Clare County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Clare County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Clare County may access publicly available case information through several official channels. ClareRecords.us provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by Clare County courts and state judicial systems. Depending on the case type and its current status, records may include civil filings, criminal case information, probate matters, family court documents, traffic citations, and small claims proceedings. Access to specific records is subject to applicable state law, court rules, and judicial policy governing confidentiality and public disclosure.
Court records in Clare County may be searched through the following five methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Clare County Clerk's office maintains official court records for the Circuit Court and related divisions. Members of the public may submit requests in person during regular business hours. Providing the full case number, party name, or filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently. Certain records may require a formal written request or payment of applicable fees before copies are released.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Clare County Courthouse for on-site case lookup. These terminals allow members of the public to search docket entries and case status information without charge during courthouse hours. Terminal access does not extend to sealed, expunged, or otherwise restricted case files.
3. Online Court Search The Michigan judiciary operates the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which provides statewide online access to case information from participating courts, including Clare County courts. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney of record. Online access reflects publicly available docket data and does not include documents that are sealed or restricted under court order or statute.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Michigan Courts case search portal maintained by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) provides access to cases from the Clare Circuit Court, Clare Juvenile Division, and other Clare County court divisions. This tool is available at no cost and is updated as courts submit case data to the statewide system.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Clare County Clerk's office. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return mailing address. Applicable copy fees apply, and processing times vary based on the volume of requests received.
Clare County Clerk's Office 225 W. Main St. Harrison, MI 48625 Phone: (989) 539-7131 Clare County Official Website
Are Court Records Public In Clare County
Court records in Clare County are public under current Michigan law. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.231 et seq., establishes the right of members of the public to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by government bodies, including court records not otherwise exempted by statute or court rule. The Michigan Supreme Court's administrative orders and the court rules codified under the Michigan Court Rules (MCR) further govern public access to judicial records.
Records that are public under current law include:
- Docket entries and case status information
- Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
- Scheduled hearing dates and continuances
- Filed motions, complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation terms in criminal cases
- Probate filings and estate inventories where not restricted
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child protective proceedings under MCL § 712A.28
- Adoption records, which are sealed by statute
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Records expunged pursuant to Michigan's expungement statutes
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
- Sealed filings entered under court order
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While docket information and case status data are available through the MiCOURT online portal, full document images are not uniformly available online for all case types. Members of the public seeking complete case files may need to inspect records in person at the courthouse or submit a formal records request to the clerk's office.
What Are Court Records in Clare County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In Clare County, court records are generated from the moment a case is initiated through filing and continue to be updated through each stage of litigation, including hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition. If a case is appealed, the trial court record is transmitted to the appellate court and becomes part of the appellate record.
A docket entry is a chronological log of all actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents filed by the parties and issued by the court. Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a criminal offense. Filed pleadings are the initial documents that define the claims and defenses in a case, whereas final judgments represent the court's ultimate resolution of those claims.
Public filings are accessible to members of the public under applicable law, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection pursuant to statute, court rule, or court order. Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the originating court, while appellate records are maintained by the Michigan Court of Appeals or the Michigan Supreme Court, depending on the level of appeal.
The Clare County Clerk's office serves as the official custodian of Circuit Court records. The 80th District Court maintains its own records for matters within its jurisdiction. The State Court Administrative Office coordinates statewide data through the MiCOURT system, which aggregates case information from participating trial courts across Michigan.
What's Included in a Clare County Court Record?
A court record in Clare County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type designation
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, attorneys of record, and other named parties
- Case status: Current status such as open, closed, dismissed, or on appeal
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, orders, and actions taken in the case
- Hearing information: Scheduled and past hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
- Filed documents: Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, responses, briefs, notices, and stipulations
- Court orders and judgments: Interim orders, final judgments, decrees, custody rulings, probate orders, and sentencing entries
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, sentences, restitution orders, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed costs, fines, bond information, and restitution amounts where publicly shown
Records commonly excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings entered under court order, expunged criminal matters, juvenile delinquency files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The presence or absence of specific documents within a case file depends on the nature of the proceeding and any applicable confidentiality orders.
Types of Courts in Clare County
Clare County is served by a two-tier trial court structure under the Michigan judiciary system. The Michigan Courts case search portal identifies the following courts operating in Clare County:
Clare County Circuit Court (55th Circuit Court) The Circuit Court is Michigan's general-jurisdiction trial court and handles felony criminal cases, civil cases involving amounts over $25,000, family law matters including divorce and custody, and appeals from the District Court and administrative agencies. The Circuit Court also includes a Juvenile Division that handles delinquency, child protective, and other juvenile matters.
