Genesee County Public Records /Genesee County Court Records

Genesee County Court Records

What Is Genesee County Court Records

Court records in Genesee County encompass the official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. These records constitute the formal written history of legal actions and include a broad range of materials: case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts of proceedings, exhibits admitted into evidence, sentencing records, and warrant information. Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level, such as property records (held by the Register of Deeds), vital records (maintained by the County Clerk), or tax records (administered by the Treasurer's Office).

The courts responsible for maintaining records in Genesee County include:

Genesee County Circuit Court – handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $25,000, family law, and appeals from lower courts
Genesee County District Court – handles misdemeanors, civil claims up to $25,000, traffic violations, and small claims
Genesee County Probate Court – handles estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings
Family Division of Circuit Court – handles divorce, child custody, paternity, and juvenile matters
Small Claims Division – handles informal civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts

Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, courts are required to maintain case records and make them available to the public in accordance with established procedures. Records span civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters filed within the county's jurisdiction.

Are Court Records Public In Genesee County

Court records in Genesee County are generally accessible to the public under Michigan law. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL § 15.231 et seq., establishes the public's right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by government bodies, including court records not otherwise exempted. Additionally, Michigan Court Rule 8.119 governs the maintenance and public accessibility of court records statewide.

Records that are generally available to the public include:

Most civil case files after filing
Criminal case files following the filing of charges
Judgments and court orders
Docket sheets and hearing schedules
Sentencing records in criminal matters
Probate filings (with limited exceptions)

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under state law. These include juvenile records, adoption records, mental health proceedings, records sealed by court order, and cases involving victims of certain crimes. It is important to note that federal court records for cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan are governed by federal rules and are accessible through the federal PACER system, which operates separately from Michigan's state court access framework. The Michigan Supreme Court has issued administrative orders establishing uniform standards for record access across all trial courts in the state.

How To Find Court Records in Genesee County in 2026

Members of the public may access Genesee County court records through several methods, depending on the type of record sought and the court in which the case was filed.

In-Person Access: Individuals may visit the clerk's office of the relevant court during public counter hours to inspect records. Court staff can assist in locating case files by party name, case number, or filing date. Copies may be requested for a per-page fee established by statute.

Online Access: Michigan's statewide case management system provides remote access to many court records. The Michigan Courts Case Search portal allows users to search by party name or case number across participating courts.

Written Request: Members of the public may submit a written FOIA request to the court clerk's office. Requests should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity, including the case number, party names, and approximate filing date if known.

Steps to locate records:

Identify the court in which the case was filed (Circuit, District, or Probate)
Gather available identifying information (case number, party name, filing year)
Access the appropriate online portal or visit the clerk's office in person
Submit a request for copies if physical documents are needed
Pay applicable fees upon retrieval

How To Look Up Court Records in Genesee County Online?

Michigan provides centralized online access to court records through the state judiciary's official web infrastructure. The primary portal for searching Genesee County court records online is the Michigan Courts Case Search system, maintained by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO).

Available online portals include:

Michigan Courts Case Search Portal – Provides access to civil, criminal, traffic, and probate case information for participating trial courts, including Genesee County Circuit and District Courts. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name.
Odyssey File & Serve / Tyler Technologies Portal – Used by some Michigan courts for electronic filing and case tracking; availability varies by court division.
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) – Applicable only to federal cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; not applicable to state court matters.

Steps to search online:

Navigate to the Michigan Courts Case Search portal
Select the appropriate court or search statewide
Enter the party name, case number, or other identifying information
Review the case summary, docket entries, and available documents
Note that some documents may require an in-person visit to obtain full copies

How To Search Genesee County Court Records for Free?

Michigan law and court rules provide that members of the public have the right to inspect court records at no charge during regular business hours. Under MCL § 600.1735, court records are open to public inspection, and no fee may be charged solely for the act of viewing records at the courthouse.

Free search options currently available include:

Michigan Courts Case Search – The online portal is free to use for basic case lookups, including docket entries, party information, and case status
In-person inspection – Members of the public may inspect physical case files at the clerk's office without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested
Genesee County Circuit Court Clerk – Provides free in-person access to case indexes and docket information during public counter hours

Fees are assessed for printed copies, certified copies, and certain electronic document downloads. The standard copy fee is established by Michigan Court Rule and may vary slightly by court division.

What's Included in a Genesee County Court Record?

Court records in Genesee County contain varying components depending on the type of case and the court in which it was filed.

