copies, virtual courtrooms, sealed records, expungement, ICHAT criminal history, and PACER federal records.
Need Michigan Court Records Right Now?
For most public Michigan trial court case searches, start with MiCOURT Case Search. For Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals cases, use the official Cases, Opinions & Orders search. For criminal-history background checks, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. For federal cases filed in Michigan, use PACER.
Michigan Court Records Overview
Michigan court records are official case records created or filed in Michigan courts. They may include case numbers, party names, charges, civil claims, hearing dates, register of actions, judgments, orders, opinions, and public documents. For online searching, Michigan uses different official tools depending on the court level and case type.
Most people searching “Michigan court records free,” “Michigan case lookup,” “MiCOURT case search,” or “Michigan court records by name” should begin with MiCOURT Case Search. It is the official statewide public search portal used by many Michigan trial courts for civil, traffic, criminal, domestic/family, and probate case information.
Best place to start by record type
| Record Type | Official Starting Point | Important Note |
|---|---|---|
| Trial court cases | MiCOURT Case Search | Search availability depends on the local court and case type. |
| Supreme Court and Court of Appeals | Cases, Opinions & Orders | Search by case number, party, attorney, bar number, lower court and appellate court. |
| Traffic fines and some misdemeanors | Michigan Courts ePAY | Only participating courts are available. |
| Criminal history background check | Michigan State Police ICHAT | ICHAT is different from a court case search. |
| Federal court records | PACER | Federal district and bankruptcy cases are not in MiCOURT. |
Michigan Court System Explained
Michigan’s judiciary is often called the One Court of Justice. For public record searches, it helps to know which court created the record. Trial court records are usually kept by local courts or county clerks, while appellate records are searched through the Michigan Courts appellate search system.
Main Michigan court levels
| Court | Common Case Types | Search Path |
|---|---|---|
| District Court | Misdemeanors, traffic, civil infractions, landlord-tenant, small claims, preliminary felony matters | MiCOURT or local district court website |
| Circuit Court | Felonies, civil cases over the district court limit, family division, divorce, custody, appeals from lower courts | MiCOURT, county clerk, or circuit court website |
| Probate Court | Estates, guardianships, conservatorships, wills, mental health matters | MiCOURT, probate court, or county records office |
| Court of Claims | Civil actions against the State of Michigan | Michigan Courts and Court of Claims resources |
| Court of Appeals | Appeals from lower courts and agencies | Cases, Opinions & Orders search |
| Michigan Supreme Court | Final state appellate review, orders and opinions | Cases, Opinions & Orders search |
MiCOURT Free Public Case Search
MiCOURT Case Search is the main statewide online tool for many Michigan trial court records. Depending on the participating court and case type, it can show civil, traffic, criminal, domestic/family, and probate case information.
How to use MiCOURT Case Search
- Open the official MiCOURT website Go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. Do not start with paid private background-check websites.
- Read and accept the terms MiCOURT provides public case information for informational use. The official record remains with the court that maintains the file.
- Select the court or search option Choose the court, county, court type, or available search path. Search options vary by participating court.
- Enter accurate details Use case number when possible. If you do not have it, search by name, business name, ticket number, or other fields shown by the portal.
- Verify the result Check court name, party role, case type, filing date, hearings, register of actions, and status before relying on a result.
Search by Case Number
A case number search is the cleanest way to find Michigan court records. A Michigan case number may also be called a court file number, docket number, ticket number, citation number, or register of actions reference depending on the court and case type.
Step-by-step Michigan case number lookup
- Find the number on your paperwork Check the complaint, citation, judgment, summons, notice of hearing, order, payment notice, divorce judgment, probate notice or attorney letter.
- Open MiCOURT or the correct court website Use MiCOURT Case Search for trial court cases or Cases, Opinions & Orders for appellate cases.
- Type the number exactly Use letters, hyphens, leading zeros and year digits as printed. If it fails, try removing spaces or checking the court’s formatting instructions.
