Court records in Clinton County, Michigan are maintained by the county clerk and the clerks of individual courts, and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. ClintonMICourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Clinton County. Additional access points include the state's MiCOURT Case Search portal, the MiFILE electronic filing system, and the Clinton County Clerk's office in St. Johns.
Clinton County Court System Overview
Clinton County is part of Michigan's 29th Judicial Circuit, which serves Clinton County exclusively. The 29th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases above the district court's jurisdictional limit, family law matters, and appeals from the district court. Clinton County is also served by the 65A District Court, which handles misdemeanors, civil infractions, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and preliminary felony examinations. The Clinton County Probate Court operates as a separate division handling estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings. All three courts are located in or near the county seat of St. Johns.
Courts Serving Clinton County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 29th Circuit Court | 100 E. State St., St. Johns, MI 48879 | 989-224-5140 |
| 65A District Court | 100 E. State St., St. Johns, MI 48879 | 989-224-5152 |
| Clinton County Probate Court | 100 E. State St., St. Johns, MI 48879 | 989-224-5130 |
| U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan (Lansing Division) | 315 W. Allegan St., Lansing, MI 48933 | 517-377-1539 |
Clinton 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 operating in Clinton County.
What Types of Cases Clinton County Courts Hear
Courts serving Clinton County handle a broad range of case types across criminal, civil, and specialized divisions:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, and civil infractions
- Civil: General civil litigation, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, and personal protection orders
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and mental health proceedings
- Juvenile: Delinquency, child protective proceedings, and adoptions
- Traffic: Moving violations, parking infractions, and OWI/DUI cases
District Court Cases in Clinton County
The 65A District Court in Clinton County handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil infractions, and traffic violations. It also conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases before they are bound over to the 29th Circuit Court. Civil cases with amounts in controversy up to $25,000 are heard in district court, along with landlord-tenant proceedings and small claims. Cases are assigned to the district court judge upon filing. Arraignments for criminal matters typically occur shortly after arrest or the issuance of a warrant, and the court schedules pretrial conferences, motion hearings, and bench or jury trials as cases progress.
Magistrate Court Cases in Clinton County
In Michigan, magistrates serve within the district court rather than operating as a separate court. A magistrate in the 65A District Court may handle certain functions including setting bail, accepting guilty pleas for minor offenses, conducting informal hearings in small claims cases, and issuing search warrants. Small claims in Michigan have a jurisdictional limit of $6,500. The district court's general civil jurisdiction covers claims up to $25,000. Traffic violations — including OWI arraignments — and civil infractions are routinely processed through the district court, with magistrates assisting as authorized by the presiding district court judge.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Clinton County
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, parenting time, paternity, and personal protection order cases are handled by the 29th Circuit Court — Family Division. Domestic relations cases are filed with the Clinton County Clerk's office and assigned to a circuit court judge.
Probate
The Clinton County Probate Court handles decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust matters, and mental health commitment proceedings. The probate court operates from the Clinton County Courthouse in St. Johns.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and child protective proceedings fall under the circuit court's Family Division. Juvenile court records in Michigan are generally confidential and not available to the public. Contact the Clinton County Clerk's office for questions about juvenile proceedings.
How Cases Move Through the Clinton County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A criminal case begins with a complaint or arrest; a civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the appropriate court clerk.
- Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge. In Clinton County, the circuit court and district court each have designated judges.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned and advised of charges and rights. Civil cases receive a scheduling order or conference date.
- Pretrial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and — in criminal cases — may negotiate plea agreements. The court may hold pretrial conferences to manage the case timeline.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or are resolved through plea, settlement, dismissal, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing, probation, or appeals. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgments, post-judgment motions, or appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Clinton County
The 29th Circuit Court is administered by the chief judge of the circuit, supported by a trial court administrator. The 65A District Court has its own court administrator. Local court rules for Clinton County courts are adopted under the authority of the Michigan Court Rules and are available through the court clerk's office.
Under Michigan law, most court records are presumed open to the public. Exceptions include juvenile records, certain family law records, sealed cases, and records involving mental health proceedings. Michigan Court Rule 8.119 governs public access to court records. You can request copies of court documents by visiting the clerk's office in person or by submitting a written request. Fees apply for copies and certified documents.
Hearings in Clinton County courts are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely by video or telephone — contact the specific court to ask about electronic hearing options. You can file documents electronically through MiFILE, Michigan's statewide e-filing system, which supports both the 65A District Court and the 29th Circuit Court in Clinton County.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Clinton County
- Court Case Search: Use the MiCOURT Case Search to look up case numbers, party names, and case status information for Clinton County courts. Note that some criminal conviction data may only display if sentencing occurred within the past seven years.
- Electronic Filing: File court documents online through MiFILE, which lists the 65A District Court and other Clinton County courts as available for e-filing.
- Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events that occurred in Michigan can be ordered through the Michigan Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics.
- Offender Search: The Michigan Department of Corrections provides an Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) to search for individuals in state prison or on parole. Information about county jail inmates should be directed to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office.
- Sex Offender Registry: Search the Michigan Sex Offender Registry to find registered sex offenders in Clinton County and throughout the state.
- Criminal History Records: The Michigan State Police maintains the state's criminal history records repository and processes background check requests.
- Property Tax Records: For delinquent property tax inquiries on Clinton County parcels (which begin with parcel number prefix 19), contact the Clinton County Treasurer at 989-224-5280.
- Court Records Requests: For certified copies of court documents, contact the Clinton County Clerk's office at the courthouse in St. Johns. Walk-in and written requests are accepted, and standard copy and certification fees apply.
- Additional Help: ClintonMICourt.us provides information to help you navigate Clinton County court records and identify the right resources for your search.