Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County, established in 1835, is located in south-central Michigan. It shares borders with Indiana and Ohio and is named for its characteristic hills and dales terrain. As of 2022, the county's population was 45,698, while its land area is about 598 square miles. The City of Hillsdale serves as the county seat and most populous city.
Hillsdale County has three trial courts: the Circuit, District, and Probate Courts. Also known as Michigan's 1st Judicial Circuit Court, the Circuit Court presides over all judicial actions outside the scope of other courts in Hillsdale County. Legal proceedings exclusive to the Circuit Court include felonies, civil equity cases, financial disputes exceeding $25,000, and appeals from administrative agencies. Meanwhile, the Probate and Family Court in Hillsdale County handles cases involving guardianships, trusts, and settlement of decedents' estates. Its Family Division oversees all juvenile and domestic relations cases, including adoption, paternity, divorce, and child delinquency. Hillsdale County has a District Court that hears minor civil and criminal proceedings. District Court judges in the county handle misdemeanors, bail hearings, and felony pre-trials. They also oversee monetary claims under $25,000, small claims for $5,000 or less, and tenancy disputes.
Hillsdale County court records are documents containing details of legal proceedings in the county's trial courts. Maintained by designated court clerks, court records typically provide information on judgments, motions, dispositions, witness lists, complaints, and names of involved parties. According to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, court records should be publicly accessible to promote transparent judicial processes. Confidential court records such as adoption, mental health, and sealed records are exempt from state law due to privacy concerns. Case files accessible to the public include the following:
- Criminal court records
- Civil records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
- Land records
- Family-related court records
Individuals interested in court records filed in the Circuit or District Court can contact or visit the courthouse at:
Hillsdale County Courthouse
29 North Howell Street, Room 6
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone: (517) 437-4321
Online access to Hillsdale County public court records is available via the Michigan MiCOURT Case Search. To search court records online, requesters should enter case numbers or names of parties involved.
