Macomb County District Courts

The Role of District Courts in Macomb County

Michigan's district courts are the busiest trial courts in the state by case count. They handle traffic, parking, civil infractions, misdemeanors, landlord-tenant, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims up to $7,000, and the start of felony cases. District court civil jurisdiction is set out in MCL 600.8301. Small claims are governed by MCL 600.8411. The 42-2 District Court page states it has jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors, civil cases with $25,000 or less in dispute, parking and traffic violations, civil infractions, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims up to $7,000, and initial felony probable-cause work.

Macomb County District Court List

The county's district courts cover the cities and townships listed below. Some courts run as county departments; others are hosted by the city. Picking the right court depends on where the incident or filing occurred, not where the person lives.

42-1 District Court in Romeo

The 42-1 District Court serves Romeo, Richmond, Memphis, Armada Village, Washington Township, Armada Township, Richmond Township, Ray Township, and Bruce Township. The official county 42-1 page describes it as a limited-jurisdiction court handling civil, criminal, and traffic cases. Macomb's Remote Navigator program added Michigan Legal Help staff at this court in December 2025.

42-2 District Court in New Baltimore

The 42-2 District Court serves New Baltimore, Chesterfield Township, New Haven, and Lenox Township. The official county 42-2 page identifies Judge William H. Hackel III and gives separate division contacts: criminal at option 3, civil at option 4, traffic at option 2, and probation at option 5. The court accepts payments through AllPaid using location code 5049. Public doors lock at 4:15 p.m. even though the court is open until 4:30 p.m.

If you have a bench warrant in this court, the page says to call 586-725-9500, option 3, and ask about clearing it.

Other District Courts in Macomb County

The 37th District Court hosts MiCOURT Case Search and links MiFILE for eFiling. The 38th District Court has split hours of 8:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m., and accepts DivDat payments. The 41B District Court in Clinton Township is the host for the 41B Veterans Court. The 39th, 40th, and 41A district courts use their own official court or city websites; verify current addresses and phones on those sites before making a trip.

Search a Macomb County District Court Case

Most Macomb district courts use the MiCOURT Case Search hosted by their official site. Some courts also provide an Online Case Search link from the court's home page. The county Clerk's CourtView system is best documented for Circuit Court and Probate Court, not district courts, so users should start at the district court site for district cases.

1. Identify the city or township where the incident occurred.
2. Open the official court site for that district court.
3. Use the court's MiCOURT or Online Case Search link.
4. Enter party name or case number.
5. For copies, follow the court's local request procedure.
6. For traffic payments, use the court's payment portal (AllPaid, DivDat, or other) rather than the case search.

District Court Clerks and Probate Register

District court clerks are separate from the elected Macomb County Clerk. Each court runs its own clerk operation, accepts its own filings, and handles its own copy requests. The Macomb County Clerk does not act as the clerk of the district courts. The Probate Court uses the Probate Register for probate administration. For the county-level clerk (Anthony G. Forlini), see County Clerk and Register of Deeds.

Felony Cases Start in District Court

Michigan felony cases run through district court first. The district court handles arraignment, the probable cause conference, and the preliminary examination. If probable cause is found or waived, the case binds over to the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. The full felony path is covered on the Circuit Court and arrest records pages. Bench warrants from a district court are covered on the warrant records page.

Traffic and Small Claims

Traffic citations live with the district court for the city or township where the ticket was written. Small claims cases up to $7,000 are filed in the district court with venue. MCL 600.8411 sets the small claims jurisdiction. Pay-or-contest decisions are handled at the issuing court's counter or through its payment portal. For traffic-specific records, fees, and the difference between a court traffic record and a state driver record, see the traffic court records page.

MiCOURT and MiFILE in Macomb District Courts

MiCOURT Case Search is the Michigan court technology platform that many district courts use for public case lookup. The 37th District Court advertises MiCOURT for Warren and Center Line case searches. MiFILE is the eFiling system used by Michigan courts where eFiling is allowed. Each district court page links MiCOURT or its own Online Case Search. Public users should remember that MiCOURT shows the court file at that district court only; it does not search the entire county or the entire state.

Landlord-Tenant Cases in Macomb District Courts

Landlord-tenant cases — eviction, nonpayment of rent, lease disputes — are filed in the district court for the city or township where the rental is located. Each Macomb district court runs its own landlord-tenant docket on specific days. Tenants who receive an eviction notice should read the notice for the court and date, then check the court's website for self-help resources. Self-represented parties can use the Self-Help Center at the 16th Circuit Court building or the Remote Navigators at 42-1 Romeo and 42-2 New Baltimore. Michigan SCAO forms cover summary proceedings and demand for possession.

District Court Hours and Public Access

Each Macomb district court runs its own counter hours. The 37th District Court is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m., with a payment counter close at 4:15 p.m. The 38th District Court has split hours of 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The 42-2 District Court runs to 4:30 p.m. with public doors locked at 4:15 p.m. Always confirm current hours with the proper court before traveling because schedules change without much notice.

District Court Payments and Vendors

District court fines, costs, and bonds are paid through court-specific vendors. The 38th District Court accepts DivDat payments. The 42-2 District Court uses AllPaid with location code 5049. The 37th District Court links MiFILE for eFiling and lists payment options for Warren and Center Line. Each court page lists the current vendor; the vendor charges its own service fee on top of the court fine or filing fee. Payment portals are not the same as case search portals; the payment portal confirms a financial obligation but does not show pleadings or orders.

Remote Navigators at District Courts

Macomb's December 2025 access-to-justice expansion brought Michigan Legal Help Remote Navigators to the 42-1 District Court in Romeo and the 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore. Remote Navigators provide free legal information and help with court forms by Zoom on computers placed in the courts. The hours posted at opening were Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to noon. Self-Help Center coverage stays available at the 16th Circuit Court building on the third floor, room 360.

Related Pages

For Circuit Court, see Macomb County Circuit Court. For the elected County Clerk, see County Clerk. For court docket entries, see court dockets. For arrests and the booking process, see arrest records. For Probate Court, see probate records.