Lapeer County Court Records

Michigan court records provide legal information on court proceedings. These documents are necessary for a variety of legal reasons and play an important part in the court system. Criminal and civil court records are utilized as evidence in legal disputes to assist attorneys build their cases. They are particularly important for legal, historical, and genealogical research because they promote transparency and accountability.

Are Court Records Public in Lapeer County?

The Michigan Court Rules (MCR) 8.119 guarantees the rights of the public to access court records in the state. Unless otherwise stated by statutes or court orders, anyone may submit a written request to view and obtain copies of court records maintained by record custodians during regular office hours.

Nonetheless, the Rule exempts and restricts the public disclosure of certain court records. For instance, MCR restricts public access to adoption, juvenile, and court-sealed records.

Other types of court records exempted or restricted from public disclosure include:

• Juvenile delinquency records
• Social Security, driver’s license, state-issued personal identification card, passport, and financial account numbers
• Victim's home address and phone number, work address and telephone number
• Records related to child abuse victims
• Records concerning underaged and adult victims of sexual crimes
• Search warrants

Lapeer County Court Records Search

Interested parties wishing to conduct a general search of Lapeer County court records may use MiCOURT Case Search. Using this search tool, users may access Michigan trial court case information for civil, criminal, traffic, domestic (divorce/family), and probate case types, depending on the type of court being searched.

Searches on MiCOURT Case Search typically yield case search results, registers of action, civil judgments, and court calendars for publicly accessible court case records. However, the site will only reveal case numbers and information for criminal convictions if the sentencing took place within seven years of the search date.

Alternatively, requesters may submit a written request in person to the Lapeer County Circuit Court Clerk's office. The office is located on the 2nd floor of the Lapeer County Complex Building, 255 Clay Street Suite 227, Lapeer, MI 48446.

Note: Public access to Lapeer County Arrest records may vary depending on local laws.

Lapeer County Courts

The Michigan trial court system consists of Circuits, Districts, and Probate Courts. The following are the addresses of the various types of courts that make up the Lapeer County court system:

40th Circuit Court - Lapeer
Lapeer County Complex
255 Clay St, Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0358
Fax: (810) 667-0264

71A District Court - Lapeer
Lapeer County Complex
255 Clay St, Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0314
Fax: (810) 667-0424

Lapeer County Probate Court
Lapeer County Complex
255 Clay St, Lapeer, MI 48446
Fax: (810) 667-0261

Lapeer County Criminal Records

Lapeer County residents may conduct name and fingerprint-based criminal checks via the Criminal Justice Information Center’s Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT).

To conduct a name-based criminal check on ICHAT, requesters must sign up for an account. Each search attracts a fee of $10.00. Upon completion of the search exercise, the portal will display search results for viewing and printing for at least a week.

Lapeer County citizens wishing to perform fingerprint-based criminal record checks must collect Michigan Applicant Fingerprint Cards from local law enforcement agencies like the Sheriff's Office or police precincts.

After receiving the card, the applicant must input a return address in the Block F section of the card and then mail the form along with the necessary payment to:

Michigan State Police
CJIC
P.O. Box 30266
Lansing, MI 48909-7766

The cost of a fingerprint-based criminal history report is $30.00, while each additional certified copy costs $10.00. Payment for the process may be done using a check or money order made out to the State of Michigan.

Note: Public access to Lapeer County Arrest records may vary depending on local laws.

Get Lapeer County Civil Court Records

In Lapeer County, civil court records cover a broad range of legal processes, such as litigation, family-related issues, probate records, small claims cases, land transfers, and name changes or adoptions. These records provide crucial information regarding court proceedings and other legal activities involving individuals, families, and businesses.

Individuals seeking civil court records in Lapeer County may submit a record request to the Office of the Lapeer County Clerk, the official record custodian in the county. They must provide a valid ID for authentication when submitting a record request at the address listed below:

County of Lapeer
County Complex Building
255 Clay St., Lapeer, MI 48446
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 am-4:30 pm
Phone: (810) 667-0356
Fax: (810) 667-0362

The Lapeer County Clerk's Office charges $10.00 per case for certified civil court records.

Lapeer County Marriage Records

The Vital Records division under the Lapeer County Clerk's Office maintains records of every marriage in the county since 1831.

Record searchers may request copies of marriage records by mail or in person during normal office hours. The county's marriage records are public records. As a result, requesters do not need to provide any form of identification to access them.

To request a copy by mail, applicants must print out, complete the Request Form, and send it in along with the necessary payment.

