Michigan Civil Court Records

The Michigan judicial system consists of three courts: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Trial Courts.

The state's Supreme Court is the top court of law and is responsible for administrative oversight of all subordinate courts.

To ensure fairness, Michigan's intermediate appellate court, the Court of Appeals, hears and reviews appeals from local trial court's decisions.

The Trial Courts, which include Circuit Courts, District Courts, and Probate Courts, are at the lowest. All of these courts have various areas of authority.

In Michigan, for instance, Circuit Courts have broad jurisdiction over civil matters with claims exceeding $25,000.

In contrast, District Court oversees civil cases with claims of less than $25,000.

Can you obtain copies of Michigan Civil Court Records? The Michigan Freedom of Information Act grants you access to these documents.

However, court regulations and Michigan law exempt public disclosure of certain types of material, including consultations, jury questions, and contact details.

In Michigan, bankruptcy is a legal action in which an individual or corporation receives debt relief from creditors.

In this state, the Federal District Courts administered bankruptcy cases. If interested, you can file for bankruptcy under different chapters, which can be in the form of the following:

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Michigan Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a legal process in which the court sells the debtor's non-exempt property to pay off creditors.

In this bankruptcy, the court chooses a trustee who gathers and sells any non-exempt assets or properties. The trustee also pays creditors from the liquidated assets.

But keep in mind that filing this kind of bankruptcy does not get rid of debts like:

• Child support
• Alimony
• Personal debts
• Student loans
• Court costs and fines
• Fraudulent debts

In Michigan, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on file for ten years after the filing date.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

In Michigan, people who want to keep their properties file for this type of bankruptcy.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets people pay back their debts with a portion of their future income, so they don't have to sell off their assets.

Seven years after the filing date, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Michigan remains on file.

Along with Chapters 7 and 13, Chapters 11 and 12 are also in the Michigan Bankruptcy Records.

How To Find Michigan Bankruptcy Records?

There are various methods for searching and obtaining Michigan Bankruptcy Records.

The first option is to utilize the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. This tool lets users digitally access certified case details and court dockets from the Michigan Bankruptcy Courts. But remember that you must sign up and pay to use the service.

The Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) is another option. With this free service, you can use a touch-tone phone to dial into the court's live database and get information about a case.

Like any other records in the state, you can get these records by going to the clerk's office that handled your case. There is, however, a cost connected with requesting Michigan Bankruptcy Records from the clerk's office.

Once you obtain these documents, you can expect to find the following details:

• Information about the petitioner
• List of property
• Date of filling
• Bankruptcy type
• The name of the lawyer
• List of who owes money
• Information about the trustee
• Current case status
• Dates of discharge or closure (if available)

A property lien is a component of the Michigan Civil Court Records consisting of a debt-securing order placed on a property.

In this state, creditors file for property liens as collateral that lets them take back the asset if the borrower doesn't pay back the debt.

However, a property lien does not mean the owner must instantly give up the property. The lienholder can only claim the property for sale once the agreed-upon deadline to settle the amount has expired.

The most common type of Michigan Property Lien Records are the following:

Judgment Lien

With this type of lien, a creditor can take a debtor's property as security for the debt.

This state applies judgment liens on real estate, mortgages, and individual properties like gems, jewels, antiques, and other valuables.

Michigan judgment liens are active for five years. However, it is eligible for removal once the debtor pays off the loan or sells the collateralized property.

Mortgage Lien

This sort of lien applies to those who wish to acquire real estate with a loan.

Once the lien is on the property, the creditor can take possession of it if the debtor doesn't follow the terms of the agreement.

UCC Lien

In Michigan, filing this sort of lien is advantageous to the creditor because it discloses the borrower's financial statements and indicates whether there are additional financial obligations on the asset used as collateral by the debtor.

In this manner, the creditor obtains a guarantee of security interest and can proceed to collect the collateral if the debtor declares bankruptcy.

In addition to the property liens indicated above, Michigan Property Lien Records may also contain tax and mechanic's liens.

How To Check Michigan Property Lien Records?

To check for property liens in Michigan, you can contact the governmental agency with jurisdiction of the record or perform an internet search on the agency's website.

You can contact the Friend of the Court (FOC) to see these records in this state.

The Michigan Secretary of State (MSOS) also has a Record Lookup Unit that you can use. To access property lien on this site, you must fill out the Record Lookup Request form, which you can download online.

MSOS also offers a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Online Service for searching state's commercial liens. Visit the agency's UCC FAQ page for more information on getting these documents.

Lastly, you can visit or call the Register of Deeds (ROD) to get property lien records for the county where the property lies. Sometimes, you can remotely access a document by searching a database on the ROD's website.

A Michigan Civil Driving Violation Record lists offenses that a driver or other road user, like a cyclist or pedestrian, has committed in the state.

The most common civil driving violation records in the state are:

• Driving without a seat belt
• Speeding
• Ignoring a red light
• Jaywalking

In Michigan, these violations are minor and don't count as crimes. Because of this, people guilty of these offenses only get fines, volunteer work, or traffic school, but not jail time.

How To Look Up Michigan Civil Driving Violation Records?

In Michigan, you can check and get driving violation records in person, by mail, online, or over the phone.

To submit a request in person, bring your driver's license and payment method to any Michigan Department of State (MDOS) office location.

You must print and complete the MDOS' Requesting Your Record form to send a request by mail. After completing this form, send it with your payment to the MDOS.

You can also look online for records of civil driving violations. This state's judiciary provides an ePAY service that permits ticket and case searches.

Lastly, you can call the MDOS Record Lookup Unit to request Michigan Civil Driving Violation Records.

In the Michigan Legal Judgment Records, you can discover the court's official declaration about a case.

