Shiawassee County Public Records /Shiawassee County Court Records

Shiawassee County Court Records

What Is Shiawassee County Court Records

Court records in Shiawassee County encompass the full body of official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. These records include case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, sentencing records, and any other materials filed with or produced by a court in connection with a legal matter. Under Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.1191, court records are defined as all documents, data, and information maintained by a court in connection with a judicial proceeding.

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained in Shiawassee County. Property records, for example, are held by the County Register of Deeds, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are maintained by the County Clerk's office. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through the judicial process and are maintained by the clerk of each respective court.

The following courts in Shiawassee County maintain official court records:

35th Circuit Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, family law, and appeals from lower courts
66th District Court — handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $25,000, small claims, and traffic matters
Shiawassee County Probate Court — handles estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings
Family Division of the Circuit Court — handles divorce, child custody, paternity, and juvenile matters

Records maintained by these courts cover civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters, providing a comprehensive documentary history of judicial activity in Shiawassee County.

Are Court Records Public In Shiawassee County

Court records in Shiawassee County are generally accessible to the public under Michigan law. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act, codified at MCL § 15.231 et seq., establishes the public's right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by government bodies, including courts. Additionally, Michigan Court Rule 8.119 governs the maintenance and public accessibility of court records statewide, affirming that most court records are open to inspection by any member of the public.

The following categories of records are currently available for public inspection:

Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
Judgments and court orders
Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
Hearing schedules and calendars
Sentencing records in criminal matters

It is important to distinguish between state and federal court records. Records from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, which has jurisdiction over federal matters, are maintained separately and are accessible through the federal PACER system rather than through Shiawassee County's local court offices.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under Michigan law, including records sealed by court order, juvenile records in delinquency proceedings, certain mental health records, and documents containing personal identifying information protected by statute.

How To Find Court Records in Shiawassee County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Shiawassee County court records through several methods, depending on the type of record sought and the court in which the matter was filed.

In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the clerk's office of the relevant court during regular business hours to inspect records or request certified copies. Requestors should bring the full name of a party, the case number if known, and a valid photo identification.

Written Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate court clerk's office. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, the requestor's contact information, and payment for any applicable copy fees.

Online Access: The Michigan judiciary provides online access to court records through the MiCOURT case search portal, which allows members of the public to search case information across participating Michigan courts without visiting a courthouse.

Electronic Filing and Document Retrieval: Attorneys and registered users may access filed documents through MiFILE, the Michigan judiciary's electronic filing system, which currently supports over 127 trial courts statewide.

Certified Copies: Requests for certified copies of court documents must be submitted to the clerk of the court where the case was filed. Fees for certified copies are set by statute and vary by document type.

How To Look Up Court Records in Shiawassee County Online?

Several official online portals provide access to Shiawassee County court records, each serving a distinct function within the state's judicial information infrastructure.

MiCOURT Case Search is the primary public-facing portal for searching Michigan court records. Members of the public may use the Michigan Courts case search tool to locate case information by party name, case number, or attorney name. The portal includes civil, criminal, family, and traffic case data from participating courts.

35th Circuit Court Case Display: The 35th Circuit Court Shiawassee County court display provides real-time scheduling information, including hearing dates, party names, case numbers, and courtroom assignments for matters pending before the Circuit Court.

Steps to search online:

Navigate to the MiCOURT case search portal
Select the court type or county from the available filters
Enter the party's last name, first name, or case number in the designated fields
Review the list of matching results and select the relevant case
View available case information, including docket entries, hearing dates, and case status

MiFILE Electronic Filing System: Registered users, including attorneys and self-represented litigants, may access electronically filed documents through the MiFILE TrueFiling platform. This system supports document submission and retrieval for participating Michigan trial courts.

Probate Court Forms: Members of the public involved in probate proceedings may access standardized forms through the Michigan Courts probate court forms index, which provides downloadable forms for estates, guardianships, and related matters.

How To Search Shiawassee County Court Records for Free?

Michigan law currently provides members of the public with the right to inspect court records at no charge. Under MCL § 600.1483, courts are required to permit public inspection of non-exempt records during regular business hours without imposing an inspection fee. Fees may be assessed only for the reproduction of records or for certified copies.

The following resources are available at no cost:

MiCOURT Case Search — free online access to case index information, docket entries, and hearing schedules for Shiawassee County courts
In-person inspection at the Circuit Court, District Court, and Probate Court clerk's offices — no fee is charged for viewing records on-site
35th Circuit Court public court display — free real-time access to scheduled hearings and case information

Copy fees, when applicable, are set by the State Court Administrative Office and are subject to change. Certified copies carry an additional fee per document. Members of the public who require only a review of case information, rather than physical copies, may do so at no cost at any of the county's court clerk offices.