The marriage record application packet should be mailed to:

Lapeer County Clerk's Office
Attn: Vital Records 255 Clay St.
Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0356
Fax: (810) 667-0362
Email: countyclerkvitalrecords@lapeercounty.org

The County Clerk's Office charges $15.00 for the first certified copy while each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $5.00. The office mails certified copies of Lapeer County marriage records to requesters within 24 hours of receiving their requests.

Lapeer County Divorce Records

In Lapeer County, the Vital Records Office maintains divorce records dating back to 1867. Records that are older than a hundred years are public records and are accessible to searchers. However, divorce records of less than a hundred years are restricted to eligible requesters.

Requesters wishing to obtain these records must contact the County Clerk’s Office at the Lapeer County Complex Building, 255 Clay Street Suite 227, Lapeer, MI 48446.

Lapeer Birth Records

Lapeer County birth records are available from the Vital Records Office of the county, which has maintained birth certificates since 1867.

The county's birth certificates are confidential records. Therefore, the Vital Records Office only issues birth certificates to a parent named on the record, legal guardian, or heir. Legal guardians are expected to submit a copy of the guardianship papers from the Probate Court before they can obtain copies of birth certificates. Similarly, heirs must submit a signed, notarized statement detailing the person's name, date of birth, and their relationship to the deceased.

Regardless of connection to the individual named on a birth certificate, all applicants seeking Lapeer birth records must provide a copy of their driver's license along with the birth record request form.

The Vital Records Office charges $15.00 for a certified copy of a birth record. Additional copies of a birth record ordered at the same time cost $5.00 each.

Payments for copies of birth certificates may be done via checks or money orders payable to the Lapeer County Clerk.

Lapeer Death Records

The Vital Records Office has maintained Lapeer County death records since 1867. In Lapeer County, death records are public records. As a result, requesters do not need any form of identification to access these documents. Record searchers may request copies of death records online, by mail, or in person during office hours.

To request a copy by mail, applicants must print out, complete the Request Form, and send it in along with the necessary payment.

The death record application packet should be mailed to:

Lapeer County Clerk's Office
Attn: Vital Records 255 Clay St.
Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0356
Fax: (810) 667-0362
Email: countyclerkvitalrecords@lapeercounty.org

The County Clerk's Office charges $15.00 for the first certified copy while each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $5.00.

This is information on accessing death records in Lapeer County. Please note any limitations on the accessibility of these records per Michigan law.

Lapeer County Probate Court Records

In Lapeer County, the Probate Court handles crucial legal cases such as overseeing the administration of trusts and estates, safeguarding wills, appointing guardians and conservators for individuals who need them, judging matters related to committing individuals with mental issues to hospital care, and overseeing guardianship proceedings for developmentally disabled persons.

Individuals who wish to receive any of the records mentioned above should contact the Probate Register's Office at the following address:

Lapeer County Complex
255 Clay Street
Lapeer, MI 48446
United States
Phone: (810) 667-0261

Searchers of probate court records may also access such details on MiCOURT Case Search. Typically, requesters can obtain case detail reports on probate court cases that occurred in the past seven years. For older records, searchers are advised to contact the Probate Records Court office. Please note that case information accessed through MiCOURT Case Search is for informational purposes only and cannot replace official records maintained by the Probate Register's office.

Lapeer County Property Records

In Lapeer County, record searchers can access property records through the Register of Deeds office. The office is responsible for maintaining public records related to Lapeer County land properties. These records can be accessed online via the Lapeer County Internet Land Records Search System or in person at the Register of Deeds office.

Some accessible property-related records in the county include details of deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other documents related to property ownership and transactions.

Requesters can access the online searchable index through the Register of Deeds website. While searchers can access indexes free of charge, downloading copies of documents attracts a fee.

Obtaining copies of real estate records in person at the Register of Deeds Office costs $1.00 per page. For requesters seeking certified copies of documents, an additional $5.00 certification fee applies per document.

The Register of Deeds office is situated at:

287 W. Nepessing Street, Suite 1
Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0211

Lapeer County Court Records Online

Anyone who wishes to conduct a general search for court records in Lapeer County may do so using the Michigan Judiciary Case Search portal. Alternatively, third-party online databases such as michigancourtrecords.us may facilitate easy access to Lapeer County court records. Such platforms typically offer an easy-to-use link where record searchers may look up specific cases by entering search criteria such as case numbers, party names, or dates. Third-party sites may also allow visitors to inspect and download court records straight from their website, saving time and effort. However, it’s important to note that third-party sites operate independently of government agencies, so the availability and accuracy of records on these platforms cannot be guaranteed.