Civil Case Records include:

Complaint and summons
Defendant's answer and affirmative defenses
Motions and supporting briefs
Court orders and rulings
Judgment or verdict
Post-judgment filings (garnishments, liens)

Criminal Case Records include:

Charging documents (complaint, information, or indictment)
Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
Arraignment records
Plea agreements
Trial transcripts
Sentencing orders and presentence investigation reports (where not restricted)

Family Court Records include:

Divorce petitions and decrees
Child custody and parenting time orders
Child support orders
Paternity determinations
Protective orders

Probate Court Records include:

Petitions for estate administration
Wills admitted to probate
Inventory and accounting filings
Guardianship and conservatorship orders

Traffic Records include:

Citation information
Hearing notices
Disposition and fine records

How Long Does Genesee County Keep Court Records?

Genesee County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Michigan Supreme Court and the State Court Administrative Office. Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119(D), courts are required to maintain records for specified minimum periods based on case type and outcome.

Current retention periods include:

Felony criminal cases – Retained permanently or for a minimum of 25 years following case closure
Misdemeanor criminal cases – Retained for a minimum of 7 years
Civil cases (general) – Retained for a minimum of 10 years after final judgment
Probate records – Retained permanently for estate proceedings; guardianship records retained for a minimum of 7 years after termination
Traffic cases – Retained for a minimum of 1–7 years depending on offense severity
Juvenile records – Subject to special retention and destruction rules under MCL § 712A.28

The Michigan Trial Court Case File Management Standards published by SCAO provide the authoritative schedule for all trial court record retention in the state.

Types of Courts In Genesee County

Genesee County's court system operates within Michigan's unified trial court structure, which follows a hierarchical framework: District Court → Circuit Court → Michigan Court of Appeals → Michigan Supreme Court.

Genesee County Circuit Court 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502 Phone: (810) 257-3225 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Genesee County Circuit Court

Genesee County Probate Court 900 S. Saginaw St., Room 502, Flint, MI 48502 Phone: (810) 257-3528 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Genesee County Probate Court

67th District Court (Flint) 630 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502 Phone: (810) 766-8968 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM 67th District Court

68th District Court (Flint Township) G-3341 Beecher Rd., Flint, MI 48532 Phone: (810) 732-1570 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM 68th District Court

70th District Court (Saginaw Township area / Genesee County) Serves additional jurisdictions within Genesee County; parties should confirm jurisdiction based on the municipality where the matter arose.

Michigan Court of Appeals (District 3) 925 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 48915 Phone: (517) 373-0786 Michigan Court of Appeals

Michigan Supreme Court 925 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 48915 Phone: (517) 373-0120 Michigan Supreme Court

What Types of Cases Do Genesee County Courts Hear?

Each court within Genesee County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of legal matters as defined by Michigan statute.

Genesee County Circuit Court hears:

Felony criminal prosecutions
Civil disputes involving amounts exceeding $25,000
Appeals from District Court decisions
Family law matters (divorce, custody, paternity)
Juvenile delinquency and child protective proceedings (Family Division)

Genesee County District Court hears:

Misdemeanor criminal cases
Civil claims up to $25,000
Small claims matters up to $7,000
Traffic and ordinance violations
Landlord-tenant disputes
Preliminary examinations in felony cases

Genesee County Probate Court hears:

Decedent estate administration (testate and intestate)
Will contests
Guardianship and conservatorship petitions
Mental health commitment proceedings
Trust administration matters

How To Find a Court Docket In Genesee County

A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a specific case. Members of the public may access Genesee County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Search:

Use the Michigan Courts Case Search portal to retrieve docket entries by case number or party name
Docket entries typically include filing dates, document titles, hearing dates, and judicial rulings

In-Person Search:

Visit the clerk's office of the relevant court (Circuit, District, or Probate) during public counter hours
Request a docket sheet by providing the case number or party name
Staff will retrieve the docket from the court's case management system

Steps to find a docket:

Determine which court handled the case
Access the Michigan Courts Case Search portal or visit the clerk's office
Enter the case number or party name in the search fields
Review the docket entries listed in chronological order
Request certified copies of specific docket entries if needed for legal purposes

Which Courts in Genesee County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial decisions are enrolled for perpetual memory, and which has the authority to fine or imprison. Under MCL § 600.151, Michigan designates specific courts as courts of record, including the Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and the Court of Appeals.

Courts not of record, by contrast, do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings as a matter of course, and their records may be less comprehensive. In Michigan's current judicial structure, most inferior tribunals and administrative hearing bodies operating within Genesee County—such as certain local administrative boards, municipal civil infraction hearing officers, and some quasi-judicial bodies—are not courts of record.

Key distinctions include:

Courts of record (Circuit, District, Probate): Maintain full case files, transcripts, and permanent dockets; appeals proceed on the existing record
Bodies not of record: Do not maintain verbatim transcripts; appeals typically proceed as trials de novo (new hearings) in a court of record
Municipal civil infraction hearings conducted by hearing officers in Genesee County municipalities are generally not courts of record; appeals from such determinations are heard de novo in District Court

Michigan Court Rule 7.101 governs appeals from courts and tribunals not of record to the Circuit Court, establishing the procedural framework for de novo review.