Genesee County Court Records
Genesee County court records are official files containing information about legal cases adjudicated in the county. These records are created upon case initiation and updated through proceedings and as the case progresses. They are maintained to ensure transparency and accountability, provide public access to case information, serve as a vital resource for legal research and reference, and form the foundation for appeals and appellate review.
Genesee County court records encompass civil, criminal, probate, and family cases and typically include all events that occurred during a court case from filing to final resolution. Genesee County courts, including the circuit and district courts, create and maintain these records in accordance with Michigan Court Rules (MC) 8.119 and the Michigan Trial Court Records Management Standards.
Note that these records are related to other public records, such as arrest information, federal case files, and vital records. For example, federal case files are case records from the U.S. District Courts. Court records, including arrest information, are part of the broader criminal justice records and may also include arrest details. Vital records, such as divorce certificates, are issued based on a court record (i.e., divorce decree).
Are Genesee County Court Records Public?
Yes. Genesee County court records are public under state law, and any person may inspect and/or obtain copies of these records through the court clerk’s office in accordance with MCR 8.119(H) and MCR 8.119(J). Generally public case types include civil cases (e.g., contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property disputes), adult criminal cases (e.g., felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic infractions), probate estates and trusts, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes.
Restricted case types, with limited or no public access, include juvenile cases, adoption cases (Michigan Compiled Laws 710.67), mental health proceedings, and any case restricted by statute, court rule, or order.
What Information is Available in Genesee County Court Records?
The type of information available in Genesee County court records includes:
- Case information (e.g., involved party names, case number)
- Case filings (e.g., petitions, motions, affidavits, pleadings, charges, claims)
- Court orders/decrees
- Judgments
- Transcripts
- Case dockets or registers of action (ROA)
- Exhibits
- Warrants or summons (where applicable)
- Indictments (where applicable)
Genesee County Court Records Search
Interested persons can search Genesee County through these methods:
- Online Access-This is available through the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which allows users to search case indexes and registers of action from the 7th Judicial Circuit Court (CO7), the 67th District Court (D67), and the Genesee County Probate Court (PO7). Searches may be conducted by using a case party’s name or case number. Accessible records via the portal encompass civil, criminal, traffic, domestic, and probate cases. However, note that access may differ by court and case type. For example, due to the automatic clean slate law, all district court case records prior to 07/31/2014 must be requested by email or mail.
- In-Person Access--The Circuit Clerk’s Office/Legal Records Division handles public access requests for circuit court records, including civil, criminal, and domestic cases. Interested persons can visit this office in person during business hours to search and/or copy circuit court records.
7th Judicial Circuit Court (Legal Records)
900 South Saginaw Street, Room 202,
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 257-3220
Fax: (810) 424-4455
Email: clerkslegalstaff@geneseecountymi.gov
Similarly, individuals may visit a 67th District Court location in Genesee County to search and/or obtain district court records. Each district courthouse has a secretary/recorder who handles public access requests. Interested individuals can also search Genesee County probate records in person during business hours using the party’s full name or case number through the Probate Court Records Office.
- Mail and Phone Requests-Mail requests can be sent to the record custodian of the respective Genesee County courts, typically in self-addressed, stamped envelopes, along with search or copy fees. For example, to request a district court record in Genesee County, send a completed 67th District Court Record/Copy Request form by e-mail to 67thHelp@geneseecountymi.gov or by mail to:
67th District Court
Attn: Records Processing
630 South Saginaw Street
Flint, MI 48502.
Additionally, general inquiries or search requests for records may be submitted by phone to a Genesee County court records custodian. As with online and in-person searches, the party’s name or case number is required to process a record request.
Fees for Court Records in Genesee County
The fees custodians of court records charge requestors to reproduce, certify, and exemplify records in Genesee County include $1.00 per page for regular copies and $10.00 plus $1.00 per page for certified/exemplified copies (per MCL 600.2546). However, no fee is required to search and access case indexes and Registers of Action (ROA) online through the MiCourt Case Search portal. Note that a $10.00 search fee applies to Genesee County Probate Court records that require retrieval from archival or microfilm storage.
