Monroe County Court Records

According to MCR 1.109(A), Monroe County court records are recorded information filed or created by the Circuit or District Court or filed under the Michigan Court Rules. They include documents (pleadings, orders, and judgments), attachments to documents, discovery materials, recordings (audio and video), and data. A typical court record contains information like cases, parties, events, charges, sentencing, and community service/jail/prison. This information is available to the public online or in person. Access to legal proceedings builds the public's confidence in the judicial system's integrity. It strengthens transparency and accountability in the operations of the Court.

Are Court Records Public in Monroe County?

Yes. Court records are public information, subject to the rules outlined in the Michigan Freedom of Information Act and MCR 8.119(H). They are available for inspection and copying in any medium authorized by the Records Reproduction Act. Monroe County courts are required to charge a fee for reproducing their records. Michigan laws restrict public access to some court records because of their sensitivity. Therefore, such records are only open to authorized individuals, such as case parties and their attorneys. Examples of confidential court records in Monroe County are:

• Name change
• Firearms records
• Adoption records
• Mediation records
• Secret marriage records
• Search warrant affidavits
• Juvenile court proceedings
• Mental health proceedings
• Parental kidnapping records
• Friends of the court records
• Domestic violence assault records
• Confidential settlement information
• Controlled substance crime records
• Formal alternative dispute records
• Wills along as the testator is still alive
• Waiver of parental consent for abortion
• Secretary of State (SOS) Driving Records
• Prosecutor-sought immunity documents
• Probation investigations and case histories
• Medical records about infectious disease testing
• Record of hearing on issuance of a protective order
• Guardianship records of legally incapacitated persons
• Records about child victim and witness testimony
• Case evaluations and the parties' acceptances or rejections
• Screening, assessment, and treatment for substance abuse records
• The hearings and records of proceedings of a newborn's safe delivery
• Record of hearing on excision of portions of material under discovery
• Tabulation of items the officer seizes during a search under a warrant
• All information retrieved from searches and queries conducted using the Judicial Data Warehouse (JDW)

Monroe County Court Records Search

Record seekers can perform Court records searches through the following means:

• Through third-party vendors
• Online through the MiCOURT Case Search portal
• In-person at the Court where the case was heard

Monroe County Courts

Monroe County is part of the 38th Circuit Court, 1st District Court, and has a Probate Court. Below are the addresses of these courts:

Monroe County Courthouse
106 E First Street
Monroe, MI 48161
Phone: (734) 240-7075

Monroe County Criminal Records

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office Records Division handles all criminal records and disseminates them in person during business hours. The Division is open Monday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and a fee of $15 is required to obtain copies of Monroe County criminal records. It is advisable to call the office at (734) 240-7415 to confirm the appropriate time to submit a request. The Division is located at:

Monroe County Sheriff's Office
Records Division
100 E. Second St.
Monroe, MI 48161
Fax: (734) 240-7482

Individuals who want access to Monroe County arrest records can use the Online Portal available on the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division page. The search parameters are name, sex, arrest date, release date, custody date, or holding agency. Alternatively, anyone can visit the Division during business hours to request copies of arrest records. This service usually attracts a small fee.

Get Monroe County Civil Court Records

Individuals can get Monroe County civil court records from Circuit and District Courts. The Circuit Court is a trial court with original jurisdiction in all civil cases exceeding $25,000, while the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases with claims up to $25,000. The most common place people find civil court records for free is on the MiCOURT Case Search portal using a name or case number. Users can always filter their searches by case status, filing date, and case category. Individuals who cannot find a civil court record online can visit the courthouse to obtain paper copies of their desired records. Only persons who submit requests during business hours will be attended to.

