Monroe County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Monroe County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Monroe County, Michigan, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. MonroeMIRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to court records and related public documents maintained by government agencies. Depending on the case type and applicable access rules, records available through official sources may include:
- Criminal case filings and dispositions
- Civil complaints, judgments, and orders
- Family court matters, including divorce and custody proceedings
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and ordinance violations
- Small claims filings and judgments
- Appellate court opinions and orders
Court records in Monroe County may be searched through five primary methods, each with distinct access conditions and practical considerations.
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Monroe County Clerk's office maintains official court records for the Monroe County Circuit Court and serves as the primary custodian of filed documents. Members of the public may submit in-person requests at the clerk's office during regular business hours. Providing a full party name, case number, or approximate filing date substantially improves the accuracy of a search. The clerk's office does not conduct legal research on behalf of requestors.
Monroe County Clerk's Office Monroe County Courthouse, 106 E. First St. Monroe, MI 48161 Phone: (734) 240-7020 Monroe County Clerk
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Monroe County Courthouse for in-person case lookups. These terminals allow members of the public to search docket information and case status without charge. Terminal access is subject to courthouse hours and does not provide the ability to print full document images without a fee.
3. Online Court Search The Michigan judiciary currently operates the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which provides online access to case information from participating Michigan trial courts. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney of record. Not all case types or older records are available through this system, and access to document images may be limited depending on the court and case type.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Michigan Courts website offers additional search resources, including Cases, Opinions & Orders for Court of Appeals and Supreme Court decisions. Published and unpublished opinions issued since July 1996 are accessible through this portal. These tools are appropriate for locating appellate-level decisions rather than trial court case files.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Monroe County Clerk's office by mail. Written requests should include the full name of the party, the approximate filing date or case number, the type of record sought, and a return mailing address. Fees for copies and certified copies apply and must be submitted with the request or upon receipt of an invoice from the clerk's office.
Are Court Records Public In Monroe County
Court records in Monroe County are subject to public access under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.231 et seq., and the Michigan Court Rules governing public access to court records. Under current law, the default presumption is that court records are open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption, court order, or administrative rule restricts access.
Records that are at present open to public inspection include:
- Case dockets and docket entries
- Party names and attorney information
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
- Filed pleadings, motions, and responses
- Court orders and judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation orders
- Probate inventories and orders where not sealed
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or otherwise restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child protective proceedings
- Adoption records
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Records sealed by court order
- Expunged criminal records under MCL § 780.621
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor children's names in certain proceedings
- Certain domestic violence and personal protection order records
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While a record may be open to in-person inspection at the clerk's office, the same record may not be available through online search portals due to court policy, system limitations, or administrative rules governing remote access to sensitive information.
What Are Court Records in Monroe County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything that has been filed with or generated by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
A docket entry is a chronological log of events in a case, recording each filing, hearing, order, and action taken. A full case file contains the actual documents underlying those docket entries, including pleadings, motions, exhibits, and orders. These are distinct components of the same record.
Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, including contract claims, personal injury actions, and property disputes. Criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of law, from arraignment through sentencing or acquittal.
Filed pleadings are the initial documents that establish the claims and defenses in a case. Final judgments are the court's ultimate resolution of those claims. Public filings are accessible to any member of the public under applicable access rules, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection by court order or statute.
Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the trial court where the case was filed. Appellate records, including briefs, appendices, and opinions, are maintained by the Michigan Court of Appeals or the Michigan Supreme Court, as applicable. The Michigan Courts website provides access to appellate opinions and orders.
Court records are created when a party files an initial document with the clerk's office. The clerk assigns a case number, opens a file, and records each subsequent filing and court action as a docket entry. Records are updated continuously as the case progresses and remain part of the official record following final disposition.
What's Included in a Monroe County Court Record?
A Monroe County court record may include, depending on case type and applicable public-access rules, the following categories of information:
- Case identification: case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type
- Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and their attorneys of record
- Case status: open, closed, dismissed, appealed, or transferred
- Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings, hearings, orders, and actions
- Hearing information: scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and courtroom assignments
- Filed documents: complaints, petitions, answers, counterclaims, motions, responses, briefs, notices, and stipulations
- Court orders and judgments: temporary orders, preliminary injunctions, final judgments, consent decrees, and post-judgment orders
- Outcome information: dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, sentencing entries, custody and support rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative information: filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are at present excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile delinquency files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The presence of a docket entry referencing a sealed document does not make the underlying document accessible.
Types of Courts in Monroe County
Monroe County is served by a multi-tiered court structure under the Michigan judiciary system. The courts currently operating within or serving Monroe County include:
Monroe County Circuit Court — The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction and handles felony criminal cases, civil cases involving amounts over $25,000, family law matters including divorce and custody, and juvenile proceedings. The Circuit Court also hears appeals from the District Court and Probate Court.
Monroe County Probate Court — The Probate Court has jurisdiction over estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health proceedings, and certain matters involving minors. The Probate Court maintains its own records separate from the Circuit Court clerk.
