Court records in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, are maintained by the County Clerk's office and the district court clerk, and can be accessed through online search tools, official court portals, and in-person visits. GrandTraverseCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Grand Traverse County. Additional access points include the County Clerk's civil and criminal records search, the MiCOURT Case Search portal, and in-person terminals at the courthouse in Traverse City.
Grand Traverse Court System Overview
Grand Traverse County is served by two levels of Michigan's trial court system: the 13th Circuit Court and the 86th District Court. The 13th Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $25,000, family law matters, and appeals from the district court. The 86th District Court handles misdemeanors, civil infractions, traffic violations, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and preliminary examinations in felony cases. The Grand Traverse County Probate Court handles estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings. The County Clerk serves as the clerk for the 13th Circuit Court, maintaining court files, accepting filings, and processing payments. All three courts are located at the Grand Traverse County Governmental Center in Traverse City.
Courts Serving Grand Traverse County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 13th Circuit Court | 280 Washington St., Traverse City, MI 49684 | (231) 922-4600 |
| 86th District Court | 280 Washington St., Traverse City, MI 49684 | (231) 922-4600 |
| Grand Traverse County Probate Court | 280 Washington St., Traverse City, MI 49684 | (231) 922-4600 |
| U.S. District Court – Western District of Michigan | 410 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (main); Grand Rapids Division also serves the region | (269) 337-5700 |
Grand Traverse County falls within the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Federal bankruptcy matters are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. There are no separate municipal courts within Grand Traverse County; the 86th District Court handles matters that would otherwise go to a municipal court.
What Types of Cases Grand Traverse County Courts Hear
Courts in Grand Traverse County handle a wide range of case types across the circuit, district, and probate courts:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, and civil infractions
- Civil: General civil litigation, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, personal protection orders
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust matters, mental health commitments
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, child protective cases, adoptions
- Traffic: Moving violations, DUI/OWI arraignments and hearings
The sections below explain which court handles each category and how cases proceed.
District Court Cases in Grand Traverse County
In Michigan's court structure, the term "district court" refers to the limited-jurisdiction trial court — not the general-jurisdiction circuit court. The 86th District Court hears misdemeanor criminal cases, civil infractions, and conducts preliminary examinations for felony charges before cases are bound over to the 13th Circuit Court. It also handles general civil cases with amounts in controversy up to $25,000, landlord-tenant proceedings, and small claims. District court judges are elected and preside over cases assigned on a rotating or category basis. Cases arrive at district court through citations, complaints filed by the prosecuting attorney, or civil complaints filed by parties.
For felony matters, the 13th Circuit Court takes over after bindover from the district court. The circuit court also hears civil cases above $25,000, appeals from district court, and post-conviction proceedings.
Magistrate Court Cases in Grand Traverse County
Michigan district courts use magistrates to assist with certain functions. In the 86th District Court, magistrates may handle arraignments, set bail, accept guilty pleas for minor offenses, and issue search warrants. Magistrates also preside over small claims cases and some civil infraction hearings.
- Small claims jurisdictional limit: $6,500 under Michigan law (MCL 600.8401)
- General civil jurisdiction (district court): Up to $25,000
- Traffic and civil infractions: Handled at the district court level, often by magistrates
- DUI/OWI arraignments: Typically conducted by a magistrate or district court judge
If you are unsure whether your matter will be heard by a judge or magistrate, contact the 86th District Court clerk's office for scheduling details.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Grand Traverse County
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, personal protection orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the 13th Circuit Court's Family Division. The Family Court Records Division accepts filings for divorces involving minor children, paternity actions, and family support matters. Friend of the Court forms — including the Record of Divorce or Annulment — are available online. Additional divorce resources are provided through the county website.
Probate
The Grand Traverse County Probate Court handles decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust disputes, and mental health commitment proceedings. Probate filings are maintained separately from circuit and district court records.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency proceedings, child protective cases, and adoptions are heard by the Family Division of the 13th Circuit Court. Juvenile records are confidential under Michigan law and are not available through public search tools. Contact the Family Court Records office at 280 Washington St., Suite 206, Traverse City, for inquiries about juvenile matters.
How Cases Move Through the Grand Traverse County Court System
- Filing or initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint or arrest; civil cases begin with a complaint filed with the clerk; family and probate matters begin with a petition.
- Assignment to judge: Cases are assigned to a judge in the appropriate court (district, circuit, or probate) based on case type and internal assignment procedures.
- Initial hearing: In criminal cases, an arraignment is held where charges are read and bail is set. Civil cases typically have a scheduling conference. Family cases may begin with a temporary hearing.
- Pre-trial phase: Parties conduct discovery, file motions, and — in criminal cases — engage in plea negotiations. The Friend of the Court may become involved in family cases.
- Trial or resolution: Cases proceed to trial (bench or jury), or are resolved through plea agreement, settlement, default judgment, or consent order.
- Post-judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing and possible appeal. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgments. Family cases may involve ongoing modification of support or custody orders.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Grand Traverse County
The 13th Circuit Court is administered by a chief judge and a trial court administrator. The County Clerk's office serves as the clerk of the circuit court, maintaining files, accepting payments, and processing filings. Filing fees are set by statute and Michigan Court Rules. Computer terminals are available in the Court Section for the public to review court records in person.
Public Access to Records
Most court records in Michigan are generally open to the public, subject to restrictions under the Michigan Trial Court Records Management Standards and the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (Public Act 442 of 1976). Sealed records, juvenile records, and certain family law documents are not publicly accessible. The County Clerk's criminal records search may not display all cases as the office works to comply with Public Act 193 of 2020 (Michigan's Clean Slate law).
Attending Hearings
Hearings at the 13th Circuit Court and 86th District Court are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be available remotely via video conference — contact the court clerk to confirm whether a specific hearing offers a remote option.
Records Requests
You can request court records by mail, email, online form, or in person. Certified copies cost $10 plus $1 per page. Law enforcement records can be requested through the Sheriff's Office FOIA request form.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Grand Traverse County
- County civil and criminal case search: The Grand Traverse County Clerk's civil and criminal records search allows free online lookups of circuit court cases. The criminal records database provides an additional search tool.
- Statewide case search: The MiCOURT Case Search portal covers cases across all Michigan courts, including district and circuit courts in Grand Traverse County.
- Criminal history records: The Michigan State Police ICHAT system provides public criminal history record searches statewide.
- Online county records: Grand Traverse County's online records portal offers free searches for assumed business names, civil and criminal cases, death records, marriage licenses, and more.
- Register of Deeds: The Register of Deeds document search provides online access to land records and recorded documents dating back to 1966.
- Court forms: Family law and Friend of the Court forms are available online, including divorce and annulment records forms.
- MDOC offender search: The Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) allows searches for offenders currently or previously under MDOC jurisdiction.
- Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records can be obtained through the Michigan Vital Records Office or locally through the Grand Traverse County Clerk.
- Jail and corrections information: The Grand Traverse County Corrections Division provides information about the county jail, including bond payments and booking fees.
- Sheriff's Office: The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement records requests through its Records Division.