225 W. Main St. Harrison, MI 48625 Phone: (989) 539-7131 Clare County Circuit Court
Clare County 80th District Court The 80th District Court is a limited-jurisdiction court handling misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases involving amounts up to $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims matters (up to $7,000), and traffic and ordinance violations. The Available Courts listing on TrueFiling confirms the Clare County – Harrison – 80-1 District Court as an active court within the statewide electronic filing system.
225 W. Main St. Harrison, MI 48625 Phone: (989) 539-6371 80th District Court
Clare County Probate Court The Probate Court handles estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health proceedings, and certain trust matters. Probate records are maintained separately from Circuit and District Court records.
225 W. Main St. Harrison, MI 48625 Phone: (989) 539-7131 Clare County Probate Court
The Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court serve as appellate courts for Clare County cases. Appellate records are maintained by those courts and are accessible through the Michigan Courts website.
How to Search Clare County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Clare County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection of court records at the Clare County Courthouse is free of charge. Public access terminals located within the courthouse allow users to search docket information and case status without payment.
The MiCOURT Case Search portal provides free online access to case information from Clare County courts. Users may search by party name or case number without creating an account or paying a fee. The statewide Michigan Courts case search tool similarly provides no-cost access to case data submitted by participating courts.
The following table summarizes current access methods and associated costs:
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person courthouse inspection | Free |
| Public access terminal (courthouse) | Free |
| MiCOURT online case search | Free |
| Standard paper copies | $1.00 per page (standard clerk fee) |
| Certified copies | $10.00 per document (standard) |
| Research fee (extensive requests) | Varies by clerk |
Fees for copies and certified documents are governed by the Michigan Revised Judicature Act and applicable SCAO fee schedules. Members of the public seeking official court forms approved by the Michigan Supreme Court may access them at no cost through the SCAO forms portal.
How Long Does Clare County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Clare County is governed by the Michigan Trial Court Case File Management Standards and retention schedules issued by the State Court Administrative Office pursuant to Michigan law. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Under current judicial records management standards, the following retention periods apply to common record categories:
- Felony criminal case files: Retained permanently or for a minimum of 25 years after final disposition
- Misdemeanor criminal case files: Retained for a minimum of 7 years after final disposition
- Civil case files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years after final disposition for general civil matters
- Probate records: Retained permanently for estate files; guardianship and conservatorship files retained for varying periods
- Juvenile records: Subject to separate retention rules under MCL § 712A.28, with some records sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood
- Docket books and minute records: Retained permanently
- Judgment dockets: Retained permanently
Paper case files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record has been preserved in an approved format. Destruction of a paper file does not constitute expungement; the record continues to exist in its preserved format. Expungement under MCL § 780.621 is a separate legal process that results in the setting aside of a conviction and the restriction of public access to the affected record.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives. Members of the public seeking records predating electronic case management systems should contact the Clare County Clerk's office directly to determine the format and availability of archived materials.
How To Find a Court Docket in Clare County
A court docket is a chronological index of all actions, filings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed by the parties. A docket entry may note that a motion was filed without including the text of the motion itself.
Court dockets for Clare County cases are available through the following channels:
Online via MiCOURT: The MiCOURT Case Search portal allows members of the public to search for a specific case and view its docket entries. To locate a docket, users may enter the party's name or the case number in the search fields provided. The system returns a list of matching cases, and selecting a case displays the docket entries associated with that matter. The portal is maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court and the State Court Administrative Office.
In Person at the Clerk's Office: Members of the public may request docket information directly from the Clare County Clerk's office during regular business hours. Staff can provide a printed docket sheet for a specific case upon request. A nominal fee may apply for printed copies.
Courthouse Public Terminals: Public access terminals at the Clare County Courthouse provide on-site docket search capability at no charge.
A court docket typically contains hearing dates and times, continuances, motion filings and their disposition, minute entries from hearings, status updates, and the dates of orders and judgments. A docket does not include the full text of sealed entries, confidential attachments, exhibits admitted under seal, or documents restricted by court order. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available separately through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse.
As noted by the Michigan Supreme Court, the MiCOURT system is operated subject to terms that limit its use to lawful purposes, and the data provided reflects information submitted by individual courts to the statewide system, which may not reflect same-day updates in all instances.