Isabella County
Isabella County was initially established as a distinct county in 1831 and officially organized in 1859. The county is located in central Michigan, spanning about 572.7 square miles, with a population of 64,938 residents. It is home to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe, Michigan University, and the city of Mount Pleasant, which serves as the county seat.
Isabella County's court system comprises the Circuit, District, and Probate Courts. Isabella County Circuit Court handles major civil and criminal cases, including felonies, lesser-included offenses, and delinquency, civil disputes over $25,000, equity claims, family law cases such as divorce, paternity, child custody, and support, and appeals from the District Court and Administrative Agencies. The District Court has jurisdiction over preliminary hearings for felonies, misdemeanor criminal offenses, civil municipal infractions, most traffic violations, civil cases with amounts in dispute of $25,000 or less, landlord/tenant disputes, and small claims up to $5,000. Meanwhile, Isabella County Probate Court manages cases related to estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. It also oversees certain juvenile cases involving guardianship or issues of mental health.
Isabella County court records contain information created during court proceedings within the county. They include affidavits, dockets, depositions, summons, warrants, pleas, transcripts, complaints, and judgments. These records serve as precedents for future judgments and are publicly accessible per Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). However, records involving sensitive information such as adoption, domestic violence, and medical records are typically restricted. Common court records in Isabella County include:
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Criminal Records
- Traffic Records
The Isabella County Clerk/Register of Deeds is responsible for maintaining court records. Public court records can be accessed in person at the Clerk's office or online through the Michigan Court Case Search. This online platform allows free searching and viewing of case information, while copies of records cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies cost $5 per document.
