Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County was organized in 1826 in the southeastern part of Michigan. It covers about 706.0 square miles of land, ranking it as the 27th largest county in the state by total area, with an estimated 372,258 residents. The City of Ann Arbor serves as the county seat.
The Washtenaw County court system is made up of a Circuit Court, three District Courts, and a Probate Court. The Washtenaw County Circuit Court is a trial court that handles most civil and criminal cases, including domestic cases, misdemeanors, and civil cases over $25,000. The court also hears appeals from District courts. Also, the Washtenaw County District Courts have jurisdiction over certain civil and criminal cases, such as landlord/tenant disputes and civil cases where the amount in dispute is $25,000 or less. They also handle small claims cases where the disputed amount is $7,000 or less and criminal and traffic misdemeanors. Probate cases and certain juvenile matters are handled by the Washtenaw County Probate Court. In addition, the court hears cases involving guardianship and conservatorship of persons with disabilities.
Washtenaw County court records consist of legal documents created and submitted during court proceedings, including judgments, pleadings, and court orders. These records are generally public under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. In some instances, sensitive documents are restricted from public access, such as domestic violence records, medical records, and adoption records. Open court records in Washtenaw County include the following:
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Criminal Records
- Traffic Records
The Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office is responsible for handling and maintaining the county's court records. These records are also available online upon request through the Michigan Court Case Search or by visiting the courthouses. Looking up Washtenaw County court records on the Michigan Court Case Search is free, but there is a $1.20 per page charge for each copy made and a $5 fee per record for each certified copy requested.
