Washtenaw County Court Records

Washtenaw County court records include various legal records created and submitted during court proceedings. The Michigan Court Rules mandate that county courts keep court records. These records contain pleadings, judgments, orders, notices, arrest warrants, and audio and video recordings. In Washtenaw County, the Clerk of the Court’s Office officially creates and manages these records. Once recorded, these documents are saved in the statewide electronic file system.

Court records are helpful for a variety of reasons. One benefit is that they shed light on the judiciary's activities and assist the public in understanding situations that impact them and their communities. The presence of court records also allows the losing side to seek an appellate review since the lower court's records are examined to assess whether the defendant had a fair trial.

Are Court Records Public in Washtenaw County?

Yes. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Michigan Court Rules (MCR) 8.119, the courts are mandated to grant county residents and the general public access to inspect and obtain copies of court records on request.

State regulations stipulate that access to sensitive records is limited to those with a need-to-know basis. Examples of confidential records/information not disclosed to the public are:

• Adoption records
• Domestic violence records
• Medical records
• Personal identifying information like date of birth, passport number, driver’s license number, social security number, financial account number, national identification number, and state-issued personal identification card number.

Washtenaw County Court Records Search

Inquirers seeking Washtenaw County court records may consider any of the following resources/custodians:

• The Legal Records Division of the County Clerk’s Office
• The courthouse where the record was generated
• Electronic search portals provided by the county court system
• Independent third-party record providers.

Washtenaw County Court Records Search by Name

Names are the most common criteria for searching Washtenaw court records, and several websites include name-based search options. Requesters may submit a case participant's name to the clerk's office to get all relevant court records.

In most circumstances, however, more than the name alone is needed to locate a specific court record since records may exist for multiple people with the same name.

Researchers should have more information, such as a searched party's date of birth, case filing date, or case number. Most third-party websites also have a name-search function. Fees vary by website and custodial office but often range between $1.00 and $25.00 per searched name or document.

Washtenaw County Courts

Washtenaw County's court structure comprises one Circuit Court, three District Courts, and a Probate Court. Below is a list of the different Washtenaw County, Michigan courts and their contact addresses:

22nd Circuit Court
Washtenaw County Courthouse
101 E Huron Street
P.O. Box 8645
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone: (734) 222-3270
Fax: (734) 222-3077

14A District Court
415 W. Michigan Ave.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: (734) 484-6690

14B District Court
Ypsilanti Township Civic Center
7200 S. Huron River Drive
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: (734) 483-1333

15th District Court
Justice Center
301 E. Huron
P.O. Box 8650
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: (734) 794-6759

Washtenaw County Probate Court
Washtenaw County Courthouse
101 E. Huron St.
P.O. Box 8645
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone: (734) 222-3072

Washtenaw County Superior Court Case Search

The Circuit Court of Washtenaw County has superior jurisdiction within the county. The circuit court hears criminal and civil matters involving damages reported to exceed $25,000. It also handles all family and juvenile court proceedings. The court files and retains all records related to these matters and makes them available to the public. Interested parties may view court documents at no cost using self-service court indexes at the court clerk's office.

Washtenaw County District Court Records

The Washtenaw County Courthouse has public computer terminals where individuals may access the 22nd Circuit Court records. This office accepts court record requests in person, over the phone, or by mail. To seek records in person, visit the Court Services office. Copies of up to 30 pages are processed while requesters wait. Large requests, including more than 30 pages, are fulfilled within ten days.

To request copies of a Washtenaw County court record, go to the courthouse or call (734) 222-3270. Phone inquiries require payment with a credit card.

Washtenaw County Criminal Records

Through the Michigan Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT), interested parties may get criminal records through a criminal record search. For third parties, this tool only offers name-based checks. Only authorized criminal justice system personnel may access fingerprint-based checks.

Washtenaw County criminal records provide official information on criminal cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, infractions decided in the county, and offenders' criminal history. A person's arrest, arraignment, convictions, and sentences are usually detailed in these records.

Some criminal records the County's law enforcement departments keep are accessible to the public under the Michigan FOIA. Without a court order, it is impossible to get criminal records of children, expunged records, arrest records, or records about ongoing investigations.

Meanwhile, individuals looking for information on inmates in the county jail may contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office Records Unit. Call requesters wishing to get a criminal record check must make an appointment by calling the Sheriff's Office in advance. According to the sheriff's office, the criminal history check costs $5. During their visit, requestors must provide a valid form of identification.

Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Records Unit
8140 Main St,
Dexter, MI 48130
Phone: (734) 426-0228

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

Washtenaw County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To perform a Washtenaw County criminal court case lookup:

• Go to the courthouse where the case was filed to use the public terminals provided
• Visit the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office in person or send mail requests
• Access online case management systems like MiCourt.

Most courts maintain online databases for public record searches. These resources are searchable by case number and party name. Certain criminal records, such as those of juveniles, are not public and can be searched only at the court clerk’s office by authorized parties.

Get Washtenaw County Civil Court Records

All courts in Washtenaw County handle civil cases. District courts handle damages up to $25,000, while Circuit courts adjudicate damages involving more than $25,000. Their clerks keep the resultant records and make them accessible to interested parties via appropriate methods. Civil cases include family matters, small claims, employment disputes, landlord-tenant disputes, property disputes, personal injury, and medical malpractice.

