Montmorency County Criminal Court Records

Montmorency County criminal court records are maintained by the County Clerk in Atlanta, Michigan. The 26th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases and is shared with Alpena County, with judges rotating between the two county seats. The 88th District Court handles misdemeanor matters. You can search Montmorency County criminal court records through MiCOURT online, visit the courthouse on M-32 in Atlanta, or contact the clerk at (989) 785-8022.

Montmorency County Clerk and Courts

The Montmorency County Clerk's office is at 12265 M-32 in Atlanta, with the mailing address at PO Box 789, Atlanta, MI 49709. County Clerk Cheryl Neilsen heads the office, which can be reached at (989) 785-8022 or by fax at (989) 785-8023. Email requests can be sent to cneilsen@montcounty.org. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to noon and from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The midday break from noon to 1:00 PM means the office is closed during that window; plan accordingly.

The 26th Circuit Court covers Alpena and Montmorency counties. For felony criminal cases filed in Montmorency County, the case file stays at the Montmorency County Clerk's office in Atlanta. The 26th Circuit Court handles all felony matters including serious drug offenses, assault, weapons charges, breaking and entering, and other major crimes. Reach the circuit court at (989) 354-9573 for questions about specific cases or court scheduling.

The 88th District Court at (989) 785-8035 handles all misdemeanor criminal cases in Montmorency County and is the first court for any felony case before it moves to circuit court. Arraignments, bond hearings, and preliminary examinations happen in district court. Both courts are accessible from the county courthouse in Atlanta, which is a small rural county seat in the northern lower peninsula.

How to Search Montmorency County Criminal Court Records

The main online search tool for Montmorency County cases is MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. This free statewide system covers both the 26th Circuit Court and the 88th District Court. Search by name or case number to see case status and docket entries. Most active and recent cases appear in MiCOURT, though some older records may require a direct request to the clerk in Atlanta.

For in-person access, go to 12265 M-32 in Atlanta during the open hours, keeping in mind the midday closure from noon to 1:00 PM. Bring a case number or full name. Staff can locate the file and make copies at $1.00 per page. For email requests, send to cneilsen@montcounty.org with the name and approximate year of the case. The clerk will respond with the fee before processing.

Mail requests go to: Montmorency County Clerk, PO Box 789, Atlanta, MI 49709. Include your return address and allow extra time for archived records. The 26th Circuit Court also covers Alpena County, so if a case you are looking for does not appear in Montmorency County records, it may have been filed in Alpena instead. Check both counties on MiCOURT before contacting the clerk.

The 26th Judicial Circuit Court page at alpenacounty.org covers the shared circuit for Montmorency and Alpena counties, with information on court procedures and contact details for felony criminal cases.

Copy Fees and Procedures

Standard copy fees at the Montmorency 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 (989) 785-8022 or email cneilsen@montcounty.org for a fee estimate before submitting a request.

For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to Montmorency County Clerk. Do not send cash. Indigent requesters can seek a waiver of the first $20 in fees by submitting an affidavit of indigency with their request. Allow extra time for archived or older records that may need retrieval from off-site storage.

Online Case Search Tools

MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is the free statewide tool for Montmorency County case searches. For broader criminal history background checks, ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat costs $10 per name and returns results from the Michigan State Police statewide criminal history database covering Montmorency County and other Michigan jurisdictions. Michigan's MiFILE e-filing system may offer access to some electronically filed court documents; check the available courts list for current participation.

FOIA and Court Records

Criminal court case files in Montmorency County are not subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. FOIA under MCL 15.231 covers administrative government records. Court records are governed by MCR 8.119 and must be requested from the court clerk at (989) 785-8022 or cneilsen@montcounty.org. A FOIA request for criminal case records will be denied and redirected.

Legal Resources for Montmorency County

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free guides for all Michigan counties including Montmorency. 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 Montmorency County

Montmorency County is a rural county in the northern lower peninsula. Atlanta is the county seat. No communities in Montmorency County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All criminal court records are accessible through the Montmorency County Clerk at 12265 M-32 in Atlanta.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montmorency County. Check the appropriate county if a case was filed elsewhere.