- Match the court and case type A case number may exist in one county but not another. Confirm the court name and county before assuming the result is correct.
Search by Name or Business Name
If you do not know the case number, search by person name or business name. This helps with “Michigan court records by name,” “Michigan criminal case lookup,” “Michigan civil case search,” and “Michigan public court records search” queries.
Name search checklist
- Start with full legal name Use last name and first name. Add middle initial if results are too broad.
- Try name variations Search maiden name, former name, hyphenated name, nickname, spelling variation, company name, LLC name, and shortened business name.
- Filter by court if possible If you know the county or city, select that court first. This reduces wrong matches.
- Confirm identity carefully Compare court, case type, party role, filing date, hearing details, age or birth-year details if shown, and attorney information.
Criminal Court Records
Michigan criminal court records may include misdemeanor cases, felony cases, traffic-related criminal matters, bindover events, arraignment information, pleas, sentencing, probation-related entries, orders, and hearings. Availability online depends on the court, case stage, and access rules.
How to search Michigan criminal court records
- Use MiCOURT Case Search Open MiCOURT Case Search and select the local court if known.
- Search by case number or defendant name Case number is best. For name search, use spelling variations and confirm the correct court.
- Check district and circuit court stages Felony matters may begin in district court and continue in circuit court. If you cannot find the full record in one court, check the circuit court or county clerk.
- Use ICHAT for criminal history Court case search is not the same as a Michigan criminal history background check. Use Michigan State Police ICHAT for official public criminal history searches.
Civil, Family, Probate and Small Claims Records
Michigan civil court records can include lawsuits, debt collection, contract disputes, landlord-tenant cases, personal injury claims, business disputes, small claims, judgments and garnishments. Family records may include divorce, custody, child support and parenting time. Probate records may include estates, guardianships, conservatorships and mental health matters.
Common Michigan civil and family searches
| Search Query | Where to Start | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan divorce records | MiCOURT or county circuit court clerk | Family division case, judgment of divorce, county and filing date |
| Michigan civil court records | MiCOURT or local court docket | Claim type, party names, hearings, judgment and register of actions |
| Michigan small claims records | District court search | Small claims number, judgment, satisfaction and payment status |
| Michigan probate records | Probate court or MiCOURT | Estate name, decedent name, guardianship, conservatorship and orders |
| Michigan eviction records | District court or housing docket | Landlord-tenant case, hearing date, judgment and possession order |
Traffic Ticket and ePAY Search
For Michigan traffic tickets, civil infractions, and some misdemeanor payments, start with the official Michigan Courts ePAY website. It allows payments for participating Michigan district courts. Not every court or ticket is available online.
How to look up and pay a Michigan traffic ticket
- Open the official ePAY page Go to e.courts.michigan.gov.
- Choose the court if listed Select the participating court connected to your ticket or citation.
- Enter ticket or case information Use citation number, case number, driver information or other details requested by the portal.
- Read the warning before paying In some cases, payment can be treated as an admission or plea. Read the court’s instructions before submitting payment.
- Save confirmation Keep the receipt number and verify that the payment posts to the court case.
Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Case Search
Michigan appellate case records, opinions and orders are searched through the official Cases, Opinions & Orders search on the Michigan Courts website. This is different from MiCOURT trial court search.
How to search Michigan appellate records
- Open the appellate search page Go to Cases, Opinions & Orders.
- Choose the right search field You can search by case number, appellate court, party name, attorney name, bar number or lower court details.
- Review opinions and orders Search results may include docket information, opinions, orders and related appellate case details.
- Confirm lower court information If you need the trial court file, use the lower court number to contact or search the originating court.
Copies and Certified Court Records
Online court results are useful for basic checking, but official uses often require a copy or certified copy from the court clerk. Certified copies are commonly needed for divorce proof, name changes, probate matters, appeals, immigration files, licensing, banking, title transfers, and government records.
How to request Michigan court copies
- Identify the exact court Use the Trial Court Directory to find the correct district, circuit or probate court.