Monroe County Marriage Records

The Monroe County Clerk is the official custodian of marriage records filed from 1818 to date and charges a copying fee for disseminating them. Typically, the first certified copy of a Monroe County marriage record costs $12, and each additional copy costs $5. Customers can pay their fees by credit cards (attract an additional fee), money orders, or cash. Marriage records are part of Monroe County public records, so they are available to everyone, but a valid ID is required before they can be released. Requests for Monroe County marriage certificates can be made:

• Online: Certified copies of marriage records can be ordered online through an approved third-party vendor. Customers must pay the standard fee plus an $11 shipping and handling fee. The vendor mails the orders the next business day after receiving them.
• By mail: Individuals should fill out the application form on the Clerk's website and send it to the office with the appropriate fees and a valid ID. The processing time takes over a week.
• In-person: Customers can appear at the office with their valid IDs to request certified copies of marriage records. The staff will give them a form to fill out to help them find the desired record. A fee will be required before the record is released. In-person requests should be made at:

Monroe County Clerk
106 E First Street
Monroe, MI 48161
Phone: (734) 240-7020
Fax: (734) 240-7045

Monroe County Divorce Records

Residents can start obtaining certified copies of divorce records a week after the divorce documents are filed and signed by a judge from the Monroe County Clerk. These records are open to anyone upon presenting a valid Driver's License or State ID and the appropriate fees. The Clerk charges $20 per copy for a divorce record. Customers can easily get copies of divorce records online, but an extra fee applies because a third-party vendor handles them. Other ways to get certified copies of divorce records are by mail and in person. Mail requesters must complete the application form and send it alongside the appropriate ID and fees to the office. In-person customers should visit the office during business hours and should expect same-day services.

Copies of divorce records can also be obtained online and in person at the Monroe County Circuit Court's Family Division. The MiCOURT Case Search portal provides free access to divorce information. However, users must provide a name or case number to conduct a search. In-person requesters can visit the courthouse during business hours to submit their requests. The record staff will need basic information about the case to process the request.

Monroe Birth and Death Records

The Clerk's Office maintains all Monroe County vital records. At the office, individuals can find Monroe County birth records from 1874 and death records from 1867. Birth records are confidential, while death records are available to the public. Monroe County birth certificates are only available to the subject of records and their parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives.

Certified copies of birth and death records cost $12 for the first copy and $5 each for an additional copy of a similar record ordered simultaneously. Credit cards, cash, and money orders are acceptable forms of payment. A current valid driver's license or state-issued ID as identification is required for all requests. The Clerk offers birth and death records online through a third-party vendor for an extra $11 shipping and handling fee. Individuals who want to submit their requests by mail should complete the Certified Records Mail Order Form. They should send the form and the appropriate fee as a money order or cash, A self-addressed stamped business envelope, and a valid ID to the office. The processing time for such requests is approximately 7 to 10 business days. The Clerk's Office also issues certified copies of birth and death records to individuals in person from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. In-person requests are usually fulfilled the same day.

Monroe County Probate Court Records

The Monroe County Probate Court handles cases like estate administration, the probate of wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. This Court has computerized its records since 1988 and makes them available for viewing through the Public Access portal. Users can select multiple criteria when searching, which helps them streamline their searches. They can search by first name, middle name, last name, company, party type, case type, file number, status, or judge. Certified copies of probate court records are available at the office during normal business hours. The first pages of the record cost $10, and each additional page cost $1.

Monroe County Property Records

Individuals can find recorded property information in person at the Monroe County Register of Deeds Office from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The grantor or grantee's name and the approximate year to search would be required to process the request. Note that the office cannot perform a property ownership search by address. A nominal fee of $1 per page and $5 for document certification applies to copies of property records. The Register of Deeds office provides access to property information online through its Deeds Search portal and approved third-party vendors. A search using the portal is free, but the third-party vendors charge a fee for their services.

Record seekers can also get property records at the Equalization Department, Treasurer, and City / Township Assessor Offices. Some custodians have online portals where anyone can find property records for free. The search criteria are name, property address, or parcel number. For example, the GIS Parcel Viewer is a good tool for locating information about any property located in Monroe County.

Monroe County Court Records Online

Inquirers may also obtain court records through third-party sites like michigancourtrecords.us. These sites have the benefit of being accessible remotely. These sites aggregate records from various judicial districts and make them available to interested members of the public for a fee. However, records obtained from third-party sites should be validated before official use since the accuracy and validity of records obtained from these sites cannot be guaranteed.