How to Search Washtenaw County Court Records
Most Washtenaw County court files move through one of two official portals. The Washtenaw Trial Court Public Access site is the county's own remote-access tool for 22nd Circuit Court, Probate Court, and family division cases. The state's MiCOURT Case Search covers participating Michigan trial courts, including the 14A District Court route used by Washtenaw. The Trial Court general page also links a "Search Cases & Calendar" front door at washtenaw.org/1031/Name-Search.
The county's Search Cases & Calendar page shows the public route into the case database, with name search, calendar lookup, and attorney-only Odyssey access. The image below comes from the same county page.
That portal is the public face of the Washtenaw Trial Court case management system. Attorneys can sign into Odyssey through a separate login. For day-to-day work, most users start on the Search Cases page and follow the steps below.
- Open the Trial Court Public Access portal or MiCOURT Case Search.
- Pick the right court. Use the 22nd Circuit or Washtenaw Trial Court for felonies, civil suits, family, and probate. Use D14A for 14A District Court cases.
- Search by case number if you have it. This is the cleanest way to land on the right file.
- If you do not know the case number, search by last name and first name. Common names will return many hits.
- Use date, court, and case-type filters to cut the list down.
- Open the register of actions to see filings, hearings, bonds, and orders.
- Visit Clerk of the Court-Court Services at 101 E. Huron Street if you need a document image or a certified copy.
The Public Access portal sits behind an ASP.NET session, so it may push you through a login page before search results load. The screenshot below is the portal entry point.
That gateway is how all remote users reach Trial Court case detail outside the state MiCOURT app. Once inside, the portal exposes the case caption, parties, case type, register of actions, and hearings when public.
MiCOURT Case Search Fields for Washtenaw
MiCOURT is the state's Java-based case search app. The county route for Washtenaw's 14A District Court is open through micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/D14A. The screenshot below shows the statewide MiCOURT entry page.
The form uses a court picker, a search type tab, and a small set of input fields. Required fields shift based on the search type you pick.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court | Dropdown / route | Yes | D14A for 14A District; other Michigan trial courts where they take part. |
| Search by | Tab | Yes | Name, case number, ticket/citation, or attorney number where the court allows it. |
| Last Name | Text | Conditional | Used with name search. |
| First Name | Text | Optional | Helps narrow common names. |
| Date of Birth | Date | Optional | Splits people with the same name. |
| Case Number | Text | Conditional | Use the exact court file number. |
| Ticket / Citation Number | Text | Conditional | For traffic and civil infractions. |
| Attorney Number | Text | Conditional | Only where the court has it turned on. |
The Washtenaw County Judicial System
Michigan is a "One Court of Justice" state. The Michigan judicial branch page sets out the hierarchy on the official site at michigan.gov. Washtenaw County fits inside that map.
The chart below shows where Washtenaw cases sit and where appeals go. Felony cases start in a district court and then move up. Family, civil, and probate cases follow their own routes.
Case flow: 14A District Court › 22nd Circuit Court › Michigan Court of Appeals › Michigan Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| 22nd Circuit Court | General trial jurisdiction for the county | Felonies, civil cases above district limits, family division, domestic relations, juvenile, appeals from lower courts |
| Washtenaw Probate Court | Estates, guardianships, mental health | Estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health commitments, wills for safekeeping |
| 14A District Court | Countywide district jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, traffic, civil infractions, small claims, landlord-tenant, felony preliminary exams |
| 15th District Court (Ann Arbor) | City of Ann Arbor district matters | Same district subject matter inside Ann Arbor's local jurisdiction |
| 14B District Court | Ypsilanti Township district matters | Same district subject matter inside Ypsilanti Township |
Cases move up when a party appeals or when the law sends a felony from district court to circuit court after bindover. MCL 600.1021 sets out the family division of circuit court, which is why divorce, custody, support, and most juvenile matters land in the 22nd Circuit.
Washtenaw County Courthouses
The Washtenaw County Trial Court sits in downtown Ann Arbor at 101 E. Huron Street. That same building holds the 22nd Circuit Court, Probate Court, Friend of the Court, and Clerk of the Court-Court Services. The County Clerk and Register of Deeds runs out of a separate office a few blocks away. The 14A District Court splits across four service spots: Pittsfield, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, and Saline. The cards below list each main location.
