Van Buren County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Originally inhabited by the Potawatomi tribe, Van Buren County is located in southwest Michigan along the east shore of Lake Michigan. Established in 1829, Van Buren County has a population of over 75,600 residents. Its county seat is in Paw Paw Village. To administer justice, maintain the rule of law, and protect the rights of individuals, Van Buren County has three trial courts: Circuit, District, and Probate Courts.

Located in Paw Paw, Van Buren County 36th Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all misdemeanor and felony criminal cases and civil disputes with claims exceeding $25,000. The 7th District Court in Van Buren County is located in Paw Paw and South Haven. The court has jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors, civil infractions, civil suits under $25,000, and small claims involving $5,000 or less. The Van Buren County Probate Court handles matters relating to the administration of estates, trusts, name changes, mental health proceedings, and guardianships of minors. The court is located in Paw Paw.

On average, the crime count per annum for Van Buren County stands at 5,304. Per the Michigan Courts, Van Buren County Circuit Court presides over 2000 cases annually, with over 700 cases filed at the criminal division and 100 at the civil division. The family court hears the most cases, having over 1,000 cases per annum. The District Court presides over 15,000 cases yearly. The bulk of the caseload comes from civil infractions, with over 7000 lawsuits and small claims with over 2,000 cases. The probate court handles the least amount of lawsuits annually with about 470 cases, with the majority of its legal proceedings from estates of descendants with over 200 cases and guardianship of minors having above 100 cases annually. Confidential court records, such as juvenile court records, are closed to the public but may be accessed with a special court order or by assistance from authorized personnel. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the county's record custodian. Interested persons may retrieve public court records online through Case Search as follows:

• 36th Circuit Court
• 7th District Court
• Probate Court

In summary, Van Buren County's diligent approach to its legal duties showcases its role as a leader in judicial administration within Michigan. The various courts in the county perform diverse functions, including resolving civil disputes and criminal offenses. The court promotes accountability and transparency and makes accessible public court records.