St. Clair County
Established in 1820, St. Clair County is situated along the St. Clair River and Lake Huron and is part of a region locally referred to as “The Thumb†(sometimes dubbed the “Blue Water Areaâ€). The county is home to over 159,800 residents and covers a total land area of approximately 722 square miles.
The St. Clair County trial court system comprises three courts - a Circuit Court, a District Court, and a Probate Court. The Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases and civil cases involving more than $25,000, as well as divorce, paternity, juvenile offenses, and child abuse and neglect cases (through its Family Division). The Circuit Court may also hear appeals on decisions reached in the lower courts. The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases with claims that do not exceed $25,000, small claims, landlord/tenant matters, and traffic violations. The Probate Court handles matters involving wills, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships (of both minors and adults) and cases involving mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons.
St. Clair also operates a Mental Health Court that offers eligible offenders the option of having their case handled outside the traditional court system by participating in closely monitored treatment and rehabilitation programs.
St. Clair County public court records are documents generated from or received in relation to court proceedings handled within the county. These records include court filings, sworn affidavits, motions, trial transcripts, verdicts, and judgments. The St. Clair County Clerk is the primary custodian of the county's court records; however, court clerks in the District and Probate Courts also share this responsibility.
St. Clair County provides online platforms for accessing its Circuit, District, and Probate court records and schedules. You can also contact the respective courts to obtain official copies of these records. Keep in mind that fees may apply.