Washtenaw County Trial Court
101 E. Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Hours: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
County Clerk / Register of Deeds
200 N. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Vital records and land records
14A-1 District Court
4133 Washtenaw Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Pittsfield Township location
Sheriff's Office and Jail
2201 Hogback Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Inmate, bond, and visit info
The county Trial Court general page is the best landing point if you do not know where a case is. The screenshot below shows that hub.
That page links case search, records request, forms, fees, court tech, court operations, and the 14A district court contacts list at washtenaw.org/1409.
Types of Court Records Available in Washtenaw County
Court records in Washtenaw County cover almost every legal dispute filed in the county. Most are public under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, with named carve-outs for sealed, juvenile, adoption, and mental health files. Federal cases are not in the county system. Those run through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and PACER.
- Criminal records - Felony files in the 22nd Circuit Court and misdemeanors in district courts.
- Civil records - Complaints, motions, orders, judgments, garnishments, and liens.
- Family records - Divorce, custody, parenting time, support, paternity, and PPOs handled by the circuit court family division.
- Probate records - Estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health matters at Probate Court.
- Traffic and civil infractions - Tickets, citations, and minor civil cases in district court.
- Landlord-tenant - Summary proceedings and small claims in 14A and city district courts.
- Juvenile - Delinquency and child protective files; access is restricted under MCL 712A.28.
Each record class has its own filing channel and its own request path when the file is older or not online. Most circuit, probate, and family files are searched through the same Trial Court portal.
What Washtenaw County Court Records Show
Public Washtenaw case summaries follow the same pattern across most courts. The exact fields you see depend on the case type and the court's public-access rules. The table below lists the common fields and what each one means in plain English.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Michigan case number with year, court code, and a sequence number. |
| Court | Which Washtenaw court holds the file, such as 22nd Circuit, Probate, or D14A. |
| Case Type | Criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic, landlord-tenant, or small claims. |
| Filing Date | The day the case was opened in court. |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant, or petitioner and respondent. |
| Attorneys | Names and bar numbers when shown. |
| Register of Actions | The full docket history of filings, hearings, and orders. |
| Hearings | Date, time, judge or magistrate, and courtroom. |
| Disposition | Open, pending, disposed, dismissed, transferred, or sealed. |
| Financials | Fines, costs, bond, restitution, and payment status on traffic and criminal cases. |
Some files do not include document images online. For copies of pleadings, motions, or orders, request them through Clerk of the Court-Court Services at the Trial Court.
Public Access Laws for Washtenaw County Court Records
Michigan's public records law is the Freedom of Information Act, set out at MCL 15.231. The act states a strong public policy in favor of open government. But Michigan FOIA does not cover the courts. The judiciary, including the county clerk when acting as clerk to the circuit court, is excluded from the definition of "public body" in MCL 15.232(d)(v). The 14A District Court cites this same rule on its FOIA page.
Key Michigan statutes:
MCL 15.233 - Gives the public the right to inspect and copy public records from non-judicial public bodies such as the sheriff, treasurer, and clerk's non-court functions.
MCL 15.234 - Sets the rules for fees on FOIA requests, including labor and copy costs.
MCL 15.235 - Sets timing, denial, and appeal rules for FOIA requests.
MCR 8.119 - Michigan Court Rule on court records. Court files are public unless a statute, court rule, or order says otherwise.
The practical effect is split. Sheriff incident reports go through county FOIA. Court case files go through court rules and Court Services. If you want a court file, ask the clerk's court office, not the county FOIA office.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Some Washtenaw County records are closed to the public by statute or court rule. Sealed records are not destroyed; they are held in a nonpublic file. The sheriff and the courts may still see them for limited uses.
The main restricted classes are juvenile delinquency and child protective files, adoption files, mental health commitments, sealed records, and set-aside criminal convictions. MCL 710.67 keeps adoption records confidential. MCL 712A.28 limits access to juvenile records.
Michigan calls expungement "setting aside" a conviction. MCL 780.621 covers the application path. MCL 780.621g covers automatic Clean Slate relief. MCL 780.623 tells how a set-aside record is treated after relief is granted. The Washtenaw Prosecutor runs a Conviction Integrity & Expungement Unit listed on the prosecutor divisions page.
