Saginaw County Court Records

Court records in Saginaw County are documents created or submitted to the court in compliance with Michigan Court Rules of 1985 (MCR 1.109). The Saginaw County Court Clerk is the custodian of these records.

Saginaw County Court Records are essential for legal matters. They serve as the official record of court proceedings, making verifiable history of filings, motions, hearings, and judgments available. This available history is often used as antecedents in other legal matters and encourages transparency in the court system.

Generally, persons who obtain Michigan court records can expect to see the parties' names, case numbers, dates of hearings, court orders, judgments, and any other relevant documents filed during the case. In addition, court records may include transcripts of court proceedings, evidence presented, and other related materials.

Are Court Records Public in Saginaw County?

Yes. Pursuant to Michigan Court Rule MCR 8.119(I), any person has the right to access and inspect, at no charge, any case record. This right extends to every piece of information contained in those records, regardless of means of access and record format, unless access is restricted by statute, court rule, or court order.

The Saginaw County Court Clerk oversees court records and grants public access upon request. However, Michigan Court Rule MCR 8.119 restricts access to certain information, including:

• Social Security Numbers: To prevent identity theft, Social Security numbers are typically redacted from court records.
• Juvenile Records: For minor protection, juvenile court proceedings are generally confidential, with limited exceptions for access.
• Mental Health Records: To safeguard patient privacy, information related to mental health treatment may be restricted within court records.
• Protective Orders: Court orders issued to shield individuals from domestic abuse or harassment may restrict the disclosure of certain details within the record.
• Trade Secrets: To protect sensitive business information, court orders might redact trade secrets from relevant records.
• Sealing of Records: In specific circumstances, a court may order the sealing of an entire record, making it inaccessible to the public.

Saginaw County Court Records Search

In Saginaw County, individuals may search for court records through various options, including:

• Saginaw County Law Enforcement Court Case Search
• Saginaw County Clerk's Office
• Michigan Courts Case Search
• Third-party service providers.

Saginaw County Court Records Search by Name

Requesters must possess any case party's first and last or company name to conduct a court record search by name in Saginaw County. The requester may then remotely use the Saginaw County Law Enforcement Court Case Search or visit the Saginaw County Clerk's Office.

The Saginaw County Court Case Information website, also known as the Odyssey Portal, allows users to conduct a name-based search for court records in Saginaw County. Users can search for hearings or court records by entering a party, business, or attorney name. While the search function offers options like record number, case number, attorney bar number, and courtroom, a name-based search is possible.

Note that common names may generate many irrelevant results. To improve accuracy, the website recommends searching for various spellings of the name and incorporating additional criteria like date range or keywords related to the case type. This free search method may yield a large number of results, so users should be prepared to refine them using any additional details they have available.

Meanwhile, requesters who have specific cases in mind may consider visiting the Saginaw County Circuit Court in person.

Saginaw County Circuit Court
10th Judicial Circuit Court
111 South Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5470
Fax: (989) 793-8180
Email: myelsik@saginawcounty.com

Saginaw County Courts

The Saginaw County court system comprises two Circuit Courts, a District Court, and a Probate Court. Circuit Courts handle general civil and criminal cases, typically those exceeding the jurisdiction of other courts. District Courts hold limited jurisdiction over specific civil and criminal matters. Probate Courts oversee probate cases and some juvenile matters, with their authority also being limited.

Saginaw County courthouses are located at the following addresses:

10th Circuit Court
Saginaw County Courthouse
111 South Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5544
Fax: (989) 790-5248

10th Circuit Court - Family/Juvenile Division
3360 Hospital Road
Saginaw, MI 48603
Phone: (989) 799-2821
70th District Court

Saginaw County Courthouse
111 South Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5380 (Civil, Small Claims)
Fax: (989) 790-5562 (Civil, Small Claims)
Phone: (989) 790-5385 (Criminal)
Fax: (989) 790-5589 (Criminal)
Phone: (989) 790-5390 (Traffic)
Fax: (989) 790-5537 (Traffic)

Saginaw County Probate Court
Saginaw County Courthouse
111 South Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5320
Fax: (989) 790-5279

Saginaw County Circuit Court Case Search

The Saginaw County Circuit Court is the trial court within the county. The circuit court in Saginaw County preserves paper and electronic court case records per Michigan Court Rule 8.119(D). An interested individual may utilize the Saginaw County Law Enforcement Court Case Search following the steps stated in the “Saginaw County Court Records Search by Name” section above.