Vital records in the county, including birth, death, and marriage records, are handled by the Genesee County Clerk’s Vital Records Division. The fee for certified copies of these records is $25 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
Genesee County Courthouse Locations
Genesee County courts comprise the 7th Judicial Circuit Court, the 67th District Court, and the Genesee County Probate Court. The circuit court is the court of general jurisdiction, handling civil cases typically exceeding $25,000.00 in controversy, felony criminal cases, family/domestic relations matters, juvenile cases, and appeals from the district.
The district court is a court of limited jurisdiction, handling civil cases with monetary claims not exceeding $25,000.00, small claims cases, misdemeanors, felony cases (limited to pretrial proceedings-initial arraignments, probable cause conferences, and preliminary examinations), traffic violations, and landlord-tenant disputes.
Meanwhile, the Genesee County probate court has jurisdiction over matters related to estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and petitions for mental health proceedings.
Listed below are Genesee County courthouse locations and contact information.
7th Judicial Circuit Court - Genesee County
Genesee County Courthouse
900 South Saginaw Street Flint
MI 48502
Phone: (810) 424-4355
Fax: (810) 424-4455.
Division 2-B
4094 Manor Drive
Burton, MI 48519
Phone: (810) 743-5600.
67th District Court - Central Court
630 S Saginaw St, Suite 124
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 257-3170.
Division 2-A
200 East Flint Street, Suite 3
Davison, MI 48423
Phone: (810) 653-4126.
630 South Saginaw Street
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 766-8968.
Division 4-A
17100 Silver Parkway Ste C
Fenton, MI 48430
Phone: (810) 629-5318.
67th District Court - Flushing Division 1
630 S Saginaw St
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 659-5659.
67th District Court - Grand Blanc
Division 4-B
8173 S. Saginaw Street
Grand Blanc, MI 48439
Phone: (810) 694-2552.
67th District Court - Mt. Morris Division 3
630 S Saginaw Street
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 743-5600.
Genesee County Probate Court
900 South Saginaw Street, Room 502,
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 257-3528.
Criminal Records Access in Genesee County
Local criminal case records are official files of criminal cases handled in the 7th Circuit or the 67th District Court in Genesee County. These records are public and available online through the MiCOURT Case Search portal or through in-person searches at the Genesee County Clerk’s Office (Legal Division) or a 67th district court location.
It’s important to note, however, that statewide criminal history record checks are not handled by county courts but by the Michigan State Police’s Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC), through its Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT).
Genesee County Probate Records
Genesee County probate records are official files of probate matters handled in the Genesee County Probate Court, including cases related to wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Probate Records Office is the custodian of these records in Genesee County, and interested individuals can use the "Court Records Requests" form to submit requests to this office for estate records, wills, and probate filings online. Furthermore, copy or search requests may be submitted in person at the office or by mail to:
Genesee County Probate Court
900 South Saginaw Street, Room 502
Flint, MI 48502.
Phone: (810)-257-3528.
Alternatively, interested persons can use the MiCOURT Case Search portal to search Genesee County Probate Court case indexes and registers of action. More recent probate filings are also accessible via the portal. Note that certain probate matters (e.g., mental health cases) are confidential, and as such, related records are restricted.
Genesee County Family Court Records
Genesee County family court records encompass records of all family/domestic cases, including divorce, custody, adoption, and child support. The family division of the circuit court has jurisdiction over family matters in the county. Court records created and maintained following the filing and adjudication of family cases in the county are accessible via the circuit court (Legal Records Division). Interested persons can contact this office to request searches or certified copies of these records. They are also available and accessible online through the MiCOURT Case Search.
7th Judicial Circuit Court (Legal Records Division)
900 South Saginaw Street, Room 202
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 257-3220
Fax: (810) 424-4455
Email: clerkslegalstaff@geneseecountymi.gov.
Federal Court Records in Genesee County
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division), pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 102(a), has exclusive jurisdiction over federal cases in Genesee County, including criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits under federal law, diversity jurisdiction cases, bankruptcy proceedings, and other federal matters. In Genesee County, these cases are filed and heard in the court for the Southern Division located at 600 Church Street, Flint, MI 48502.
Consequently, federal court records in Genesee County are available to interested persons through the court clerk’s office in person at the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 600 Church Street, Flint, MI 48502, or PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
