Macomb County Criminal Court Records
Macomb County criminal court records are maintained by the County Clerk in Mount Clemens, Michigan. The 16th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases for the county, and several district courts handle misdemeanors and arraignments across Macomb's cities and townships. Macomb County does not have a public online case search portal. You must request records in person at the clerk's office at 40 N. Main Street, by mail, or through MiCOURT for basic case status lookups.
Macomb County Overview
Macomb County Clerk and Circuit Court
The Macomb County Clerk's office is at 40 N. Main Street in Mount Clemens. The phone is (586) 469-5351 and the email is clerksoffice@macombgov.org. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The 16th Circuit Court is at the same address, also at 40 N. Main Street. Staff can assist with records requests, fee information, and case lookups during business hours.
The 16th Circuit Court is one of Michigan's busier circuit courts given Macomb County's large population. It handles all felony criminal matters filed in the county, including major drug offenses, assault, weapons charges, burglary, homicide, and other serious crimes. The circuit court case file is the primary public record for any felony prosecution and includes the charging documents, motions, hearings, plea agreement or trial transcript, and the sentencing order. Probation and parole modification orders also end up in the case file.
Macomb County is notable in that it does not have a publicly accessible online case search portal the way some other large Michigan counties do. For case status lookups, you must use MiCOURT or contact the clerk directly. This makes the (586) 469-5351 phone line and the clerksoffice@macombgov.org email address important contacts when searching for specific cases.
| Office | Macomb County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 40 N. Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 |
| Phone | (586) 469-5351 |
| clerksoffice@macombgov.org | |
| 16th Circuit Court | 40 N. Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
How to Search Macomb County Criminal Court Records
Since Macomb County lacks its own online case search tool, your best online starting point is MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. This free statewide system shows case status, docket entries, and party information for Macomb County circuit and district court cases. Search by full name or case number. Most recent cases appear in MiCOURT, though the system does not show every document in the case file.
For in-person access, visit the Macomb County Clerk at 40 N. Main Street in Mount Clemens. Plan to arrive with a case number or full name of the party. Staff can pull paper case files and make copies at $1.00 per page. The office closes at 4:30 PM, so arriving by 3:30 PM or earlier gives you time to complete a request before closing.
Mail requests go to: Macomb County Clerk, 40 N. Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. Include the full name, approximate case year, and the type of record. You can also email clerksoffice@macombgov.org to ask about a specific case and get a fee estimate before sending payment. For large document requests, email first to confirm the fee and turnaround time.
The Macomb County Clerk's Office contact page at macombgov.org has staff contacts, address, phone numbers, and request procedures for criminal court records in Mount Clemens.
District Courts in Macomb County
Macomb County has multiple district courts serving its cities and townships. Each district court handles misdemeanor criminal cases for its geographic area. Arraignments and preliminary exams for felony matters also happen in district court before cases move up to the 16th Circuit Court. The district court that handled a case depends on where the alleged crime occurred, not where the defendant lives.
If you are looking for a misdemeanor record in Macomb County and are not sure which district court it is in, start with MiCOURT, which searches across all courts. You can also call the Macomb County Clerk at (586) 469-5351 to ask which district court handles a particular area. Misdemeanor records from any Macomb County district court are public under MCR 8.119 with limited exceptions for sealed cases or cases involving juveniles.
Copy Fees for Macomb County Court Records
Standard copy fees at the Macomb County Clerk are $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $10.00 certification fee per document. A ten-page certified record costs $20.00 total. Search fees may apply under MCL 15.234 when staff must search without a case number. Call (586) 469-5351 or email clerksoffice@macombgov.org to get a cost estimate before mailing a request.
Payment for in-person requests can be made by check or cash. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to the Macomb County Clerk. Indigent requesters can ask for a waiver of the first $20 in fees by providing a written affidavit of indigency. The clerk will review the request before waiving fees.
Online Search and Criminal History Tools
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is the primary free option for online Macomb County case lookups. For statewide criminal history background checks, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system at michigan.gov/ichat costs $10 per name search and covers arrests and convictions from Macomb County and other Michigan courts. Michigan's MiFILE e-filing system may also provide access to some electronically filed Macomb County documents; check the available courts list for current participation status.
FOIA and Court Records
Criminal court case files in Macomb County are not subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. FOIA under MCL 15.231 applies to administrative government records. Court case records are governed by MCR 8.119 and must be requested from the circuit court clerk directly. A FOIA request for criminal case records will be denied and redirected to the clerk's office.
Legal Resources for Macomb County
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free guides on court procedures and criminal record access for all Michigan counties including Macomb. The MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia handles state police records requests. Under MCL 28.241a, criminal history records include personal identifiers and reported arrests, charges, and convictions.
Cities in Macomb County
Macomb County is one of Michigan's most populous counties, located northeast of Detroit. Several large cities and townships are served by the 16th Circuit Court and local district courts. The following communities have dedicated pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Macomb County. Check the appropriate county if a case was filed elsewhere.