Court records in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, are maintained by the county court clerk's office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. KalamazooCourt.us can help locate public information about county court cases. Additionally, you can use the MiCOURT Case Search portal, contact the County Clerk / Register of Deeds office, or visit the courthouse in person.
Kalamazoo Court System Overview
Kalamazoo County is served by two main state courts: the 9th Circuit Court and the 8th District Court. The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction that handles serious criminal cases (felonies), large civil claims, family, and probate cases. The 8th District Court exclusively serves Kalamazoo County and handles misdemeanors, civil infractions, small claims, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. Both courts are located in the city of Kalamazoo. General information about court structure, leadership, and hours of operation can be found on the Kalamazoo County Courts page.
Courts Serving Kalamazoo
Residents of Kalamazoo County may have cases in several courts — both at the state and federal levels.
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 9th Circuit Court (Kalamazoo County) | 227 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 | 269-383-8837 |
| 8th District Court | 330 Eleanor St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 | 269-384-8171 |
| U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan | 410 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 | 269-337-5700 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Michigan | One Michigan Ave. W., Suite 200, Battle Creek, MI 49017 | 269-966-3541 |
There are no municipal courts in Kalamazoo County — all cases that in some states are handled by city courts are heard in the 8th District Court.
What Types of Cases Kalamazoo Courts Hear
The county courts cover a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal: felonies, misdemeanors, civil infractions
- Civil: claims of any size, small claims
- Family Law: divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders
- Probate: estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts
- Juvenile: minor cases, child protection, adoption
- Traffic violations and DUI
The specific court depends on the severity of the offense or the amount of the claim — details are disclosed below.
District Court Cases in Kalamazoo
All criminal cases involving individuals aged 18 and over begin in the criminal division of the 8th District Court. Misdemeanors are handled from start to finish — from arraignment to sentencing. Felony cases have a preliminary examination here; if the judge finds sufficient evidence, the case is transferred to the Circuit Court. Civil claims up to $25,000 are also handled by the District Court. Cases are assigned to judges according to the court's internal procedures.
Magistrate Court Cases in Kalamazoo
In Michigan, magistrates in the District Court perform limited functions — they can conduct warrant arrests, set bail, and hear certain civil infractions. Small claims in the 8th District Court have a jurisdictional limit of $6,500 according to state law. Traffic violations and DUI cases begin with an arraignment in the District Court. Civil infractions — from parking fines to local ordinance violations — also fall here. If the case volume is large, specific categories may be assigned to individual judges or magistrates.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Kalamazoo
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders (PPO), paternity, and termination of parental rights are handled by the Family Division of the Circuit Court. Most divorce proceedings do not require presence in the courtroom at every stage.
Probate. The Probate Court in Kalamazoo County is part of the Circuit Court. It handles the estates of deceased persons, appoints guardians and conservators, and addresses trust matters. Probate records are generally open to the public, except for certain medical or financial documents.
Juvenile Matters. The Juvenile Division of the Circuit Court handles cases of juvenile offenders and child protection cases. These records are confidential under Michigan law.
How Cases Move Through the Kalamazoo Court System
- Case Initiation: criminal complaint from the prosecutor's office, civil claim from the plaintiff, or petition (family, probate, juvenile cases).
- Judge Assignment: the case is assigned to a specific judge according to the court's internal procedure.
- Initial Hearings: arraignment in criminal cases; scheduling conference in civil cases.
- Pretrial Phase: filing motions, discovery, plea negotiations in criminal cases, or settlement negotiations in civil cases.
- Trial or Resolution: bench trial or jury trial, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: sentencing, appeal to the Court of Appeals, enforcement of judgment.
Attorneys are required to file documents electronically through the MiFILE system in accordance with Michigan Court Rule 1.109(G)(3)(f). Parties without an attorney may file documents in paper form directly at the clerk's office.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Kalamazoo
The administrative management of the county courts is carried out by the chief judge of the Circuit Court in conjunction with the court administrator. Local court rules for the 9th Circuit Court and the 8th District Court are published on the respective court websites and through the Michigan Courts portal.
According to Michigan law, most court records are public. Exceptions apply to juvenile cases, certain family cases, sealed or expunged records. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) also governs access to public documents — the Kalamazoo County FOIA portal allows online requests.
Hearings are usually open to the public. Some sessions are conducted remotely via video conferencing — check the format with the specific court clerk's office before visiting.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Kalamazoo
- Online Case Search: MiCOURT Case Search is a free portal for searching cases in Michigan courts. Some courts only display case numbers and criminal conviction data for the past seven years.
- County Clerk Records: The Clerk / Register of Deeds maintains birth, death, marriage certificates, as well as business registrations and military documents.
- Vital Records: The county's Vital Records department issues copies of civil status acts for events that occurred in Kalamazoo County. State-level records are available through the Michigan Vital Records Office.
- Criminal History: ICHAT from the Michigan State Police allows searches of public criminal history. To expunge or update a record, a petition must be filed.
- Inmate Search: Inmate Search on the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's website allows checking if a person is in the county jail. General jail information — bail, commissary, inmate communication — is also available online.
- MDOC Offender Search: Through OTIS (Offender Tracking Information System), you can find information on individuals who are or were under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Corrections.
- Police Reports: The Records Information department of the Sheriff's Office accepts requests for police and accident reports. You can also file a police report online.
- Property Records: The document search of the Register of Deeds allows finding deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents. Separate Parcel Search and Property Records & Taxes provide data on land parcels, assessments, and taxes.
- Michigan Sex Offender Registry: The public registry is available on the Michigan State Police website at michigan.gov/msp.
To obtain copies of court records, contact the clerk's office of the respective court or use KalamazooCourt.us as a starting point for your search.