Searching Macomb County Court Records
How do I search Macomb County Circuit Court records?
Use the official Clerk Court Records page and launch CourtView Public Access at courtpa.macombgov.org. CourtView covers the 16th Judicial Circuit Court and the Probate Court. Search by party name or case number. For more on portals and copies, see court records.
Is CourtView the same as ordering certified copies?
No. CourtView is a public access lookup tool. Certified or plain copies must be ordered through the Clerk's Court Section, the Probate Register, the proper district court clerk, or the Register of Deeds. Order categories for Circuit Court include divorce judgment, criminal sentence, civil judgment, other document, docket entry, and name search. See County Clerk.
What if a case is not in CourtView?
The case may be a district court matter (traffic, misdemeanor, small claims), in which case it lives with the district court for the issuing city or township rather than the county Clerk. It may also be too new (Circuit Court filings are posted daily but not instantly), or restricted by statute or court order. See district courts for the right court by city.
Macomb County Courthouses
Where is the Macomb County Circuit Court?
The 16th Judicial Circuit Court is at 40 N. Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. The court phone is 586-469-7171 and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Clerk's Court Section is in the same building; its counter closes at 4:15 p.m. See Circuit Court.
Where is the Probate Court?
The Macomb County Probate Court is at 40 N. Main Street, 5th Floor, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. The phone is 586-469-5290. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Filings stop at 4:00 p.m.; emergency filings must be in person by 3:00 p.m. See probate records.
Can I email or fax probate filings?
No. The Probate Court does not accept email or fax filings. Emergency filings must be in person by 3:00 p.m. Filings after 3:00 p.m. are processed the next business day. See probate records.
Macomb County Inmate and Bond Questions
How do I find an inmate in Macomb County?
Use the Sheriff's Locate an Inmate page, which links the JailTracker public roster. Do not pay a third-party site. The county warns that no real Sheriff's Office call demands fees, gift cards, bitcoin, or other payment by phone; call 586-469-5151 to confirm. See inmate records.
How do I post bond?
Check the inmate locator first. Gather inmate name, inmate number, case numbers, and bond/fine amount. During court hours, most bonds are posted at the court of jurisdiction, except Circuit Court and Friend of the Court cases. Other times, use the Sheriff's Office. See inmate records.
How long does release take after bond?
The Sheriff's bond page warns that release may take several hours, depending on jail activity and housing location. Posting bond is not the same as walking out immediately. See released inmates.
How do I visit an inmate?
Use ICSolutions or call 888-506-8407. The first visit of the week is free; later visits carry a fee. Each inmate gets two visits per week with up to three visitors for about 30 minutes. Visitors must register at least 24 hours before the visit and no more than two weeks ahead. See inmate records.
How do I send inmate mail?
Address mail to the inmate name and inmate number, P.O. Box 2308, Mount Clemens, MI 48046. Legal mail is opened in front of the inmate. Personal mail is screened. Prohibited items include stamps, food, checks, inappropriate photos, oversized cards, Polaroids, magnets, stickers, and illegal items. See inmate records.
Can I send money by mail to a Macomb inmate?
No. The jail does not accept money by mail. Use TouchPay (Facility Locator 748043), JPay, or the lobby kiosk. The maximum balance in an inmate account is $400. See inmate records.
Macomb County Marriage, Divorce, and Family Records
How do I apply for a marriage license?
Apply online no more than 30 days before the wedding, then make an appointment at the Clerk's Vital Records office at 120 N. Main Street for notarization, payment, and license pickup. Payment is not made online. At least one applicant must be a Macomb County resident with proof of residency. See marriage and divorce records.
What does a Macomb marriage license cost?
The Clerk's page lists $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for nonresidents. A waiver of the three-day waiting period costs $10 extra. Payment is by cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. Checks are payable to "Macomb County Clerk." See marriage and divorce records.
Where do I get a divorce judgment?
Order Circuit Court documents through the Clerk's online order system, by fax/mail, or in person. The online order categories include divorce judgment, criminal sentence, civil judgment, other document, docket entry, and name search. See County Clerk.
Macomb County Courts
What court handles felony cases?
Felony cases start in district court for arraignment, probable cause conference, and preliminary examination. If bound over, they proceed in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. See Circuit Court and arrest records.
What court handles traffic tickets?
Traffic and parking matters are handled by the district court that covers the city or township where the citation was issued. Macomb has eight district courts. See traffic court records and district courts.
What is the civil limit in district court?
The 42-2 District Court page says it handles civil cases of $25,000 or less and small claims up to $7,000. Circuit Court handles civil cases over $25,000. See district courts.
Macomb County Public Access and Confidentiality
Are court records available under FOIA?
Michigan court records are governed by Michigan Court Rule 8.119, not by Michigan FOIA. FOIA applies to county public-body records such as Sheriff incident reports and county administrative files. For case files, use the court clerk, CourtView, or court access procedures. See public records.
What records are confidential?
Juvenile, adoption, mental-health commitment, sealed, set-aside, and protected personal identifying information are restricted. PPO details and some family-record financial data may also be redacted or nonpublic for safety and privacy. See court records.
Macomb County Warrants and Legal Help
How do I clear a bench warrant in 42-2 District Court?
The official 42-2 page says if you have a bench warrant and want to clear it, contact the court at 586-725-9500, option 3. For other courts, call the issuing court directly using official contact information. See warrant records.
Is there legal help at the courthouse?
Yes. The Self-Help Center of Macomb County is at the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, 40 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, room 360. It is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staff help with forms and information but cannot give legal advice. See Circuit Court.
Who is the Macomb County Clerk?
Anthony G. Forlini is listed on the official Clerk / Register of Deeds page as Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds. The office includes Circuit Court, Elections, Jury Room, Register of Deeds, and Vital Records. See County Clerk.
Who is the Macomb County Sheriff?
Anthony M. Wickersham is listed on the official Sheriff's Office page as Macomb County Sheriff. The page links inmate locator, jail services, bonds, visitation, records, and transparency resources. See inmate records.
What is the difference between a Macomb court record and a Michigan criminal history?
A Macomb court record shows what happened in a particular Macomb court case — filings, hearings, charges, judgments, sentences, and docket entries. A Michigan criminal history is a statewide product maintained through state law enforcement systems. The Macomb County Clerk links separately to "Criminal Records — Search criminal history records," which is a clue that CourtView is not a full background check. For employment, licensing, immigration, or official background purposes, confirm the exact record type required.
Can I record or stream a Macomb court hearing?
Do not assume recording is allowed. Michigan courts have rules governing media and recording, and local judges may require permission. The 16th Circuit Court page links live court proceedings and a request video of court proceeding workflow, which means there are official channels for remote viewing or video requests. If you need a recording, use the court's video request process or ask court administration instead of recording independently.
What happens if Probate Court receives my emergency filing after 3:00 p.m.?
The official Probate Court page says emergency filings must be filed by 3:00 p.m. in person only. Emergency filings after 3:00 p.m. will be processed the next business day. This is stricter than ordinary guidance and should be treated as a hard deadline for people seeking urgent guardianship, protective, or commitment-related action.
Where do I search deeds, mortgages, and liens?
Use the Macomb County Register of Deeds, not CourtView. The Register records real-estate documents at 120 N. Main Street and runs an online land record search. Searches can be done in person, by mail with a $5 search fee per name or address, or online. See County Clerk for Register of Deeds details.