Wayne County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located in southeastern Michigan, Wayne County was created in 1796 and has a land area of 673 square miles. The county was named after General Anthony Wayne, one of the US Founding Fathers. As of 2022, Wayne County's population was more than 1.78 million. Detroit, the most populous city in Michigan, serves as its government seat. Wayne County has a trial court system that includes the Circuit Court, District Courts, a Probate Court, and Municipal Courts.

Michigan's Third Judicial Circuit serves as the general jurisdiction trial court in Wayne County. Located in Detroit, the Circuit Court handles cases outside the jurisdiction of the Probate, District and Municipal Courts. The Civil Division hears civil lawsuits involving claims of more than $25,000, while the Criminal Division hears all felony-related cases in Wayne County. All probate-related cases, including guardianship, estates, trusts, and mental health are resolved at the Probate Court. The four Municipal Courts in Wayne County are located in the cities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Grosse Pointe Park. These courts preside over minor offenses, local ordinance violations, and misdemeanor cases specific to their municipalities. The Family Domestic Division is responsible for handling domestic matters such as child support, custody, adoption, annulment, divorce, and emancipation. On the other hand, the Juvenile Division handles all juvenile-related matters, including delinquency and child dependency. Wayne County has several District Courts tasked with handling misdemeanors, small claims, traffic infractions, and civil cases with claims under $25,000. District Courts are located in:

• Livonia - 16th District Court
• Redford - 17th District Court
• Westland - 18th District Court
• Dearborn - 19th District Court
• Dearborn Heights - 20th District Court
• Garden City - 21st District Court
• Inkster - 22nd District Court
• Taylor - 23rd District Court
• Allen Park - 24th District Court
• Ecorse - 25th District Court
• Wyandotte - 27th District Court
• Southgate - 28th District Court
• Wayne - 29th District Court
• Highland Park - 30th District Court
• Hamtramck - 31st District Court
• Harper Woods - 32A District Court
• Woodhaven - 33rd District Court
• Romulus - 34th District Court
• Plymouth - 35th District Court
• Detroit - 36th District Court

More than 30,000 crimes occur every year in Wayne County, according to the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting. The state's Interactive Court Data shows that all courts in Wayne County record more than 700,000 case filings annually, while maintaining a clearance rate above 90%. Case filings in the Circuit Court are generally maintained by the Wayne County Clerk. Interested persons can view Circuit Court records online via the Odyssey Public Access (OPA). Alternative methods to obtain court records include mail, email, and walk-in requests. Each District/Municipal Court in the county has court clerks that store court records. Records that contain sensitive personal information are restricted from public view to avoid identity theft. Sealed records, juvenile, and adoption records are also examples of confidential records in Wayne County.

In summary, Michigan's Third Judicial Circuit, District Courts, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts make up Wayne County's judicial system. These courts resolve civil disputes swiftly and ensure fairness during criminal proceedings. Wayne County courts also allow easy access to court records that are not confidential under state or federal laws.