The Saginaw County Circuit Court handles a broad range of civil and criminal cases, typically those exceeding the authority of lower courts. The following is an outline of the types of cases handled by the Circuit Court of Saginaw County:

• Felonies: Serious crimes punishable by imprisonment for more than a year.
• Lesser-included offenses: Crimes stemming from a felony charge, but carrying a lesser penalty.
• Juvenile delinquency: Cases involving minors who have committed offenses.
• General civil cases with a value exceeding $25,000
• Equity cases: Matters requiring a fair and just solution beyond simple monetary damages.
• Appeals of administrative agency decisions: Challenges to rulings made by government agencies.
• Domestic relations: Family law matters such as divorce, paternity, and child custody.
• Juvenile cases: Legal proceedings concerning minors, excluding delinquency cases handled by the Family Division.
• Name changes: Legal modifications of an individual's name.
• Abuse prevention: Orders to protect individuals from domestic violence.

Saginaw County District Court Records

The Saginaw County District Court handles civil and criminal cases that fall outside the jurisdiction of higher courts. Here's a list of the typical case types:

• Misdemeanors: Less serious offenses punishable by up to a year in jail and fines.
• Preliminary hearings for felonies: Initial court appearances to determine if there's enough evidence for a felony trial in Circuit Court.
• Most traffic violations: Tickets for moving violations, parking offenses, and DUI/DWI.
• General civil cases with a value less than $25,000: Disputes involving smaller amounts of money.
• Most landlord-tenant cases: Issues between landlords and tenants, like evictions or breaches of lease agreements.
• Small Claims Division: This division offers a simplified process for resolving certain civil claims of $5,000 or less, provided both parties agree to participate.

Requester may access Saginaw County District Court records on the Saginaw County Court Case Information website. The same portal that holds Circuit Court records contains the District Court records and requesters may follow the steps stated in the “Saginaw County Court Records Search by Name” section above.

Saginaw County Criminal Records

Per Michigan Public Act 319 of 1968, all criminal records are submitted to the Michigan State Police (MSP) for centralized storage. To access their criminal record in Saginaw County, requesters can follow these steps outlined by the Michigan Criminal Justice Information Centre CJIC:

1. Visit a Local Law Enforcement Agency: Requesters are to head to the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office with a valid ID and request a Michigan Application Fingerprint Card (RI-008). They are to fill out the card entirely. Below is the address of the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office:

Saginaw County Sheriff
618 Cass Street
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5456

2. Request and Return Information: Requesters are to include a cover letter explaining why they need their Saginaw County arrest and criminal record. Provide a return address with a phone number or email address on the fingerprint card (Block F) as the MSP will only return the record to them directly.

3. Payment and Submission: Requesters are to mail the completed fingerprint card along with a $30 processing fee (money order or check payable to "State of Michigan") to the CJIC. Extra certified or notarized records require an additional $1 per record. Requesters are to allow 21-35 days for processing and mail delivery and also note that the CJIC doesn't accept in-person requests.

