Van Buren County Criminal Court Records

Van Buren County criminal court records are maintained by the County Clerk in Paw Paw, Michigan. The 36th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases for the county, and the 7th District Court handles misdemeanor matters and arraignments. You can search Van Buren County criminal court records through MiCOURT online, visit the courthouse at 212 E. Paw Paw Street, or contact the clerk at (269) 657-8218.

Van Buren County Clerk and Courts

The Van Buren County Clerk's office is at 212 E. Paw Paw Street in Paw Paw. The phone is (269) 657-8218, and the fax is (269) 657-8298. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk maintains records for both the circuit court and district court and can assist with records requests by phone, in person, or by mail during regular business hours.

The 36th Circuit Court handles all felony criminal matters in Van Buren County. Van Buren County is a single-county circuit, so all felony cases filed here go through the same court in Paw Paw. Felony cases include serious drug charges, assault, weapons violations, breaking and entering, and other major criminal matters. The full circuit court case file includes the charging documents, motions, hearings, any plea agreement or trial transcript, and the sentencing order.

The 7th District Court at (269) 657-8222 handles all misdemeanor criminal cases in Van Buren County and is the first court for any felony proceeding before it moves to circuit court. Arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary exams happen in district court. Both courts are located at or near the courthouse at 212 E. Paw Paw Street. Van Buren County also makes case calendar information available online for court scheduling lookups.

How to Search Van Buren County Criminal Court Records

The main online tool for Van Buren County criminal cases is MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. This free statewide system covers the 36th Circuit Court and the 7th District Court. Search by name or case number to see case status, docket entries, and party information. Most active and recent cases appear in MiCOURT. Van Buren County also provides case information and calendars online at vanburencountymi.gov for court scheduling lookups.

For in-person access, visit the clerk at 212 E. Paw Paw Street. The office is open until 5:00 PM, giving you a full workday window to get in and request records. Bring a case number or full name. Staff can pull the case file and make copies at $1.00 per page. Mail requests go to: Van Buren County Clerk, 212 E. Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, MI 49079. Include the full name, approximate year, and the type of record. The clerk will confirm the fee before processing.

For older cases or cases that do not appear in MiCOURT, contact the clerk at (269) 657-8218 to ask about archive retrieval. Archived records may take additional time to pull and may not be available for same-day pickup. Planning ahead and calling or emailing first is the best approach for older case files.

Copy Fees and Records Procedures

Standard copy fees at the Van Buren 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 when staff must search without a case number, charged under MCL 15.234 based on actual staff time. Call (269) 657-8218 for a fee estimate before mailing a request.

For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to Van Buren County Clerk. Do not send cash. Allow extra processing time for archived or older records. Indigent requesters may seek a waiver of the first $20 in fees by submitting an affidavit of indigency. The clerk will review the request and respond before processing any waived fees.

Online Case Search Tools

MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is the free statewide tool for Van Buren 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 database, covering Van Buren County arrests and convictions alongside records from other Michigan courts. Michigan's MiFILE e-filing system may offer online document access for some Van Buren County cases; check the available courts list for current participation.

The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov provides access to MiCOURT and statewide court resources for Van Buren County criminal case searches.

FOIA and Court Records

Criminal court case files in Van Buren 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 circuit court clerk at (269) 657-8218. A FOIA request for criminal case files will be denied and redirected to the clerk.

Legal Resources for Van Buren County

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free guides on court records and expungement for all Michigan counties including Van Buren. 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 Van Buren County

Van Buren County is in southwestern Michigan along Lake Michigan. Paw Paw is the county seat, and South Haven is a notable community along the lakeshore. No cities in Van Buren County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Criminal court records for all Van Buren County communities are handled through the County Clerk and the 36th Circuit Court at 212 E. Paw Paw Street.

Nearby Counties

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