Branch County
Branch County was established in 1829. The approximately 506 square miles that make up its territory are located in the southern end of Michigan. Its largest municipality and administrative seat, Coldwater City, was once home to settlers from New England and New York. As of 2020, the county was recorded to be home to 44,862 people.
Branch County's judicial system includes a Circuit Court, District Court, and Probate Court. The Circuit Court has unlimited authority over civil and criminal matters in the county. It typically handles felonies, lesser included offenses, juvenile delinquency, and civil cases involving disputes exceeding $25,000. Additionally, it oversees equity cases, appeals from administrative agencies, domestic relations cases, and juvenile matters. The District Court handles preliminary hearings for felonies, traffic violations, and less serious misdemeanors. It also resolves civil disputes under $25,000, including small claims of up to $5,000. Lastly, the Probate Court handles matters related to the administration of estates, such as the interpretation of wills, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships.
Public court records are open-source legal files that document vital stages of court proceedings conducted in Branch County. These records may include details on the case, such as case filings, dockets, transcripts, arguments of the parties, and exhibits. Per provisions of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, every person is entitled to complete information contained in public court records. The Branch County Clerk of Courts is responsible for managing, updating, and processing these court records. Examples of the public court records include:
- Adult criminal records
- Civil records
- Probate records
- Family law records
Individuals interested in obtaining court records may direct a request to the Clerk's Office via e-mail or make an in-person visit at:
Branch County Courthouse
31 Division Street
Coldwater, MI 49036
Phone: (517) 279-4306
Obtaining physical copies of public court records at the Branch County Clerk's Office costs $1 per page. If the requester prefers a certified copy, an additional $10 fee applies for each copy requested. Searching for court records also attracts similar fees. A $10 fee applies for each case search spanning over ten years. If the search is to cover a wider range of years, then a $1 fee applies for each additional year the search is to cover. Payments can be made via cash (for in-person requests) or money order made payable to the Branch County Clerk.
