Eaton County
Eaton County, Michigan, was organized in 1837 and named after a former US Secretary of War, John Eaton. Charlotte is its largest city and county seat. As of the 2020 US census, over 109,000 live within its 575 square miles of land area.
The Eaton County court system comprises Probate, District, and Circuit Courts. The 56th Circuit Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction. It handles all felonies, domestic relations cases, and certain misdemeanors. It also exclusively hears all civil cases with more than $25,000 in claims, lawsuits involving state laws, and appeals from district and probate courts. Its Juvenile Division handles all juvenile matters, such as juvenile delinquency, truancy, child protection proceedings, and adoptions.
The 56A District Court - Eaton hears misdemeanors, traffic offenses, municipal ordinance violations, civil cases with claims under $25,000, and landlord/tenant relations. It also handles preliminary hearings for felony cases. The Eaton County Probate Court handles all probate matters, including the appointment of guardianships, the administration of estates and trusts, admission of wills, treatment/commitment of mentally ill persons, and proceedings relating to secret marriages and missing persons.
Eaton County public court records consist of writs, court transcripts, warrants, legal proceedings, court filings, and judgments of the county's courts. These records can be accessed by members of the public. While some court records are restricted by law or court orders, most Eaton County court records are open to the public. The Eaton County Clerk and Register of Deeds is also the Eaton County Circuit Court Clerk. The Circuit Court Clerk and clerks of other courts in the county maintain records from their respective courts.
Eaton County courts provide access to the following types of court records:
- Civil Case Records
- Criminal Case Records
- Traffic Case Records
- Family Law Case Records
- Probate Case Records
Public court records in Eaton County can be accessed on the Michigan Court Case Search website at no cost. Record seekers can select Eaton County from the list of counties and provide the required details about the court records they are interested in. The records can be searched by name or case number. They can also visit the courts to view or request their public records.