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

Saginaw County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Requesters may perform Saginaw County Criminal Court Case Lookup at the different courts, like the Circuit and District courts, with jurisdiction for criminal cases. Both Circuit and District Courts provide an online Law Enforcement Court Case Search portal for requesters. To lookup criminal court records:

1. Visit the Odyssey Portal: Requesters are to visit the Saginaw County Court Case Information website. You can find instructions for registration on the Saginaw County website.
2. Initiate a Search: Requesters may initiate the search by providing any of the available search criteria including Record Number, Case Number, or Name of the party involved in the criminal case in Last, First Middle Suffix Format.
3. Refine Results (Optional): To improve accuracy, especially for common names, requesters may consider incorporating additional details like variations in the spelling of the name, a date range potentially relevant to the case, and keywords related to the possible criminal offense (e.g., theft, assault).
4. Review Results: The search will generate results. Requesters should be prepared to analyze them, as common names might yield irrelevant cases.

Get Saginaw County Civil Court Records

Saginaw County provides public access to civil court records, which document legal proceedings regarding non-criminal disputes like contracts, property rights, and personal injuries. The Saginaw County Clerk's Office maintains the official record of all civil cases filed in the 10th Circuit Court (since 1985) in a computerized court database. Requesters may use these two main methods to access civil court records:

• Online Search: The Saginaw County Court Case Information website (Odyssey Portal) allows Record Number, Case Number or Name-based searches for civil records. However, this search might provide limited details due to privacy concerns. Requesters may follow the steps in the “Saginaw County Criminal Court Case Lookup” section above.
• In-Person Visit: Requesters may visit the Saginaw County Clerk's Office in person for over-the-counter requests for copies of Circuit Court civil case files available. The Clerk's office staff can assist you in locating specific cases for $1.00 per page plus a $10.00 fee if the record requires Certification.

Saginaw County Family Court Records

Saginaw County doesn't have a separate Family Court. Instead, family law matters fall under the jurisdiction of the 10th Circuit Juvenile & Family Court, located at 3360 Hospital Road. This court handles legal issues concerning children under 18 (as of October 2021), including:

• Adoptions
• Juvenile Delinquency (criminal offenses by minors)
• Child Abuse & Neglect (protective proceedings)
• Juvenile Traffic Offenses
• Emancipation of Minors (granting legal independence before 18)
• Juvenile Guardianships
• Other Legal Matters involving children under 18.

Accessing Saginaw County Family Court Records is more restricted than accessing Circuit Court Civil Records due to privacy concerns surrounding juvenile and family matters. Requesters may visit the Saginaw County Clerk's Office in person with an ID for over-the-counter requests for copies of Circuit Court family court records available.

Saginaw Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records, also known as divorce records, in Saginaw County, are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Requesters may employ the following to access the record:

• The Saginaw County Court Case Information website (Odyssey Portal) allows name-based searches for court records, potentially including dissolutions of marriage. However, the information available online may be limited due to privacy concerns.
• Requesters may also visit the Saginaw County Circuit Court Clerk's Office in person for a more comprehensive dissolution of marriage records. The Clerk's office staff can assist them in locating specific cases as it is stated in the “Get Saginaw County Civil Court Records” section above.

Saginaw County Marriage and Divorce Records

Saginaw County marriage records are available to the public, and the County Clerk's Office maintains them for marriages that occurred from 1867 to the present if one or both individuals resided in Saginaw County at the time of application and the marriage took place in Michigan. Requesters may access records of marriages conducted from 1995 to the present using the Saginaw County Clerk's Office Web Self-Service Portal. Individuals may also request a certified copy of a marriage license in person, by email, or by drop box.

For in-person requests, visit the Saginaw County Clerk's Office in person and fill out an application form. A fee of $15.00 applies for the first certified copy and $7.00 for each additional copy.

For mail requests, complete the marriage record application form. Attach a check or money order payable to "Saginaw County Clerk" for $16.00 (which includes postage) and $7.00 for each additional copy. Enclose the form, money order, and a self-addressed envelope in a mail packet and send it to the provided address.

Saginaw County Clerk
Governmental Center
111 S. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, Michigan 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5251

Saginaw Birth and Death Records

The Saginaw County Clerk's Office is the custodian of birth and death records for individuals born or deceased within the county. These records hold significant value for various reasons. They can be used for genealogical research to trace your family history. They serve as official documentation for proving your age or citizenship when required for legal purposes. Birth certificates are often necessary for establishing legal heirs during estate settlements. Additionally, these records can be crucial for obtaining government benefits like Social Security or veterans' benefits, or for applying for a passport.