- Collect case details Write down the case number, party names, document name, filing date and county.
- Contact the clerk Ask the clerk whether copies can be requested online, by email, by mail or in person.
- Ask for certified copy if required Certified copies generally include a clerk certification. Fees vary by court and document type, so verify before sending payment.
- Keep proof of request Save the receipt, email, tracking number and confirmation from the court.
Virtual Courtrooms and Remote Hearings
Michigan offers a MiCOURT Virtual Courtroom Directory to help the public and case participants find virtual courtroom links. Some courts use Zoom, YouTube livestreams, or local virtual hearing instructions depending on the court and case type.
How to check a Michigan remote hearing
- Read your hearing notice first Your court notice controls whether the hearing is remote, in person, or hybrid.
- Open the virtual courtroom directory Use MiCOURT Virtual Courtroom Directory.
- Search by county or court Find the judge, courtroom or local court page connected to your hearing.
- Join early and follow rules Use your real name, keep your microphone muted until called, dress properly and do not record unless the court allows it.
Sealed, Nonpublic and Limited-Access Records
Michigan court records are generally open to public access unless restricted by statute, court rule, court order or confidentiality requirement. Some records are nonpublic or limited-access even if a case exists. This is why a record may not appear in MiCOURT or may show limited information.
Records that may be restricted
- Juvenile records in many case types
- Adoption records and some name-change records
- Mental health and treatment-related records
- Protected personal identifying information
- Sealed criminal cases and set-aside convictions
- Confidential family, domestic violence or child protection information
- Records restricted by Michigan court rule, statute or local order
Expungement and Set Aside Records
Michigan uses the term set aside for many expungement-related requests. If a conviction is set aside, public access to the record may change, but eligibility and results depend on Michigan law, case type, waiting period, sentence completion, and court action.
Basic set aside steps
- Check your criminal history Use MSP ICHAT to review public criminal history information.
- Get certified court records Contact the court where you were convicted and request certified copies needed for your application.
- Use official court forms Get SCAO-approved forms from Michigan Court Forms.
- File in the correct court File the application in the court that handled the conviction unless official instructions say otherwise.
- Serve required agencies Follow all notice, fingerprinting and service steps carefully. Missing a required step can delay the request.
Court Records vs ICHAT Criminal History
People often search michigan court records when they actually need a criminal history report. These are not the same. MiCOURT shows court case information from participating courts. ICHAT is the Michigan State Police public criminal history search tool.
Which one should you use?
| Need | Use | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| Look up a court case, hearing or register of actions | MiCOURT Case Search | MiCOURT Case Search |
| Search Michigan appellate cases and opinions | Michigan Courts appellate search | Cases, Opinions & Orders |
| Run public Michigan criminal history search | MSP ICHAT | Criminal History Records |
| Pay some traffic and misdemeanor cases | Michigan Courts ePAY | ePAY |
| Get official certified document | Court clerk | Trial Court Directory |
Federal Court Records in Michigan
Federal court records are not searched through MiCOURT. Michigan federal records are handled through PACER and the federal courts. Michigan has federal district and bankruptcy courts, and cases may be filed in the Eastern District or Western District depending on location and case type.
- Open PACER Go to pacer.uscourts.gov and sign in or register.
- Choose the correct federal court Use the Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, bankruptcy court, or nationwide PACER Case Locator depending on your search.
- Search by party or case number Federal case numbers are separate from Michigan state court case numbers.
- Download documents carefully PACER may charge per page or document. Save official PDFs when you open them.
Michigan federal court links
| Federal Court Resource | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Eastern District of Michigan | mied.uscourts.gov |
| Western District of Michigan | miwd.uscourts.gov |
| PACER Case Locator | Find a Federal Case |
| Eastern District PACER information | Eastern District Court Records |
| Western District PACER lookup | Western District CM/ECF Lookup |
Michigan Court Locations
Michigan court records are often managed locally. If you need certified copies, old files, probate documents, divorce judgments, felony records, or case files not available online, use the official Trial Court Directory to contact the correct court.
