How to Search Macomb County Court Records
The central tool for Macomb County court records is CourtView Public Access at courtpa.macombgov.org. The launch link sits on the official Clerk Court Records page. CourtView covers the 16th Judicial Circuit Court and the Macomb County Probate Court. District court files are not in CourtView; they sit in each court's case system, usually MiCOURT.
Before starting, collect the full name and any known case number. Probate searches use a party-name index. Circuit searches accept party name or case number. The Clerk reminds users that the Clerk does not maintain CourtView and is not responsible for the vendor system, so technical issues route to the vendor link, not the Clerk's counter.
- Open the Clerk Court Records page and click LAUNCH COURTVIEW.
- Pick Circuit Court or Probate Court depending on the case type.
- Type the party name or paste the exact case number.
- Read the result list for case number, court, and judge (probate results include the judge).
- For a copy, return to the Clerk page and choose the online document order or the fax/mail PDF.
- For a district court matter, use the proper district court's site instead of CourtView.
Macomb County CourtView Search Fields
CourtView is a JavaScript portal, so the fields appear after the public-access splash loads. The county does not publish a labeled field list on macombgov.org, but the official descriptions identify a party-name index and a case-number search. The table summarizes the search inputs based on the Clerk's published guidance.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party Name | Text | One of name or case number | Probate page identifies a party-name index. Try last name first. |
| First Name | Text | Optional | Narrows common surnames. |
| Case Number | Text | Optional | Use exact format printed on the notice or summons. |
| Court / Search Area | Tab or link | Yes | Circuit Court and Probate Court are separate searches. |
| Search | Button | Yes | Runs the lookup. |
Types of Macomb County Court Records
Macomb's court records fall into the categories Michigan uses statewide. The 16th Judicial Circuit Court files include high-value civil cases, family law, felony, and serious misdemeanor matters. The district courts hold the great bulk of small civil claims, landlord-tenant cases, misdemeanors, traffic citations, and parking files. The Probate Court holds estate, trust, guardianship, conservatorship, and commitment records.
Civil records show pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments. Criminal records show charges, arraignments, bond, pleas, sentencing, and probation. Family records show divorce, custody, parenting time, and Friend of the Court enforcement. The Clerk's online order categories — divorce judgment, criminal sentence, civil judgment, other document, docket entry, and name search — match these record types.
- Civil cases over $25,000 and equitable matters in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court.
- Felonies in Circuit Court after bindover from district court.
- Domestic relations, including divorce and child support, in Circuit Court.
- Probate estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships in Probate Court.
- Misdemeanors, traffic citations, civil up to $25,000, and small claims up to $7,000 in the district courts.
- Personal Protection Orders linked through the Circuit Court Clerk page.
What Macomb County Court Records Show
A court record in Macomb usually contains the same core fields, regardless of court. The table below describes what the searcher sees in a CourtView entry or a Clerk-issued document.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Court-assigned identifier; format varies by case type. |
| Filing Date | Date the clerk accepted the case or document. |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, estate, or ward. |
| Judge | Assigned judge or magistrate. Probate results include the judge. |
| Charges or Cause | Statutory citation and offense level for criminal; cause of action for civil. |
| Disposition | Outcome of the case or count: plea, conviction, dismissal, judgment. |
| Sentence or Judgment | Imposed sentence, probation, or money judgment. |
| Docket Entries | Chronological filings, hearings, and orders. |
| Hearings | Hearing type, date, time, judge, and courtroom or Zoom details. |
| Financial | Filing fees, fines, costs, bond, restitution, inventory fees. |
Some fields are redacted under MCR 1.109 to protect Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other protected personal identifying information.
Public Access Framework for Macomb County Court Records
Michigan court records are governed by Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and related statutes, not by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. The Michigan FOIA exempts the courts from its public-body definition. That means a request for a court file goes through the Clerk's Court Section, the Probate Register, or the district court clerk — not through a county FOIA request. By contrast, a request for a sheriff incident report or a county administrative file is a FOIA request under MCL 15.231 et seq.
The right to inspect and copy public records is set out in MCL 15.233. Fees for FOIA copies are limited by MCL 15.234, which allows charges for actual mailing, duplication, and labor under detailed rules. A public body must respond within five business days under MCL 15.235. Exemptions are listed in MCL 15.243.
Note: Court files are open under MCR 8.119 unless a statute, court rule, or court order makes them confidential; FOIA does not apply to court records.
Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Macomb County
Several record categories are closed to the public. Juvenile delinquency files are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Adoption files are confidential under MCL 710.67. Probate commitment proceedings include protected medical and mental-health information and are not treated like ordinary civil files. Set-aside convictions under MCL 780.621 and automatic Clean Slate set asides under MCL 780.621g become nonpublic but remain available to law enforcement and the courts.
A petition to view a sealed record is filed in the court that ordered the seal. Personal Protection Orders, certain financial details in domestic relations files, and protected addresses for victims may be redacted. Mental-health commitment records held by the Probate Court are confidential under state law.
Order Copies of Macomb County Court Records
The Macomb County Clerk's Court Section sells Circuit Court documents three ways: online through the linked form host, by fax or mail using the official request PDF, or in person at the counter on the first floor of 40 N. Main. The online order categories are divorce judgment, criminal sentence, civil judgment, other document, docket entry, and name search. Probate copies are ordered from the Probate Court directly; the Probate Register issues certified Letters of Authority at $12 each.
Mail filings should include filer information, case information, payment, and the appropriate fee. If stamped copies are needed back, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Clerk's fax number for filings is 586-469-5353. Counter service closes at 4:15 p.m. each business day.
- Use the online order form for the fastest delivery on a Circuit Court case.
- Send the fax/mail form with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope for traditional mail copies.
- Visit the Clerk's Court Section before 4:15 p.m. for over-the-counter copies.
- For Probate certified Letters of Authority or estate copies, contact the Probate Court at 586-469-5290.
- For a district court file, contact the proper court using the city or township list on the district courts page.
In-Person Macomb County Court Record Requests
The Clerk's Court Section accepts in-person filings and copy requests. Photo ID helps with certified copies and address verification. The Probate Court counter sits on the 5th Floor of the same building and does not accept email or fax filings. Probate filings stop at 4:00 p.m., with a 3:00 p.m. in-person cutoff for emergencies.
Macomb County Clerk — Circuit Court Section
40 N. Main Street (1st Floor)
Mount Clemens, MI 48043
586-469-5351
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Macomb County Probate Court
40 N. Main Street, 5th Floor
Mount Clemens, MI 48043
586-469-5290
8:30 a.m.–noon, 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Help with Macomb County Court Records
People who need help reading a court file or finding a form can use the Legal Self-Help Center on the third floor of the 16th Circuit Court building, room 360. Staff help with information, forms, and instructions but cannot give legal advice. Michigan Legal Help operates Remote Navigators at the 42-1 District Court in Romeo and the 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore. Legal Aid is reachable at 877-964-4700; the Macomb County Bar Lawyer Referral line is 586-468-8300.
Older and Historical Macomb County Court Records
Older Macomb County court records may not appear in CourtView. The Clerk's Court Section maintains existing case files for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, including older paper files that predate full digital migration. For real-property instruments and very old liens, the Register of Deeds maintains archived recording books. For very old vital records, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services holds historic state records. Macomb's Probate Court holds older estate, guardianship, and conservatorship files in its own archive. A request for an older file should start with the right clerk; phone ahead to confirm whether the file is in active storage or off-site archive, and to ask about pull times.