Muskegon County Criminal Court Records
Muskegon County criminal court records are kept at the 14th Circuit Court and are available to the public through in-person requests, mail, and online tools. If you need to search for a case, check a docket, or get a copy of a court document, this guide covers the steps to do it in Muskegon County.
Muskegon County Overview
Muskegon County Clerk and Circuit Court
The Muskegon County Clerk handles criminal court records at two locations. The County Clerk's main office is at 1903 Marquette Ave., Suite A104, Muskegon, MI 49442. The Circuit Court Records Office is at 990 Terrace Street, 6th Floor, Muskegon, MI 49442. Both are open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Most record requests for criminal cases go to the Circuit Court Records Office on the 6th floor of the courthouse.
The Muskegon County Clerk's office can be reached by phone at (231) 724-6221. For Circuit Court records directly, call (231) 724-6251. The 60th District Court, which handles misdemeanors and smaller criminal matters, can be reached at (231) 724-6283. You can also email the clerk at clerk@muskegoncounty.net for general questions. If you are not sure which office handles your case, call the main clerk number and staff can direct you.
The Muskegon County Clerk page on the county website has current contact information, hours, and links to services. Check there for any updates to hours or procedures before you go in person.
| County Clerk | 1903 Marquette Ave., Suite A104, Muskegon, MI 49442 |
|---|---|
| Circuit Court Records | 990 Terrace Street, 6th Floor, Muskegon, MI 49442 |
| Phone | (231) 724-6221 (Clerk) / (231) 724-6251 (Circuit Court Records) |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| District Court | (231) 724-6283 |
14th Circuit Court in Muskegon County
The 14th Circuit Court is the main felony court in Muskegon County. It handles all felony criminal cases, which means charges that carry a potential sentence of more than one year. The court also handles civil cases over $25,000 and family matters. Criminal filings at this court go into the public record under Michigan Court Rules, specifically MCR 8.119, which sets the rules for how courts keep and release records.
The 60th District Court handles misdemeanor cases and all preliminary hearings for felony charges. So if you are looking for a criminal record and aren't sure which court heard the case, start with the charge type. Felonies and post-arraignment matters are at the Circuit Court. Misdemeanors and traffic offenses are at the District Court. Records from both courts may appear in a MiCOURT search.
Note: Muskegon County uses its own online case search in addition to the statewide MiCOURT system. Check both if you are having trouble locating a case.
How to Search Muskegon County Criminal Records
There are three main ways to look up criminal court records in Muskegon County. Online searches are the fastest. In-person visits give you the most complete access. Mail requests take longer but work if you can't come in.
The county runs its own Online Case Search tool at co.muskegon.mi.us. You can search by name or case number. Results show basic case info, docket entries, and hearing dates. The state's MiCOURT case search at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ is a free statewide tool that also covers Muskegon County cases. Try both if you need to be thorough.
The Circuit Court Records Office page explains how to request documents by mail. Send your request with payment to: Circuit Court Records, 990 Terrace, 6th Floor, Muskegon MI 49442. Include the name of the person, approximate case year, and the type of document you need. A money order or check made out to the Muskegon County Clerk is preferred for mail requests.
The Muskegon County Clerk website provides access to court records, fees, and contact information for the 14th Circuit Court.
The Circuit Court Records page at co.muskegon.mi.us details in-person and mail request procedures for Muskegon County criminal case files.
Fees for Muskegon County Court Records
Standard copy fees at the Muskegon County Circuit Court are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $10.00 per document, plus the $1.00 per page copy fee on top of that. So a certified copy of a 5-page document would cost $15.00. These fees apply to most criminal case documents including judgments, sentencing orders, and case histories.
Pay by check or money order made out to the Muskegon County Clerk. In-person payments may accept cash as well. For FOIA requests to the county, Michigan's FOIA law under MCL 15.231 sets baseline rules for fees. Court record requests follow MCR 8.119 rather than FOIA, so the court's own fee schedule applies. If you have a low income, ask staff about fee waiver options.
Note: Court fees can change. Call (231) 724-6251 to confirm current fees before sending payment.
Online Tools for Muskegon Criminal Records
Muskegon County offers more online access than many smaller Michigan counties. The county's own case search tool covers Circuit Court and District Court cases. Results are updated regularly and show party names, attorneys, case status, and docket entries. You can search free of charge. The site is at co.muskegon.mi.us/1523/Online-Case-Search.
For a broader search that covers multiple counties, use MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/. MiCOURT is run by the Michigan Supreme Court and pulls from courts that participate statewide. It is free to use and does not require registration. Results show case numbers, party names, charge types, and court dates. Full documents are not always available online, so you may still need to visit or write in to get copies.
Michigan State Police runs the ICHAT tool at michigan.gov/ichat for name-based criminal history searches. ICHAT costs $10 per search and covers arrests and convictions from participating agencies across Michigan. It is a good option when you want a broader picture of someone's criminal history rather than just a single county's records.
Muskegon County's Online Case Search portal lets you look up criminal case records directly from the 14th Circuit Court and 60th District Court.
FOIA vs. Court Records in Muskegon County
Many people assume that Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, covers all government records including court files. That is not quite right. Court case records fall under MCR 8.119, not FOIA. You request court records directly from the clerk, not through a FOIA portal. FOIA does apply to other county agency records, like sheriff reports or prosecutor communications, but not the court case files themselves.
If you want a police report related to a criminal case, that request goes to the Muskegon County Sheriff or the arresting law enforcement agency under FOIA. The standard FOIA response window is 5 business days under MCL 15.231, with a possible 10-day extension for complex requests. Fees for FOIA copies range from $0.10 to $1.00 per page depending on the document. The first $20 may be waived for people who qualify as indigent under MCL 15.234.
The key rule: if the record was created by the court or is in a court case file, ask the clerk. If the record was created by a police agency or county office outside the court, use FOIA. Both types of records can be useful when researching a criminal case in Muskegon County.
Legal Help in Muskegon County
If you need help with a criminal case in Muskegon County, several resources are available. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org provides free self-help guides and step-by-step instructions for common legal tasks. The site covers how to request records, understand court orders, and find local legal aid.
Legal aid organizations serve people in Muskegon County who cannot afford a lawyer. Call the court clerk's office and ask which legal aid groups are active in the county. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov lists resources by county and explains how to find help. For e-filing questions or if you need to file something online, MiFILE is available at mifile.courts.michigan.gov. Check the available courts list to confirm that Muskegon County accepts e-filings for the type of case you have.
Cities in Muskegon County
Muskegon is the county seat and largest city in Muskegon County. All criminal court filings for cities and townships in the county go through the 14th Circuit Court in Muskegon. No cities in Muskegon County currently have individual city pages on this site based on population thresholds.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Muskegon County. If you are researching a case that may have been filed in a neighboring county, use the links below to find that county's court information.