Requesters should submit the name of a case participant or the case number to the court clerk’s office that adjudicated a case of interest to request records. A person may search online resources made available by court clerks to find court records. Records not found online may be non-public owing to the sensitive nature of their contents. Authorized people may request such records at the presiding court clerk’s office.

Washtenaw County Family Court Records

The Family Division of the Washtenaw County Circuit Court handles all family cases, and the court clerk maintains all related records. Although family court records are typically deemed public, records of most family law cases are non-public. For example, records of child protective cases, adoption, juvenile guardianship, and name changes may not be placed on public databases or websites.

Case parties, their designees, lawyers, or close family members in the court clerk’s office may only retrieve non-public records. Such individuals must present valid identification and (for third parties) permission documents. Interested parties may see public information regarding family cases on the circuit court’s online record database or search public self-service court indexes at the clerk’s office. A researcher must know the case number or a litigant’s name in each instance.

Washtenaw County Marriage and Divorce Records

Washtenaw County Marriage and Divorce records are maintained by the Vital Records Office and the Register of Deeds office, respectively.

Divorce records fall under court records in Washtenaw County; consequently, they may be accessed by any member of the public unless such record is sealed by law. To get Washtenaw County Divorce records, individuals may need to send a request to the Legal Records Division in person, by mail, or online. Certified Divorce records cost $10 for each copy.

The Vital Records office provides online access to Washtenaw County Marriage records. Requesters may also submit in-person inquiries or request them by mail. The service charge for a marriage record is $15 for the first copy and $5 for subsequent copies.

For online requests, note that:

• The marriage date and couple's full names are required for searches
• Marriage records filed before 1942 are not available online
• The Genealogy Research Service can be used to search for the marriage date and names of parties before the marriage if unknown.
• Credit cards are the only approved means of payment, and a service fee may apply to requesting records online.

For in-person requests, interested parties can schedule an appointment or walk into the vital records office during business hours with a completed Marriage Request Form and appropriate fees. The fees can be paid through credit cards, cash, or money orders payable to the Washtenaw County Clerk. Mail requests should include a filled-out Marriage Request form, payment, and a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Washtenaw County Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are classified as Washtenaw County vital records. They record birth and death incidents within the county. The County Clerk's Office creates, maintains, and provides public access to these records.

Only the subject of the record may request certified copies of Washtenaw County birth certificates less than 100 years old. Interested parties should fill out a Vital Record Request Form and submit it to the clerk's office with a valid government-issued ID and the required fee. The first certified copy costs $25.00, while further copies acquired on the same day cost $10.00. Individuals may also request copies of Washtenaw County birth records by mail or online.

The county clerk's website allows users to request death records for Washtenaw County online. Researchers who visit the clerk's office in person must have the full name, and date of death. Checks and credit cards are other methods of payment. For certified copies, there is a $25.00 charge. Researchers and anyone looking for birth and death data via mail should contact:

Washtenaw County Clerk – Vital Records Division
200 N. Main, Suite 100
P.O. Box 8645
Ann Arbor,
MI 48107-8645

Washtenaw County Probate Court Records

The administration of estates of the deceased and trust-related matters are within the purview of the Washtenaw County Probate Court. In addition to these cases, the court hears cases involving minors, guardianship and conservatorship of persons with disabilities, and cases involving people with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Researchers may visit the court clerk’s office to request copies of court documents. Requesting parties must possess the file number or case name associated with the document(s) they wish to view. Copies are $1.50 per page, payable by cash, check, and bank card. Probate court records are also available online and are searchable by name or case number.

Records related to mental illness, parental waivers, juvenile and child protective proceedings, juvenile guardianship, adoption, name changes, and personal protection orders are not available online. Parties with justifiable interests in these cases and other cases not displayed on this website should contact the clerk’s office directly for authorization or guidance on accessing them.

Washtenaw County Property Records

Washtenaw County property records are open to the public for inspection and copying under the State of Michigan Freedom of Information Act. People interested in obtaining copies of Washtenaw County property records can request them from the Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deed. The division maintains the records of properties in the County and undertakes the following concerning real estate transactions:

• Certification of documents
• Maintenance of records of Charters of not-for-profit organizations from 1866 to 1993
• Collection and distribution of Realty Transfer Tax to local municipalities, school districts, and the Department of Revenue
• Provision of public access to recorded documents and indices

It also records and indexes the following land instruments:

• Deeds and documents like Easements, Right of Way, Covenants, and Restrictions.
• Mortgages and associated documents, including Satisfaction of Mortgage, Release, Assignment, Modification, and Subordination
• Military Discharge Papers
• State Commissions and Bonds for Notary Publics and County-Elected Officials
• Subdivision, Highway, Stormwater, Rail, and Condo Maps
• Powers of Attorney
• Secured Transactions and Financing Statements

Washtenaw County Court Records Online

Interested parties may get court records using official online tools such as the Michigan Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). Alternatively, third-party websites like Michigancourtrecords.us may provide access to Washtenaw County court records online. These independent aggregate websites offer a convenient, remote way to obtain these data. However, such sites are not government-associated. As such, website entries may be outdated, inaccurate, or incomplete.