Muskegon County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

As of 2023, Muskegon County had a population estimate of 176,564 residents. It is located in the western Lower Peninsula of Michigan, with the City of Muskegon serving as the county seat. Muskegon County courts are part of the county government, and they are responsible for interpreting the laws and settling disputes. These courts include the Circuit Court, District Court, and Probate Court.

The 60th District Court serves Muskegon County residents by hearing civil cases with claims up to $25,000, small claims up to $7,000, traffic violations, land contract forfeiture, landlord-tenant, and all misdemeanor criminal cases. In addition, this court has the jurisdiction to conduct felony and misdemeanor arraignments, issue search and arrest warrants, and set bail bonds. The 14th Circuit Court handles all felonies and civil cases with claims of more than $25,000. This court also has a Family Division that is responsible for hearing juvenile delinquency, divorce, name changes, and paternity cases. The Probate Court administers trusts and estates, handles wills, and appoints conservators and guardians for minors and incapacitated persons. All Muskegon County courts are located in the city of Muskegon.

Compared to other courts within the county, the District Court receives by far the largest number of cases annually. The following is the overall caseload of Muskegon County courts, as shown in the 2021 and 2023 caseload reports:

It is the responsibility of the Muskegon County Clerk to maintain and provide access to court records upon request. Individuals interested in viewing court records can either visit the clerk's office or use the online case search provided on the county's website. However, court records relating to adoption, juvenile guardianship, juvenile proceedings, wills, or mental illness are exempt from public viewing. To view these types of files, special requests can be made that require permission before these are available.

In summary, the Muskegon County court system includes the Circuit Court, Probate Court, and District Court. These courts are dedicated to applying the law with integrity and keeping their community safe. It has been proven over time that their system has worked efficiently and effectively, being able to continuously grow as time progresses and caseloads accumulate. Interested parties can exercise their right to access public court records both online and in person.