Monroe County District Court (38th District Court) — The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction and handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases involving amounts up to $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims matters, and traffic and ordinance violations.
Monroe County Circuit Court 106 E. First St. Monroe, MI 48161 Phone: (734) 240-7020 Monroe County Circuit Court
38th District Court 106 E. First St. Monroe, MI 48161 Phone: (734) 240-7010 38th District Court
Monroe County Probate Court 106 E. First St. Monroe, MI 48161 Phone: (734) 240-7030 Monroe County Probate Court
The official record for each case is maintained by the clerk of the court in which the case was filed. Appellate records for cases appealed from Monroe County courts are maintained by the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Michigan Courts website provides information on the structure of the Michigan judiciary.
What Types of Cases Do Monroe County Courts Hear
The Circuit Court hears felony criminal prosecutions, civil disputes exceeding $25,000, divorce and child custody proceedings, paternity actions, juvenile delinquency and child protective matters, and appeals from lower courts. The 38th District Court handles misdemeanor and ordinance violations, civil claims up to $25,000, small claims actions up to $7,000, landlord-tenant summary proceedings, and traffic infractions. The Probate Court administers decedents' estates, supervises guardianships and conservatorships, and adjudicates mental health petitions. The distinction between limited-jurisdiction courts such as the District Court and general-jurisdiction courts such as the Circuit Court determines which court has authority to hear a given matter and which clerk's office maintains the official record.
How to Search Monroe County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Monroe County court records are available at no cost to members of the public.
Free access methods include:
- In-person inspection at the clerk's office: Members of the public may inspect open court records at the Monroe County Clerk's office or the 38th District Court clerk's office during regular business hours without charge.
- Courthouse public access terminals: Computer terminals located at the Monroe County Courthouse allow free case lookups during courthouse hours.
- MiCOURT Case Search: The MiCOURT Case Search portal provides free online access to case information from participating Michigan courts, including basic docket information and case status.
- Michigan Court of Appeals opinions: Published and unpublished Court of Appeals opinions are accessible at no cost through the Cases, Opinions & Orders portal.
Services that currently require payment include:
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard paper copies | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copies | $10.00 per document plus $1.00 per page |
| Exemplified copies | $13.00 per document plus $1.00 per page |
| Electronic document access (some portals) | Varies |
Fee schedules for Michigan courts are established under MCL § 600.1986, which governs clerk fees in Michigan trial courts. Fees are subject to change and members of the public should confirm current amounts with the clerk's office prior to submitting a request.
How Long Does Monroe County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Monroe County is governed by the Michigan Trial Court Case File Management Standards and the records retention schedules issued by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO). Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Under current retention schedules:
- Felony criminal case files are retained permanently or for extended periods due to the severity of the underlying offense and the potential for post-conviction proceedings.
- Misdemeanor and civil case files are subject to retention periods that vary from several years to permanent retention depending on the nature of the judgment and whether appeals remain pending.
- Probate records, including estate files and guardianship records, are retained for extended periods given their ongoing legal significance to heirs and interested parties.
- Traffic and ordinance violation records are subject to shorter retention schedules, though records involving serious violations may be retained longer.
- Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official chronological record of court proceedings.
- Judgments and final orders are retained permanently in most categories.
Paper case files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention schedule permits destruction and the record has been preserved in an alternative format. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement: a sealed record remains in existence but is withheld from public access, while an expunged record is removed from public view under MCL § 780.621 and treated as though the underlying conviction did not occur for most purposes.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives rather than in electronic systems. Members of the public seeking records predating the implementation of electronic case management systems should contact the clerk's office directly to determine the format and location of archived materials.
How To Find a Court Docket in Monroe County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions taken in a case, distinct from the full case file. While the case file contains the actual documents filed with the court, the docket records when each document was filed, what hearings were held, what orders were entered, and the current status of the case. The docket serves as the index to the case file and is the starting point for any court records search.
Members of the public may locate Monroe County court dockets through the following methods:
Online via MiCOURT: The MiCOURT Case Search portal is the primary statewide tool for locating docket information from participating Michigan trial courts. To find a docket, a user may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Search results display basic case information and docket entries. The portal is maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court State Court Administrative Office and is available at no cost.
In-person at the clerk's office: Members of the public may request docket information directly from the Monroe County Clerk's office or the 38th District Court clerk's office. Clerk staff can provide docket printouts, which are subject to applicable copy fees.
Courthouse public access terminals: Terminals located within the Monroe County Courthouse provide access to docket information for cases filed in the courts served by that facility.
A court docket at present contains hearing dates and times, continuances and adjournments, motion filings and ruling dates, minute entries summarizing court proceedings, status updates, and case disposition information. A docket does not contain the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that have been restricted from public access. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be separately available through the clerk's office and are distinct from individual case dockets.
As noted by the Michigan Supreme Court State Court Administrative Office, the MiCOURT system is provided for informational purposes and users are advised to contact the relevant court directly to confirm the accuracy and completeness of docket information for any specific case.