Antrim County Criminal Court Records Search

Antrim County criminal court records are filed with the County Clerk in Bellaire, Michigan. The 13th Circuit Court, which covers Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties, handles felony criminal cases here. You can search Antrim County criminal records through public computer terminals at the courthouse, through the state's MiCOURT system online, or by contacting the clerk's office directly.

Where to Find Antrim County Criminal Court Records

The Antrim County Clerk's office is at 203 E Cayuga Street in Bellaire. Sheryl Guy serves as County Clerk. The clerk's court section handles criminal case records and has public computer terminals available so you can review records during your visit. Staff can assist with searches by name or case number and provide printed copies of case materials.

The 86th District Court is also in Bellaire at 205 E. Cayuga Street, just a short walk from the clerk's office. Misdemeanor and traffic cases go through the District Court. For any felony matter, the 13th Circuit Court handles those cases, though records for Antrim County felonies are maintained by the clerk in Bellaire. You can reach the clerk by phone, email, or fax.

13th Circuit Court

The 13th Circuit Court covers Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties. This is one of the larger circuits in northern Michigan. The court handles all felony criminal cases from all three counties. For Antrim County specifically, the clerk's office in Bellaire maintains the local records. Grand Traverse County (in Traverse City) serves as the administrative hub for the circuit.

Criminal case files in the 13th Circuit include charging documents, motions, guilty plea transcripts, trial records if applicable, and the judgment of sentence. If a defendant was placed on probation, the probation order is also part of the file. Public access is governed by MCR 8.119. The court also offers e-filing for attorneys and parties with cases in the circuit.

Antrim County's court section has computer terminals available during business hours for public record review. This is a convenient option if you want to look at a case without requesting printed copies. The clerk's staff can point you to the right terminal and help you navigate the search system.

The Grand Traverse County Clerk's office page provides information about the 13th Circuit Court, which also covers felony criminal cases in Antrim County.

How to Search Antrim County Criminal Court Records

You have several options. Start online with MiCOURT, the state's free case search system. You can enter a name or case number and see results from participating courts including the 13th Circuit. The results show docket entries, hearing dates, and charge details. This is the fastest way to confirm whether a case exists before making a formal records request.

In person, visit the Antrim County Clerk at 203 E Cayuga Street in Bellaire. The court section has public computer terminals and staff who can assist with lookups and copies. The clerk's office is open during regular weekday business hours. For mail requests, write to PO Box 520, Bellaire, MI 49615. Include the full name of the defendant, the case type (criminal, civil), and any dates you know about the case.

Note: The Antrim County website at antrimcounty.org had online case search tools for 13th Circuit civil and criminal records, but availability may vary. MiCOURT is the most reliable statewide option.

Record Request Fees and Procedures

The standard copy fee in Antrim County is $1.00 per page through the AVA document management system. For vital records like birth and death certificates from the clerk's office, the fee is $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy. Court records have their own fee schedule set by the court. Call (231) 533-6353 to get the exact cost before submitting a request.

Certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of per-page costs. For mail requests, send your written request to the PO Box address and include a check or money order for the estimated cost. The clerk will return any overpayment or contact you if more is needed. Most standard case files can be processed within a few business days for recent cases.

Note: Recording fees for deeds and other documents at the Register of Deeds are a flat $30 per document. This applies to property records, not criminal court records, but the same office handles both functions.

Online Case Search Tools

MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is free and does not require registration. You can search by name or case number for cases in the 13th Circuit Court and other participating Michigan courts. Results include party names, charges, case status, and docket entries. It is the primary online tool for finding Antrim County criminal court records.

The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at michigan.gov/ichat provides broader criminal history checks. For $10 per search, ICHAT searches the statewide criminal history database maintained by the Michigan State Police. This covers arrests and convictions from participating agencies across all 83 Michigan counties, including Antrim County. It is useful when you need to see someone's full state record rather than a single case.

The MiFILE e-filing system at mifile.courts.michigan.gov is used by attorneys to file documents in the 13th Circuit and other courts. Public access to filed documents through MiFILE may also be available depending on the court.

FOIA and Court Record Access in Antrim County

Court case records in Antrim County are not available through FOIA. Michigan's FOIA law at MCL 15.231 covers government agency records, but court case files fall under MCR 8.119 and must be requested directly from the court clerk. This is a statewide rule that applies uniformly across all 83 Michigan counties.

If you want non-court government records, FOIA is the right route. Contact the Antrim County Clerk's office or the specific county department to find the FOIA coordinator. The clerk handles FOIA requests for non-court county records. Under Michigan law, the agency has five business days to respond, with a possible ten-day extension for complex requests.

The Michigan FOIA law overview at nfoic.org has a plain-language summary of how FOIA works in Michigan, including what records are covered, what is exempt, and how to appeal a denial. This is a helpful reference if you are unsure whether to use FOIA or a direct court record request.

Legal Resources for Antrim County

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is a free resource for people navigating Michigan's courts. The site has guides on criminal cases, court record requests, how to represent yourself in court, and how to understand court documents. It covers Antrim County as part of its statewide coverage.

The Michigan State Police MSP Records section handles criminal history and FOIA requests for state police records. Call (517) 241-1934 for the Records Resource Section or use the online FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. For broader background check needs, ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat gives you name-based statewide criminal history for $10.

Under MCL 28.241a, Michigan's criminal history record law defines what these records include and who can access them. Knowing the statute helps when you are requesting specific types of records from the clerk or from the state police.

Cities in Antrim County

Antrim County is in the northern Lower Peninsula on the shores of Lake Michigan. The county seat of Bellaire does not have a dedicated city page on this site; criminal court records for Bellaire and all other communities in Antrim County are handled through the Antrim County pages. All felony cases are filed with the 13th Circuit Court, and misdemeanor cases go through the 86th District Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Antrim County. Note that the 13th Circuit Court also serves Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties.