Bay County Court Records

Bay County court records are official archives of files and documents from processes and cases settled by the county courts. Court records will reveal information about cases and processes, such as the parties' names, charges filed, claims, and more. Bay County Michigan court records include the following:

• Transcripts
• Docket entries
• Exhibits
• Oral arguments
• Case documents
• Motions
• Sentencing details

Are Court Records Public in Bay County?

Yes, Bay County court records are public records according to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. This law provides for information that is accessible to the public and information that must be kept sealed or private. Record seekers can obtain public information by approaching the county courts or the County Clerk of Courts’ office to make in-person searches or records requests. Public court records can also be obtained through the Court Records Request website’s Request Portal link. The state’s Case Search platform also provides access to the county’s court records through the state archives.

Bay County Court Records Search

Bay County court records can be looked up at the county court location through the clerk’s office or the County Clerk of Courts office. Record seekers can submit a search request accompanied by further details about the case, such as case number, filing date, or parties' names. The search request can be submitted at these offices on weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm accompanied by a valid ID if required and evidence of payment of the prescribed fees. The public can also search for court records through the Case Search website. This website provides access to the state’s court records, which can be searched using a name search, case search, and calendar search. The Court Records Request also has a Request Portal where records applications can be filled and submitted.

Bay County Court Records Search by Name

A name search is available to obtain court records at Bay County. The public must provide further information about the records requested such as the names of the parties. Name search is very versatile and is available through inperson requests, requests via mail, and for online platforms including third party websites. The Court Records Request has a Request Portal where the public can provide parties’ names for a name search or the state’s Case Search website that allows a Name Search among other options.

Bay County Courts

Bay County courts reflect Michigan’s court system. The county has a Circuit Court, a District Court, and a Probate Court. Here are Bay County courts with details:

Bay County’s Circuit Courts
18th Circuit Court - Bay
1230 Washington Ave, #725, Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: (989) 895-4265
Fax: (989) 895-4099

Bay County’s District Courts
74th District Court - Bay
1230 Washington Ave, #736, Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: (989) 895-4232
Fax: (989) 895-4233

Bay County’s Probate Courts
Bay County Probate Court
1230 Washington Ave, #715, Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: (989) 895-4205
Fax: (989) 895-4194

Bay County District Court Records

Bay County has a District Court at 1230 Washington Avenue, Bay City, Michigan. This court has both civil and criminal jurisdiction but with limits compared to the Circuit Court, which has general jurisdiction. The District Court supports the Circuit Court by handling lesser civil and criminal cases such as:

• Misdemeanors
• Preliminary examinations in felony cases
• General civil claims with $25,000 or less in dispute
• Small claims
• Traffic & ordinance violations
• Landlord and tenant disputes
• Civil infractions

The District Court’s records are public and maintained by the court’s clerk or the County Clerk’s office. The public can make in-person requests at these offices between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays. Online platforms such as Case Search will provide access to state court archives, which requesters can streamline for county records. The Court Records Request website also provides a Request Portal where records request applications can be filled and submitted. District Court records are available for a fee, and sensitive or private records will require a valid ID to be accessible.

Bay County Criminal Records

Bay County criminal records refer to official documents showing an individual’s involvement with crime and history of breaking the law. These records will provide details of the person’s Bay County arrest, charges, court trial, and imprisonment. Criminal records are public records maintained accross various governmental agencies, especially the courts and law enforcement agencies. The courts maintain criminal court records that detail the individual’s arrest information, the offenses charged, and information about the court trial. Law enforcement agencies will maintain records of arrests and incarcerations in county jails and prisons.

Criminal records are accessible through in-person requests at these agencies’ records offices. The Circuit Court’s clerk or County Clerk’s offices are open to the public between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays for request submissions. The public can also obtain criminal records from the sheriff’s office. These records are available online through the Court Records Request website, which has a Request Portal link for submitting requests remotely. Requesters can also use the state’s Case Search platform to access Bay County criminal court records. The sheriff’s office maintains a Records Division platform where the public can get contact details for mailing requests or links through which criminal records can be obtained remotely. Note that requests must be accompanied by evidence of access fee payment and a valid ID for accessing sensitive records.

Bay County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Bay County criminal court cases can be looked up at the Circuit Court clerk’s office or county clerk’s office. These offices are open to in-person records or search requests between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays. The public can also use online platforms to look up criminal court cases. The Court Records Request website has a Request Portal link through which criminal court cases can be requested or searched. The public can also use the state’s Case Search website to access state archives and filter them for Bay County criminal court cases.

Get Bay County Civil Court Records

Bay County civil court records refer to official archives of non-criminal case files and documents from the county’s Circuit Court. Civil court records include documents such as judgments, complaints, orders, and transcripts from non-criminal cases and processes such as:

• Personal injury claims
• Contract matters
• Property cases
• Real estate matters
• Family law matters
• Small claims

These records are public records and maintained by the Circuit Court and the County Clerk’s office. The court maintains civil jurisdiction and handles the county’s civil court records. These records are accessible through in-person requests at the County Clerk’s office or the office of the Circuit Court clerk. Requesters can approach these offices from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm with their valid ID, evidence of payment of the required fees, and further details about the case.

Requesters can also use websites such as Court Records Request to access contact information for mailing requests or foaccessing the request portal. This portal allows the public fill and submit a request application remotely. The Case Search website also provides the public with access to statewide court records which can be filtered for Bay County civil court records.

Bay County Family Court Records

Bay County family court records are official documents from the Circuit Court’s archives that reveal information about cases and processes from the Family Division of the court. These records will contain details of cases such as:

• Paternity cases
• Adoption
• Divorce
• Alimony
• Child custody
• Spousal support
• Child support
• Domestic violence

Family court records are public records maintained by the County Clerk of Court’s office and the Circuit Court. This court has civil jurisdiction and a Family Division where family law cases are handled, and these records can be requested. The public can approach the custodian of the Circuit Court Family Division at 1230 Washington Avenue, Bay City, Michigan. This office will be open from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm for in-person searches or records requests. The County Clerk’s Office will also be available for in-person requests within this period. Requesters can use online alternatives such as the county’s Court Records Request platform. This website features links and contact information for mailing requests and a Request Portal for filling and submitting request applications. Note that any charged fee must be paid for a valid request, and records containing sensitive or private information will require a valid ID to be accessible.

Bay County Marriage and Divorce Records

Bay County marriage and divorce records are official archives of documents providing information about a marriage or about the dissolution of a marital union. Divorce records are documents such as divorce decrees or certificates that contain details of the cause of the dissolution of the marriage and post-divorce agreements. Marriage records are documents like marriage certificates and licenses that reveal information about the couple and how the marriage was conducted. Marriage and divorce records are public records maintained by the Bay County Clerk’s Office and the courts.

The courts maintain records of divorce proceedings and processes filed to facilitate the divorce or fulfill a post-divorce agreement. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over marriage and divorce matters through its Family Division, where these records can be requested physically. The County Clerk’s Office is also open to the public during business hours of the week for records requests. Divorce records are restricted to the parties to the divorce and their legal representatives. Thus, a valid ID must be submitted when making a request for divorce records.

The Clerk of Courts’ platform provides access to links for obtaining various public records, including marriage and divorce records, using the Vital Records Request form. The required fees for accessing these records are displayed on the request form and must be paid for the request to be valid.

Bay Birth and Death Records

Bay County birth and death records refer to official archives of documents containing more information about a newborn’s birth circumstances and the details of a deceased individual’s death. Birth records contain details of the date and place of birth, the parent’s names, and the physician’s names, while death records contain the occupation and age of the deceased, the cause of death, and the time, place, and date of death. These records are vital for understanding the county’s health trend and for statistics and genealogical purposes.

Birth and death records are public and maintained by the County Clerk of Courts’ office. Birth records in Bay County have restricted access to the named individual on the birth certificate, their legal guardians or parents, and their legal representatives.

The public can approach the County Clerk’s office at 515 Center Avenue, Suite 101, Bay City, Michigan, to make in-person records requests. Requesters must submit a valid ID when requesting a birth certificate to ensure their access is authorized.

The Vital Records Request application form can be used to make online birth and death records requests through the Clerk of Courts’ website.

Bay County Probate Court Records

Bay County probate court records are official archives of files and documents that reveal information about probate cases and processes handled within the county. Probate records involve documents from cases like conservatorships, Wills, adoption, estate administration, and guardianships. Bay County probate records are public and maintained by the Circuit Court and the office of the County Clerk of Courts. The Circuit Court has probate jurisdiction and handles the county’s probate cases, making it the designated custodian of these records. The public can approach the clerk of the Circuit Court between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays to make in-person probate court records requests.

Bay County probate court records are also available through the county’s Court Records Request website. This website provides contact information for mailing requests and a request portal for online records request applications. The Clerk of Courts’ office has a website where requesters can access the FOIA Requests link to make public probate court records requests. Note that accessing probate court records can require a valid ID due to sensitive information, and fees for obtaining records or making copies must be paid.

Bay County Property Records

Bay County property records are official archives of documents that give property and real estate details such as ownership, tax assessment, boundaries, and addresses. Property records provide real estate information like ownership verification, historical transactions, and property addresses. These documents can include liens, mortgages, and deeds, and they are public documents maintained by the Bay County Property Appraiser’s office and the Clerk of Court’s office. The County Appraiser’s office maintains property records and a search tool for records search by name, parcel number, subdivision, or address. The County Clerk of Court maintains records such as deeds on real estate properties.

Property records can be obtained through these offices during work hours of the week. The public can approach the custodian to make an in-person search or records request. The county’s Equalization Department website provides contact details for mailing requests or making inquiries. The public can use the Property Descriptions and Tax Mapping website to get more information about properties in the county. Property records can also be obtained through links available on the Bay County Clerk of Courts’ website.

Bay County Court Records Online

Bay County court records can be looked up or requested online through the county’s Court Records Request website. Alternatively, records may be accessed via third-party platforms such as michigancourtrecords.us. Third-party platforms are independent or government-affiliated websites that offer archives of records to the public. As such, the accuracy of records on such a platform cannot be guaranteed. The public must verify the authenticity of third-party records, often using government sources to stay updated.