A judgment outlines the case respondents' obligations and rights and provides a rationale for the court's decision. Depending on the situation, this state's courts issue varied rulings. However, only a competent officer's signature can validate a judgment.

You can read about judgment enforcement in three chapters of the Michigan Compiled Laws. These chapters cover the duties of the party receiving judgment enforcement, purchaser rights, and judgment debtor rights.

Besides that, it shows state laws about properties exempt from execution.

How To Look Up Michigan Legal Judgment Records?

To search for or get Michigan Legal Judgment Records, you must visit judicial clerks or record keepers in the county that handled the matter. In this state, the court provides public access terminals for record searches.

Additionally, many cities and counties make these records available from a distance. If interested, you can check your appropriate county or city's website.

The last option is to use the case search tool. This system allows you to obtain or view the Michigan courts' legal judgment records.

When you get Michigan Legal Judgment Records, it typically has the following:

• Litigant's name
• Summary of the case
• The judge's name and signature
• Case details
• Judgment entry date
• The court's decisions

The Small Claims Records of Michigan Civil Court Records contain the data and records produced during small claims procedures that the court collects and keeps.

Michigan Small Claims Courts review civil cases under $5,500. Individuals may only file lawsuits in this court for monetary claims.

In this state, this court has authority over the following civil cases:

• Unpaid checks
• Landlord-tenant security deposit disputes
• Consumer protection violation
• Contract disagreements
• Trespassing
• Car accident lawsuits when insurance doesn't cover losses

In Michigan, you can download and fill out the Small Claims Affidavit and Claim form and submit it to the clerk in the county where the civil issue occurred.

The clerk will assign a case number and judge or magistrate to the case upon receipt of the claim. Also, the information made during the small claims process will be part of the Michigan Small Claims Records.

How To Look Up Michigan Small Claims Records?

If you wish to search and copy Michigan Small Claims Records online, you can use the Court Directory to locate courts with online access to these data.

You can also gain access to these documents through the courthouse clerk's office that handled the lawsuit. Thus, to acquire Michigan Small Claims Records, visit the courthouse and submit a written request.

Keep in mind, though, that the clerk may charge a fee to make a copy of a record.

A divorce in Michigan is the legal dissolution of a marriage. Before applying for divorce in this state, you must meet residency criteria and have a legally valid reason.

In Michigan, a person who wants to begin a divorce must file a petition with the proper court. The Family Division of the Circuit Court deals with most divorce cases in this state.

If you want to file for a divorce in this state, you can find the forms you need on this page.

After filing, the information gathered during the divorce proceedings may come in the form of the following:

Divorce Certificate

In contrast to the divorce decree or divorce record, which provides more specific details concerning the divorce, a divorce certificate offers just general information.

In this state, this document has the following information:

• The names of the people involved
• Place of the divorce
• Divorce time

Only the divorced couple and their attorneys can receive the divorce certificate.

Divorce Decree

This sort of divorce document in Michigan indicates the court's decision in the divorce proceeding. It has all the information that is on the divorce certificate, plus details about the terms of the divorce, which  include the following:

• Scheduling details
• Information about custody
• Alimony
• Property distribution
• Child support

Like the divorce certificate, the divorce decree is only available to the people who went through the divorce and their lawyers unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Divorce Record

Unlike decrees and certificates, Michigan divorce records contain full divorce facts.

It has all the information from the mentioned divorce documents as well as the following:

• Judgments
• Clauses With Conditions
• Motions
• Protection orders
• Testimonies
• Court proceedings transcripts
• Witness and case party information

Unlike divorce certificates and decrees in Michigan, divorce records are available to the public. However, you must submit a properly executed request and pay the required fee.

How To Look Up Michigan Divorce Court Records?

Unlike other states, Michigan has no central internet portal for accessing essential documents such as divorce court records. Even though there is no statewide database, it is still possible to search online for divorce court records in this state.

To obtain copies of these records, you can search online through the websites of some counties. On the government website for Michigan, you can find a list of counties with links to designated websites.

You can also get these records by going to or sending a request form to the office for vital records.

Lastly, you can get copies of Michigan Divorce Court Records by going to the records section of some county clerk's offices.

Probate in Michigan is a court-supervised legal procedure that may be necessary following a decedent's death. This process in this state allows a surviving family member to assemble the deceased's assets, pay bills and taxes, and transfer assets to the inheritors.

In this state, probate matters include:

• Wills
• Bonds
• Estates
• Trusts

In Michigan, the Probate Courts are responsible for these procedures. To start the probate process in this state, a personal representative named in the will of the person who died usually takes charge of the estate.

However, If there is no will or the person listed in the choice is unavailable or unwilling to serve as personal representative, the Probate Court will appoint a replacement.

You can learn more about probate in this state by reading the laws that govern it on the Michigan Legislature website.

To obtain these records, you must know that you can't search for probate records online in this state. You can, however, go to the courthouse and use the public access terminals to look for these records.

Aside from visiting the court and submitting your request to the court clerk or filling out request forms given by the court, you can also view Michigan Civil Court Records online.

This state's court website includes a Case Search option that enables anyone interested in getting electronic civil court records to search.

You can search for these records on this website using the attorney case list, the docket number, and the party name.

On the portal, you can search for court records by entering specific Attorney names or bar numbers. You must only put the numbers in the Attorney Number box to utilize an Attorney bar number.

To search using a docket number on this site, you must enter the exact number in the Case Docket Number box, choose the court kind, and click the search bar. After the complete search, the result will display the docket page for the requested case number.

You can also locate civil court records on this portal using party names. To protect the privacy of minors, however, cases such as the dismissal of parental responsibility and adoption often conceal party names.