Waterford Township Criminal Court Records
Waterford Township criminal court records are filed at the 51st District Court for misdemeanor matters and at the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac for felony cases. Waterford Township is one of Oakland County's more populated townships and sits northwest of Pontiac in the lakes region of southeastern Michigan. You can search Waterford criminal cases through MiCOURT online or contact the courts directly for case records.
Waterford Township Overview
Courts That Handle Waterford Township Criminal Cases
The 51st District Court serves Waterford Township and handles all misdemeanor criminal cases as well as arraignments and preliminary exams for felony matters. Misdemeanor cases go through the 51st District Court from arraignment through final sentencing. Felony cases, after a preliminary exam finds probable cause, move to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. The 51st District Court covers Waterford Township and several other Oakland County communities.
The Oakland County 6th Circuit Court at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac handles felony prosecutions from Waterford Township and the rest of Oakland County. The courthouse is at 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac, MI 48341. The Oakland County Clerk maintains circuit court criminal case files. Call (248) 858-0557 for the Clerk's office. The full circuit court case file for a felony includes all documents from charging through sentencing, including pretrial motions, any plea or trial record, and the sentencing order.
Waterford Township's administrative office is at 5200 Civic Center Dr., Waterford, MI 48329, and the main phone is (248) 674-6231. The township website is at waterfordmi.gov. The Waterford Police Department provides law enforcement for the township. Police records and court records are separate. Police incident reports and arrest records come from the Waterford Police Department through FOIA. Court case files come from the court clerk. Make sure you go to the right office depending on what type of record you need.
| District Court | 51st District Court |
|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Oakland County 6th Circuit Court, Pontiac |
| Oakland County Clerk | (248) 858-0557 |
| Township Office | 5200 Civic Center Dr., Waterford, MI 48329 |
| Township Phone | (248) 674-6231 |
| Website | waterfordmi.gov |
51st District Court Records
The 51st District Court holds all criminal case files for matters originating in Waterford Township. Court records are public under MCR 8.119 unless sealed by a judge. A typical case file contains the complaint or citation, bond order, docket entries, plea or verdict, and sentence. To get copies, visit the court during business hours with the case number or defendant's full name. Standard copies are $1.00 per page. Call ahead to confirm business hours and fee schedule.
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov gives free access to case status and docket information for 51st District Court cases. Search by name or case number to see what charges were filed, what happened at each court date, and the current case status. This is the best place to start before making a formal records request. It does not give you the full case documents but helps confirm the case exists and gives you the case number you need.
For felony cases from Waterford Township, the district court holds the preliminary proceedings record and the circuit court in Pontiac holds the main felony case file. You may need to contact both courts depending on what stage of the case you are researching. MiCOURT shows both court records when you search by name, making it easier to identify which case numbers apply to which courts.
How to Search Waterford Township Criminal Court Records
Use MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov as the starting point for Waterford Township criminal case searches. This free statewide system covers the 51st District Court and the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court. Search by name or case number to see case status, charges, docket entries, and hearing dates. Most cases from recent years appear in MiCOURT. Older cases may require a direct request to the court clerk.
For in-person access, visit the 51st District Court for district court records or the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac at 1200 N. Telegraph Rd. for circuit court felony records. Call the Oakland County Clerk at (248) 858-0557 to confirm hours and what identification you need. Mail requests for circuit court records go to Oakland County Clerk, 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac, MI 48341. Include the case number or name, the documents you need, and a check or money order for the copy fee.
For Waterford Township police records, contact the Waterford Police Department or submit a FOIA request to the Township Clerk at 5200 Civic Center Dr., Waterford, MI 48329. FOIA requests under MCL 15.231 cover police incident reports and other township records. The township website at waterfordmi.gov has department contacts and additional information. Police records and court records are separate systems with different request procedures.
The Waterford Township website at waterfordmi.gov has township department contacts, FOIA information, and links to resources for public records access in Waterford Township.
Waterford Township Police Records and FOIA
The Waterford Police Department handles police records for the township. For incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents, contact the Waterford Police Department. FOIA requests under MCL 15.231 can be submitted to the Township Clerk at 5200 Civic Center Dr., Waterford, MI 48329, or through the township website. Include a clear description of what you are requesting, the approximate date and location of the incident, and any names or case numbers you have.
Michigan FOIA requires a response within 5 business days. Extensions of up to 10 more days are allowed for complex requests. Copy fees are between $0.10 and $1.00 per page plus labor charges. The first $20 in fees is waived for indigent requesters who file a written affidavit under MCL 15.234. FOIA covers township and police records but not court case files. Always contact the court clerk directly for criminal court case documents.
Oakland County uses the CLEMIS system at payments.clemis.org/extservices for traffic accident report requests. For a statewide criminal history search, ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat costs $10 per name and returns records from the Michigan State Police database covering Waterford Township and other Michigan agencies. This is useful for a background check but does not include specific court case documents.
Record Fees and Request Procedures
Court copy fees at the 51st District Court are around $1.00 per page for standard copies. Certified copies carry a higher fee. For Oakland County Circuit Court records, the Oakland County Clerk at (248) 858-0557 charges $1.00 per page for standard copies. Call for a fee estimate before sending a mail request. Payment at the courthouse is accepted by cash, check, or money order.
Mail requests for district court records can be sent to the 51st District Court. For circuit court felony records from Waterford Township cases, mail to Oakland County Clerk, 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac, MI 48341. Include a check or money order payable to the appropriate court. Do not send cash. Include the case number or defendant name and the documents you need. Processing mail requests takes longer than in-person visits, especially for older archived records.
Michigan's MiFILE e-filing system at mifile.courts.michigan.gov/availablecourts lists courts offering electronic document access. Check whether the 51st District Court or Oakland County 6th Circuit Court participates before planning a trip or sending a mail request.
Legal Resources for Waterford Township Residents
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has free guides on court records, expungement under Michigan's Clean Slate law, and navigating Oakland County courts. The State Bar of Michigan's Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968-0738 connects residents with licensed attorneys in Oakland County. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov has official forms and self-help resources. Under MCL 28.241a, criminal history records in Michigan include personal identifiers and reported arrests, charges, and convictions.
Oakland County Criminal Court Records
Waterford Township is in Oakland County. Felony cases from Waterford Township go to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. The county page covers the circuit court, county clerk's office, and the full range of Oakland County criminal records access options.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Waterford Township in Oakland County also have criminal court records pages on this site.