Birth certificates in Saginaw County are public records if they are over 100 years old. Anyone can request a certified copy of these records. However, access is restricted for birth certificates less than 100 years old. Only the person named on the birth certificate, their parent(s), or an individual with a valid legal reason (guardian, heir, etc.) can obtain a certified copy.

The Saginaw County Clerk's Office offers several ways to request a birth certificate: in-person, by mail, or online. Fees vary depending on the chosen method and the number of copies requested. Some births, such as those before 1979 to unmarried parents or adopted individuals, might be filed with the State of Michigan, not the county. The Clerk's office can help you search for the record and order it from the state for an additional fee.

Similarly, death certificates in Saginaw County are considered public records. This means anyone can request a certified copy, regardless of their relationship to the deceased. Like birth records, you can obtain a death certificate in person, by mail, or online through the Web Self-Service Portal. The fees associated with obtaining a death certificate mirror those for birth certificates.

Saginaw County Clerk
Governmental Center
111 S. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, Michigan 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5251

Saginaw County Probate Court Records

The Saginaw County Probate Court deals with legal matters concerning estates, trusts, guardianships, and mental health commitments. The court proceedings generate court records that serve as a historical record of the case. The custodian of Saginaw County Probate Court Records is the Probate Court Clerk's Office.

Visiting the Probate Court Clerk's office in person allows for a more comprehensive search and access to records. The staff can assist you in locating specific cases by name or case number and provide copies for a fee.

On the other hand, the Saginaw County Court Case Information website (Odyssey Portal) might offer limited search results for probate court cases. Due to privacy concerns, this online search may not provide comprehensive details.

For either method, requesters must have the name of the record subject, case number (if known), and approximate case filing date (if known).

Saginaw County Probate Court
111 S. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790-5279
Fax: (989) 790-5328

Saginaw County Property Records

Saginaw County property records offer valuable information for anyone interested in real estate within the county. Saginaw County property records typically contain a wealth of information about a specific property, including:

• Ownership: Current owner(s) name(s) and mailing address.
• Property Characteristics: Land size, building details (square footage, year built, number of bedrooms/bathrooms), property type (residential, commercial, etc.).
• Valuation: Assessed taxable value of the property.
• Tax Information: Current property tax amount, billing history, and any potential delinquencies.
• Parcel Information: Unique parcel identification number and a legal description of the property.
• Public Records: Links to associated documents like plats, permits, or building code violations (availability may vary).

Interested persons may utilize the following ways to access property records:

• Online Search: The Saginaw County website provides a property information search tool. This tool allows you to search by address or property owner name.
• Register of Deeds Office: The Register of Deeds Office maintains the official record of all real property documents in Saginaw County. Requesters can conduct a search in person or engage the online search portal on their website.

Saginaw County Court Records Online

While Saginaw County offers a single online access to all court records, there are third-party websites that provide such a service. These third-party websites, like michigancourtrecords.us, become tempting resources for finding Saginaw County court records. However, it is crucial to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages and find the right balance.

On the positive side, third-party sites often act as aggregators, allowing you to search court records across various counties or even states from a single platform. This can be very convenient. Additionally, some have user-friendly interfaces that might be easier to navigate compared to individual court websites. In some cases, requesters might even find features like case summaries or alerts for specific dockets (although it's always wise to confirm the specific features offered by each site).

However, there are limitations to consider. The accuracy and completeness of information on third-party sites depend on the courts' data. This can lead to delays in updates or even inaccuracies. Cost can also be a factor. While basic search functionalities might be free, some sites require subscriptions to access complete case details or documents. Finally, privacy is a concern. Court records often contain sensitive information, so it's vital to understand the data privacy practices of any third-party site you choose.