Specialty Courts in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County runs problem-solving courts and diversion programs that sit alongside the regular dockets. They use treatment, testing, and frequent court check-ins to deal with substance use, mental health, and reentry needs.
The 14A Sobriety Court is the district-court problem-solving court for eligible drunk-driving and substance-related misdemeanor cases. It is linked from the 14A District Court general info page and uses judicial supervision, testing, and treatment.
The county's LEADD program (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion and Deflection) started as a pilot in Ypsilanti Township in October 2021. It is a joint effort by the Sheriff's Office, Community Mental Health, Public Defender, and the Washtenaw and Ypsilanti Township prosecutors. The goal is to send eligible low-level cases tied to behavioral health to services instead of jail.
The screenshot below is the MiCOURT route used for the 14A docket, where many specialty-court cases show up under the district court.
That same MiCOURT route is the public search for 14A District Court files. The Trial Court general page links it from the central case-search hub.
Washtenaw County District Courts
The county's main district court is the 14A District Court. It has four service locations across the county. The 15th District Court in Ann Arbor and the 14B District Court in Ypsilanti Township run on their own. The 14A docket calendar lives at washtenaw.org/1062.
The 14A District Court general info page links hours, docket, FOIA, Sobriety Court, ADA, Zoom hearings, and a record request form. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at most 14A spots, with 14A-3 closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- 14A-1 - 4133 Washtenaw Avenue in Pittsfield Township.
- 14A-2 - Downtown Ypsilanti; covers Eastern Michigan University and listed nearby jurisdictions.
- 14A-3 - Downtown Chelsea; covers Chelsea, Dexter, Northfield, Scio, Sylvan, Webster.
- 14A-4 - City of Saline; covers Saline, Milan, Bridgewater, Freedom, Lodi, Manchester, Sharon, and York.
The full list of 14A District Court site descriptions is at washtenaw.org/1035/Locations. District court jurisdiction is set in MCL 600.8301 for civil and MCL 600.8351 for criminal matters. Small claims is MCL 600.8412.
Washtenaw County Sheriff and Jail
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office sits at 2201 Hogback Road in Ann Arbor. The Sheriff is Alyshia Dyer. The office has more than 350 staff across six divisions: Administrative Operations, Community Engagement, Corrections, Emergency Services, Innovative Reentry, and Police Services. The service area covers more than 350,000 people in 25 local units of government, per the county elected officials page.
The incarcerated individual information hub covers attorney visits, bond, mail, money, phone, property release, and video visits. The county uses Securus Technologies for phone and voicemail. eXpress Account is the deposit and payment system for incarcerated loved ones.
For roster verification, use VINELink for custody notifications, or contact the jail at the Sheriff's Office main number. See the Washtenaw County inmate records page for the full lookup walk-through and the warrant records page for outstanding warrant procedures.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage licenses run through the Washtenaw County Clerk / Register of Deeds. The county marriage license page at washtenaw.org/286 links to certified copies, ceremonies, correction steps, and the Michigan marriage law summary. Full detail sits on the Washtenaw marriage and divorce records page.
Divorce files are family-division records inside the 22nd Circuit Court. Search through the Trial Court portal or MiCOURT, then ask Court Services for documents. The Friend of the Court helps the court track custody, parenting time, and support.
Probate Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health work. The official landing page is washtenaw.org/1174. More detail is on the Washtenaw probate records page.
The Probate Court page also lists the inventory fee calculator and a will safekeeping service. Key probate terms are below.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to settle the estate; called a personal representative in Michigan probate.
- Conservator
- Court-appointed money manager for a protected person's assets.
- Guardian
- Court-appointed person who makes life decisions for a ward.
- Intestate
- Term for a person who died without a will.
