Montcalm County Court Records

The Montcalm County court records are the official documentation maintained by the local courts in connection with civil or criminal actions initiated within the jurisdiction. These records include pleadings, orders, complaints, answers, summonses, judgments, registers of actions, calendars, exhibits, and other materials generated over the course of judicial proceedings.

Beyond ensuring the legal system remains accountable to the public it serves, Montcalm court records provide a historical archive of court proceedings, which is useful for studying past trials (including rulings), enforcing court judgments, filing for appeals or expungements, and monitoring cases from start to finish.

Are Court Records Public in Montcalm County?

Yes. In Montcalm County, court records are open to the public. Per MCR (Michigan Court Rules) 8.119, all case records in the custody of a court clerk's office or court are deemed public records unless a specific statute, court rule, or court order restricts access. The following are some confidential or nonpublic court records in Montcalm:

• Sealed records, such as protective orders
• Grand jury records
• Juror qualification and personal history questionnaires
• Mediation records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Mental health court proceedings
• Probation investigations and case histories
• Crime victim home/work addresses and telephone numbers
• Juvenile delinquency records

The Michigan Access Security Matrix and Nonpublic and Limited-Access Court Records publication provide a detailed chart of confidential court records in Montcalm County.

Montcalm County Court Records Search

The following methods can be utilized when performing a Montcalm County court records search:

• Visit to the courthouse where a matter was adjudicated.
• Query the relevant court clerk's office directly, whether by mail, email, or other means.
• Search online records databases provided by courts or independent vendors.

Montcalm County Courts

Montcalm County consists of circuit, district, and probate courts. These courts handle a diverse range of civil and criminal cases and can be contacted using the following details:

Montcalm County Circuit Courts

8th Judicial Circuit Court - Montcalm
Court Complex
631 North State Street
Stanton, MI 48888
Phone: (989) 831-3520
Fax: (989) 831-3525

8th Judicial Circuit Court - Montcalm - Family/Juvenile Division
Court Complex
625 North State Street
Stanton, MI 48888
Phone: (989) 831-7308
Fax: (989) 831-7548

Montcalm County District Courts

64B District Court - Montcalm
Court Complex
617 North State Street
Stanton, MI 48888
Phone: (989) 831-7450
Fax: (989) 831-7453

Montcalm County Probate Courts

Montcalm County Probate Court
Court Complex
625 North State Street
Stanton, MI 48888
Phone: (989) 831-7316
Fax: (989) 831-7314

Montcalm County Criminal Records

Montcalm County criminal records can be obtained using the Michigan State Police's (MSP) Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). This web application dispenses official MSP criminal record history information to anyone who pays the $10 per search fee via credit card (Visa, Discover, or MasterCard). Government agencies or non-profit charitable organizations may not be liable for the prescribed fee if needing the information to screen an employee or volunteer who will work with vulnerable populations, such as children.

Users can conduct a Montalm criminal records search on themselves or others by providing a name, birth date, race, and gender. The search results are viewable and printable immediately; no mailing option is provided.

ICHAT results include a record subject's descriptors, arrests and charges that led to convictions, and the resulting sentences. The system does not disseminate non-conviction arrests, outstanding warrants, driving records, or national and non-Michigan criminal history information.

Note that Montcalm County arrest records can also be obtained from local law enforcement agencies under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. However, any such Montcalm arrest records inquiry to a police agency will only uncover arrests made by its officers or within its jurisdiction and records disclosable under the FOIA.

Get Montcalm County Civil Court Records

When seeking civil court records in Montcalm County, a person possesses physical, mail-in, and online avenues of obtaining information. For those who prefer in-person applications, the Court Complex in Montcalm is open during regular business times for public record queries. If a record inquiry is to be made to the 8th Judicial Circuit Court, the circuit court clerk's office is located here:

639 North State Street
Stanton, MI 48888

Mail inquiries can also be forwarded to the same address for circuit court civil records or the relevant civil court's mailing address. The Montcalm civil courts include:

• The 8th Circuit Court: The county's general trial court that adjudicates civil actions above $25,000 in value, domestic relations/juvenile cases, actions seeking equitable relief, district court appeals, state agency administrative appeals.
• The 64B District Court: A court of limited trial jurisdiction presiding over small claims, civil actions below $25,000 in damages, landlord/tenant cases.
• The Montcalm Probate Court: A tribunal with exclusive authority over probate cases.

When submitting an oral or written application for a case record generated in non-criminal proceedings within Montcalm, it is necessary to include information that assists the records staff in locating the sought-after document. Often, this is a case party's first and last name/business name or a case (docket) number. Copies of court records attract a fee per page, but records may be viewable at no cost.

Still, persons seeking non-confidential circuit or district court records can access the MiCOURT Case Search portal to view civil case information. There is no fee assessed to search or retrieve information from the system, and the primary search criterion is a last/business name or case number.

Montcalm County Marriage Records

The Montcalm County Clerk's Office is the legal custodian of marriage records in Montcalm, which are categorized as part of the Montcalm County public records. Consequently, anyone can request copies of a Montcalm County marriage certificate from the Clerk's Office using the following means:

• In-Person: Interested persons can stop by the County Clerk's Vital Records/Elections Office. The office requires the names of spouses and the marriage date to process the request.
• By Mail: To obtain copies of Montcalm County marriage records by mail, a written request can be sent to the Vital Records/Elections Office. Requesters can download and complete the Application for Certified Copy or prepare their own letter bearing the spouses' names and the marriage date. A self-addressed stamped envelope must accompany every mail application, and fees are payable by check to "Montcalm County Clerk".
• Via Email: Send the completed Application for a Certified Copy and a Credit/Debit Card Authorization Form to vitals@montcalm.us.
• Online: Order copies of Montcalm marriage records from the Clerk's authorized vendor. Such applications can be paid with a credit or debit card. The spouses' names and marriage year are required for online applications.

