The judicial system of Midland County, Michigan, consists of a county court of general jurisdiction and a district court of limited jurisdiction. Court records are maintained by the office of the respective court and are available through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the office. MidlandCourt.us will help you find public information about county court records. Additional sources include the MiCOURT Case Search portal, Midland County online services, and the offices of both courts.
Midland Court System Overview
Midland County is served by two state courts: the 42nd Circuit Court and the 75th District Court. The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction that handles serious criminal offenses (felonies), civil cases with claims over $25,000, family cases, probate matters, and juvenile cases. The District Court has limited jurisdiction: misdemeanors, civil claims up to $25,000, small claims, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. Both courts are located in the Midland County Courthouse building.
Courts Serving Midland
Below is a list of all the courts serving the residents of Midland County.
State Courts
Federal Courts
Midland County falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The nearest federal court is located in the Bay City Division.
Bankruptcy cases are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Bay City.
What Types of Cases Midland Courts Hear
The courts of Midland County hear a wide range of cases. Briefly:
- Criminal: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil: claims of any amount, including small claims and evictions
- Family Law: divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, paternity establishment
- Probate: estate matters, guardianship, conservatorship, trusts
- Juvenile Matters: juvenile offenses, child protection, adoption
- Traffic Violations: fines, DUI/OWI
The division between the Circuit Court and the District Court depends on the severity of the offense and the claim amount — details in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Midland
The term "District Court" in Michigan refers to a court of limited jurisdiction — do not confuse it with the federal district court. All criminal cases in the county are initially filed with the 75th District Court. This court independently handles misdemeanors and infractions, and conducts preliminary examinations for felonies. If the judge finds sufficient grounds, the case is bound over to the 42nd Circuit Court.
Civil claims up to $25,000, tenant eviction cases, and small claims also fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court. Cases are assigned to judges according to the court's internal schedule. District Court decisions can be appealed to the Circuit Court.
Magistrate Court Cases in Midland
In Michigan, there is no separate magistrate court as an independent instance. Magistrate functions are performed by District Court judges or appointed magistrates within the District Court. In the 75th District Court, magistrates can issue arrest warrants, set bail, and conduct preliminary hearings.
The jurisdictional limits of the District Court for civil cases are up to $25,000. Small claims are considered up to $6,500 according to Michigan law. Traffic violations, DUI/OWI cases, and other misdemeanors are all processed through the District Court. Under high workload, magistrates take on part of the routine hearings.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Midland
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders (PPO), and paternity establishment cases are handled by the 42nd Circuit Court. For those filing for divorce without an attorney, the court provides a divorce document package with instructions.
Probate
Estate matters, the appointment of guardians and conservators, and trust issues are all handled by the Probate Court, which operates in Midland as a division of the Circuit Court. The Probate Court office is located in the same building at 301 W. Main St.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile offense cases and Child Protective Proceedings are handled by the Family Division Circuit Court. Records in juvenile cases are confidential and not available for general public search.
How Cases Move Through the Midland Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a criminal complaint, a civil case with a civil complaint, and a family or probate case with a petition. Documents are filed with the office of the respective court.
- Judge Assignment. The office assigns a case number and distributes it among the judges.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment (reading of charges, setting bail). In civil cases — scheduling conference to determine the schedule.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions, and negotiate plea deals or settlements.
- Trial or Resolution. The case may end with a plea agreement, jury verdict, judge's decision, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing in criminal cases, enforcement of judgment, or appeal — depending on the type of case.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Midland
The administrative management of the county courts is carried out by the chief judge of the 42nd Circuit Court in conjunction with the court administrator. Local court rules for both courts can be obtained directly from the office or on the Midland County courts page.
According to Michigan law, most court records are public. Exceptions apply to juvenile cases, sealed or expunged records, and some family cases. Michigan Court Rules regulate access to electronic records through the MiCOURT portal. Some courts display only criminal convictions for the past seven years.
Hearings are generally open to the public. You can attend sessions in person at the courthouse. For remote participation (Zoom or phone), check with the office of the specific court.
Contact information for administrative matters:
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Midland
- Online Case Search. The MiCOURT Case Search portal allows you to search cases by party name or case number. The information is for reference only and does not replace the official court record.
- Appellate Court Opinions and Orders. Copies of decisions from the Michigan Court of Appeals and Supreme Court are available on the Michigan Courts — Cases, Opinions & Orders portal.
- Court Hearing Calendar and Online Services. Hearing schedules, land record searches, FOIA requests, and more are available on the county online services page.
- Criminal History (ICHAT). Michigan State Police ICHAT — online search of public criminal records maintained by the state police.
- Expungement or Modification of Criminal Records. Information about the expungement procedure can be found on the Michigan State Police page.
- State Prisoner Search. The OTIS (Offender Tracking Information System) contains data on individuals under the supervision of the Department of Corrections — inmates, parolees, probationers.
- County Jail Inmate Information. Current data on individuals held in the Midland County Jail is available on the sheriff's website.
- Open Arrest Warrants. The list of active warrants is periodically updated on the county website.
- Sheriff's Records. The Records Bureau of the sheriff's office processes civil process documents and subpoenas — about 1,800 per year. Phone: 989-839-4630.
- Vital Records. Birth, death, and marriage certificates can be obtained through the Vital Records department of the county office or at the state level through MDHHS.
- Land Records. The Register of Deeds of Midland County records real estate documents.
- FOIA Requests. To obtain public records from the Michigan State Police, you can submit a Freedom of Information Act request.
For a general search of county court records, use MidlandCourt.us as a starting point.