Washtenaw County Court Records Fees
The Trial Court keeps its current fee schedule on the Fees page. The Register of Deeds posts its own fee schedule on the deeds page. Many filing and copy fees are set by Michigan statute and SCAO rules, so the figures change from year to year. Always confirm before mailing in a check.
| Item | Where Posted |
|---|---|
| Court filing fees | Trial Court Fees page (washtenaw.org/1288) |
| Certified court copies | Through Clerk of the Court-Court Services; set by SCAO and statute |
| Land record copies | Register of Deeds; account login is required to purchase |
| Marriage license | County Clerk Vital Records; fee shown on the marriage license page |
| FOIA copy fees (county records) | Set under MCL 15.234 |
| Online payment of court fines | Linked from the 14A and Trial Court online payment routes |
For records you cannot find online, the county lists a request hub at washtenaw.org/1670 that points users to sheriff reports, vital records, FOIA, and marriage records.
How to Read Washtenaw County Court Records
Most court files use shorthand. Knowing the codes helps you tell what stage a case is at. A criminal docket may show "ARR" for arraignment, "PE" for preliminary exam, "PT" for pretrial, and "SENT" for sentencing. A civil docket may show "COMP" for complaint, "ANS" for answer, and "JDGT" for judgment.
An arrest is not a conviction. A charge filed in district court at arraignment is only an allegation. A case is closed when the docket shows a final disposition, plea, sentence, or dismissal. A dismissed case may still show on the court file but should not be read as a conviction.
Bonds are not fines. Bond is held to make sure the person comes back to court. The county page on incarcerated individual information states that if a 10% bond is posted, the court keeps 10% of the posted amount and releases the bond at the end of the case or earlier by judge order.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
The Washtenaw Trial Court Public Access portal pulls from the same case management system used by court staff. The 14A District Court page notes that docket data is updated as scheduling changes are made available to case management staff. Updates may run a day or two behind in busy weeks.
The county docket calendar page is shown below.
If you see an error in a Washtenaw court record, contact the issuing court clerk in writing. Do not rely on a third-party site. The official source is the court file held by Clerk of the Court-Court Services or the 14A District Court Clerk for 14A files.
Note: Always confirm any sensitive detail with the issuing court office before relying on online data for hiring, lending, or legal use.
History of Washtenaw County Courts
Washtenaw County was set up in the 1820s with Ann Arbor as the county seat. The court structure reflects Michigan's One Court of Justice model. The Trial Court general page notes that Central Assignment was created in 1988 after a Washtenaw court reorganization plan. Central Assignment still handles case scheduling and case evaluation, which is unusual since many Michigan counties keep those tasks split.
The Washtenaw County Public Defender Office was set up in 1971. It was one of the early county-funded indigent defense offices in the state and handles criminal, civil contempt, and juvenile matters under a county government structure. That office still serves as the county's institutional defense counterpart to local prosecutors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Washtenaw County court records online?
Use the Trial Court Search Cases & Calendar page, the Washtenaw Trial Court Public Access portal, or MiCOURT Case Search. Search by case number when you can. If you do not know the case number, use last name and first name. Add court and date filters to cut the list down. If the file is older or not online, contact Clerk of the Court-Court Services at 101 E. Huron Street.
Are Washtenaw court files covered by Michigan FOIA?
No. MCL 15.232(d)(v) excludes the judiciary, including the county clerk when acting as clerk to the circuit court, from the FOIA definition of public body. Court records run under Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and court office procedures. Sheriff and other executive records still go through county FOIA.
Which Washtenaw court handles felony cases?
Felony cases begin in a district court for arraignment and preliminary examination. After bindover the case moves to the 22nd Circuit Court for trial. The 22nd Circuit is the main felony trial court for Washtenaw County. See the Washtenaw arrest records page for the full criminal case flow.
Where do I get a Washtenaw marriage license?
The County Clerk / Register of Deeds handles marriage licenses through Vital Records. The county marriage license page at washtenaw.org/286 links to certified copies, ceremonies, corrections, and Michigan marriage law. Full detail is on the marriage and divorce records page.
Is there a public Washtenaw jail roster?
An official searchable Washtenaw jail roster was not located in the county pages reviewed. The county runs an incarcerated individual information hub that covers visit, bond, mail, money, phone, and property rules. To verify custody, call the Sheriff's Office, use VINELink, or check the case docket online.
Where do federal cases tied to Washtenaw County go?
Federal cases sit outside the county system. They go to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, with bankruptcy in the Eastern District Bankruptcy Court. Federal records are searched on PACER. Federal appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
More on the Washtenaw County Court Records FAQ page.