Below is the address for mail-in and in-person marriage records requests.

639 North State Street
Stanton, Michigan 48888
Phone: (989) 831-7339
Fax: (989) 831-7474

A certified copy of a Montcalm County marriage certificate costs $30 for the first copy and $5 for each extra copy of the same record.

Montcalm County Divorce Records

Divorce cases are heard in the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Montcalm County, and the associated records are considered public information.

Individuals interested in reviewing or duplicating the records can query the circuit clerk's office in person, by mail, or via email at clerk@montcalm.us. Plain copies cost $1 per page, whereas certified copies cost $10 for one page and $1 afterward. Available divorce records date back to 1867.

Notably, the State of Michigan Vital Records Department issues divorce certificates for events that occurred in Michigan, including in Montcalm. While divorce decrees (the actual court judgments) are court documents maintained and disseminated by the circuit court clerk's offices, divorce certificates are regarded as vital records that establish a marriage's dissolution.

Similarly, divorce certificates are not restricted in Michigan; anyone can order them, provided they submit a completed application in person or via mail and pay the search fee. Online and fax ordering is also available through the department's private vendor. The State Vital Records Department issues divorce certificates from 1897 to date.

Montcalm Birth and Death Records

The government documents birth and death events in Montcalm to support public health research and policy formulation, including research into the region's demographic trends and dynamics, like the mortality rates. These so-called birth and death records (considered part of the Montcalm County vital records) also have other legal uses, including establishing a person's identity or parental lineage and facilitating genealogical studies.

Individuals seeking birth or death records/certificates in Montcalm County can query the Montcalm County Clerk's Office.

For a Montcalm County birth certificate (1867 to date), one can apply at the Clerk's office during standard office hours. Also, requests for certified copies of Montcalm County birth records can be faxed or emailed to the Clerk's Office at (989) 831-7474 or vitals@montcalm.us, respectively. An applicant must complete the Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth/Death Record and Credit Card Authorization Form (or pay through the County Clerk's vendor) and send a valid photo ID bearing their signature.

If the request is to be mailed to the Clerk's Office, the application form, check for the required fee, self-addressed stamped envelope, and phone number must be provided.

Montcalm County birth records cost $30 for the first copy and $5 per extra copy of the same record.

However, it must be noted that birth records are restricted for 100 years and, within that time, can only be issued to:

• The individual (subject) or parents named in a record
• An heir, legal representative, or legal guardian of the subject of a record
• A court of competent jurisdiction

Per MCL 333.2882, birth records 100 years or older are publicly available and can be issued to anyone.

On the other hand, death records are available to any applicant. The Montcalm County Clerk's Office maintains death records from 1867 to the current date. Requesters can use the previously linked application form and Credit Card Authorization Form to make their orders in person, by email/mail, or via fax. Orders can also be placed through the Clerk's verified vendor. Montcalm County death records are priced at $30 for the first copy and $5 per extra copy of the same record.

Montcalm County Probate Court Records

Proceedings heard in Montcalm County Probate Court include conservatorships and guardianships, wills, name changes, mental health commitments, trusts, emancipations, and the administration of decedent estates.

One may visit or contact the probate court clerk's office to retrieve related case records. Fees are assessed where copies are required, usually $1 per page for photocopies and $10 plus a $1 per page fee for certified copies.

However, it is necessary to acknowledge that some probate records are conferred restricted status and can only be examined or reproduced by the parties involved or as authorized by law.

Montcalm County Property Records

Montcalm property records feature pertinent data about real estate located within county borders, including a property's ownership history, encumbrances (e.g., liens, mortgages), and physical characteristics.

The first office an individual may approach for property records in Montcalm is the Register of Deeds, which serves as the county's official recorder.

211 West Main Street
P.O. Box 368
Stanton, Michigan 48888
Phone: (989) 831-7337
Fax: (989) 831-7320

Recorded property documents cost $1 per page for photocopies and $5 for certification. The Register also provides a Deed Public Search portal online, which interested parties can access to look up property records without coming to the office or sending in a written request by mail. However, charges apply when using the system.

Another avenue for conducting a Montcalm County property records search, which will uncover property and tax information, is to access the fee-based Property/Parcel Search database on the county government's website. Individuals can also contact town/city assessor's offices for property information particular to their jurisdictions.

A property owner's name, street address, or parcel number is typically required when conducting a property inquiry through an assessor's office. Parties will also need to pay any fee associated with their requests.

Montcalm County Court Records Online

Third-party websites, like Michigancourtrecords.us, are worthwhile resources when looking into Montcalm County public records, including court records. These websites often offer freemium services that allow users to obtain basic details related to their search keywords or subjects and require a nominal fee to access a complete report. Altogether, third-party sites are easily navigable, and they can simplify the search process when needing to find records in multiple jurisdictions. However, there may be limitations to information accuracy, as such databases are not affiliated with the government.