What's Included in a Shiawassee County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documentation:

Civil Case Records:

Complaint and summons
Defendant's answer and affirmative defenses
Motions and supporting briefs
Court orders and rulings
Judgment or verdict
Post-judgment filings, including appeals

Criminal Case Records:

Charging documents (complaint, information, or indictment)
Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
Arraignment records
Plea agreements
Trial transcripts
Sentencing orders and probation terms

Family Court Records:

Divorce petition and response
Child custody and parenting time orders
Child support orders
Domestic relations orders

Probate Court Records:

Petition for probate of will or administration of estate
Inventory of estate assets
Guardian and conservator appointments
Final accounting and order of distribution

Traffic Records:

Citation information
Hearing dates and outcomes
Judgments and fines assessed

How Long Does Shiawassee County Keep Court Records?

Shiawassee County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) under the authority of Michigan Court Rule 8.119(D). Retention periods vary by record type and court level.

Current retention periods include:

Felony criminal case files: Permanently retained
Misdemeanor criminal case files: Retained for a minimum of 7 years following case closure
Civil case files (general): Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
Small claims case files: Retained for a minimum of 5 years
Probate case files: Permanently retained for estate proceedings; guardianship and conservatorship records retained for a minimum of 7 years after termination
Juvenile delinquency records: Retained until the subject reaches age 30, or for a minimum of 7 years, whichever is longer
Traffic case files: Retained for a minimum of 5 years

The SCAO publishes official records retention schedules applicable to all Michigan trial courts. Courts are prohibited from destroying records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period without authorization from the SCAO.

Types of Courts In Shiawassee County

Shiawassee County's court system operates within the structure established by the Michigan Constitution and the Revised Judicature Act. The hierarchy proceeds from the District Court at the trial level, through the Circuit Court, to the Michigan Court of Appeals, and ultimately to the Michigan Supreme Court.

35th Circuit Court 110 E. Mack Street, Corunna, MI 48817 Phone: (989) 743-2242 Shiawassee County Circuit Court Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

66th District Court 208 N. Shiawassee Street, Corunna, MI 48817 Phone: (989) 743-2346 Shiawassee County District Court Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Shiawassee County Probate Court 208 N. Shiawassee Street, Corunna, MI 48817 Phone: (989) 743-2346 Shiawassee County Probate Court Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Michigan Court of Appeals (Lansing Office) 925 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48915 Phone: (517) 373-0786 Michigan Court of Appeals

Michigan Supreme Court 925 W. Ottawa Street, P.O. Box 30052, Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: (517) 373-0120 Michigan Supreme Court

What Types of Cases Do Shiawassee County Courts Hear?

Each court within Shiawassee County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of legal matters as defined by Michigan statute.

35th Circuit Court hears:

Felony criminal cases (offenses punishable by more than one year of imprisonment)
Civil cases involving claims exceeding $25,000
Domestic relations matters, including divorce, legal separation, and paternity
Juvenile matters, including delinquency and child protective proceedings
Appeals from the District Court and Probate Court

66th District Court hears:

Misdemeanor criminal cases and ordinance violations
Civil cases involving claims up to $25,000
Small claims matters up to $7,000
Traffic and civil infraction cases
Preliminary examinations in felony matters prior to Circuit Court arraignment

Shiawassee County Probate Court hears:

Decedent estate proceedings (testate and intestate)
Guardianship and conservatorship petitions for minors and incapacitated adults
Mental health commitment proceedings
Trust administration matters
Adoptions in certain circumstances

How To Find a Court Docket In Shiawassee County

A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and orders in a given case. Members of the public may access Shiawassee County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Search:

Use the MiCOURT case search portal to locate docket entries by party name or case number for cases filed in Shiawassee County courts
View the 35th Circuit Court public hearing schedule for current scheduling and docket information

In-Person Access:

Visit the clerk's office of the relevant court during public counter hours
Provide the case number or party name to the clerk
Request a printed docket sheet; fees may apply for printed copies

Steps for online docket lookup:

Access the MiCOURT case search portal
Enter the party name or case number
Select the matching case from the results list
Review the docket entries displayed, including filing dates, document types, and hearing information

Which Courts in Shiawassee County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, and whose judgments carry legal authority that may be reviewed on appeal. Under MCL § 600.101, Michigan's Revised Judicature Act designates the Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and Court of Claims as courts of record.

Courts not of record, by contrast, do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings as a matter of course, and their decisions may be subject to de novo review rather than appellate review on the record. In Shiawassee County, certain administrative hearings and quasi-judicial proceedings conducted by municipal bodies or administrative tribunals do not constitute courts of record under Michigan law.

At present, all principal trial courts operating in Shiawassee County — the 35th Circuit Court, the 66th District Court, and the Shiawassee County Probate Court — are designated courts of record. Municipal civil infraction hearings conducted by local units of government may, in certain circumstances, operate outside the formal court-of-record framework, with appeals directed to the District Court for de novo consideration.