Michigan Hall of Justice
925 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48915
Michigan Supreme Court Clerk’s Office: 517-373-2720
Main court website: courts.michigan.gov
Find local courts: Trial Court Directory
Useful official Michigan court links
| Need | Official Page |
|---|---|
| Find a local trial court | Trial Court Directory |
| Search trial court cases | MiCOURT Case Search |
| Search appellate cases | Cases, Opinions & Orders |
| Find virtual courtrooms | Virtual Courtroom Directory |
| File electronically | MiFILE |
| Use official forms | SCAO Court Forms |
Practical Search Tips for Michigan Court Records
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Michigan court records online for free?
Open MiCOURT Case Search, choose the court or court type, accept the terms, and search by case number, name, business name, ticket number or other available details.
What is MiCOURT Case Search?
MiCOURT Case Search is an official Michigan court public search portal used by many trial courts. Depending on the court, it may show civil, traffic, criminal, domestic/family and probate case information.
Are Michigan court records public?
Many Michigan court records are public, but some are sealed, nonpublic, confidential or limited-access by statute, court rule or court order. Online access may be narrower than clerk-office access.
Can I search Michigan court records by name?
Yes, many courts allow name searches through MiCOURT or local court websites. Search by full legal name, spelling variations, former names, business names and court location when possible.
How do I find a Michigan case number?
Look at the citation, complaint, summons, court notice, judgment, order, payment notice or attorney letter. The number may be called a case number, court file number, docket number or ticket number.
Can I search Michigan criminal court records online?
Yes, many public criminal court records can be searched through MiCOURT or local court portals. Felony cases may involve both district court and circuit court records, so check both when needed.
Is MiCOURT the same as a criminal background check?
No. MiCOURT is a court case search tool. For Michigan public criminal history records, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system.
What is ICHAT in Michigan?
ICHAT is the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool. It provides public criminal history information maintained by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.
How do I search Michigan Court of Appeals records?
Use the official Cases, Opinions & Orders search on the Michigan Courts website. You can search by case number, party name, attorney name, bar number, appellate court and lower court details.
How do I get certified copies of Michigan court records?
Contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed. Use the official Trial Court Directory to find the correct court and ask for copy and certification fees.
Can I pay Michigan traffic tickets online?
Some Michigan district courts allow online payment through Michigan Courts ePAY. If your court or ticket is not listed, contact the court shown on your citation.
Why can’t I find a Michigan court record online?
The record may be sealed, nonpublic, limited-access, filed in another court, too old for online display, transferred between courts, or held only by the clerk. Use the Trial Court Directory to contact the court directly.
Are Michigan juvenile records public?
Many juvenile records are restricted or nonpublic. Access depends on the case type, statute, court rule, party status and court order.
How do I attend a Michigan virtual hearing?
Read your hearing notice first. Then use the MiCOURT Virtual Courtroom Directory to find the courtroom link or streaming information for your court.
How do I file court documents online in Michigan?
Michigan uses MiFILE for electronic filing in participating courts. Availability depends on the court and case type.
Where can I get official Michigan court forms?
Use the official SCAO-approved Michigan Court Forms page on the Michigan Courts website.
How do I search federal court records in Michigan?
Use PACER. Federal records for Michigan may be filed in the Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, bankruptcy courts or appellate federal courts.
What is the official Michigan court records website?
The main official state court website is courts.michigan.gov. The main trial court search portal is MiCOURT Case Search.
Final Summary
For michigan court records, start with MiCOURT Case Search for many trial court records, use Michigan Courts Cases, Opinions & Orders for appellate records, use the Trial Court Directory for clerk contact information, and use Michigan Courts ePAY for participating traffic and misdemeanor payments.
Use ICHAT when you need Michigan State Police public criminal history information, and use PACER when the case is federal. If a case is missing online, it may still exist but be sealed, limited-access, local-only, transferred, old, or filed under a different name. Always verify through the official court before relying on search results.