Berrien County
Berrien County is situated on Lake Michigan's shore in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It was named for John M. Berrien, a former U.S. Attorney General. It has a 2023 population estimate of 152,261, and St. Joseph is its county seat.
Berrien County has a consolidated court structure composed of a circuit court, district court, and probate court, all merged into a single trial court - the Berrien County Trial Court. The Berrien County Circuit Court is the apex trial court in the county. It adjudicates all criminal felonies, misdemeanors, and civil claims exceeding $25,000. The Circuit Court's Family Division presides over paternity, adoptions, divorce, name changes, personal protection suits, juvenile delinquency, and other domestic relations proceedings. It also exercises appellate jurisdiction over cases appealed from other trial courts' cases, including administrative agencies.
The Berrien County District Court, which is popularly called the People's Court, handles most county trials and hears cases relating to criminal misdemeanors and civil claims for amounts in dispute up to $25,000. It also handles most traffic violations, landlord-tenant cases, and small claims suits. Two Berrien County Probate Courts, located in the county seat and Niles, oversee all cases relating to wills, trusts, conservatorships, estate administrations, guardianships, and mentally ill/disabled persons.
Berrien County court records consist of various legal documents and related containing details of different trial proceedings in the county's courts. These documents include calendars, indexes, evidence notices, and case transcripts, among others. Berrien County courts typically generate these types of court records as they exercise their functions:
- Probate records
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Family law records
The Berrien County Clerk is the official custodian of all Circuit Court case records, including criminal records, civil records (especially for claims above $25,000), and family records. Online access to Berrien County court records is available to interested persons via the MiCOURT case search portal. You can also request court records via email using the official request form or in person at the County Clerk's Office at:
811 Port Street
1st Floor, Room 123
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: (269) 983-7111
Court record searches attract a $10 fee per individual, while certified court record copies can be obtained for $11, including $1 for each page. In addition, a thorough case search can be conducted using case number, date of birth, or Social Security number.
