Find Canton Civil Court Records
Canton civil court records are handled by the 35th District Court, which serves Canton Township along with Plymouth and Northville in Wayne County. The courthouse is not in Canton itself but sits in nearby Plymouth at 660 Plymouth Road. Civil cases up to $25,000 go through the 35th District Court, while larger disputes are filed at the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit. This page covers how to search for Canton civil court records, the options for getting copies, and what you can expect in terms of fees and procedures at both courts.
Canton Court Overview
Canton's 35th District Court
The 35th District Court handles Canton civil court records for cases up to $25,000. The court sits at 660 Plymouth Road in Plymouth, which is just north of Canton Township. It has jurisdiction over Canton, Plymouth, and Northville under MCL 600.8301. General civil cases, small claims up to $7,000, and civil infractions are all processed here.
Even though the courthouse is in Plymouth, Canton residents file all their district-level civil cases at this location. The court building has a public terminal in the lobby where you can look up case information. Printing from the terminal costs $1 per page. This is a quick way to check on a case without needing to talk to the clerk.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Court | 35th District Court |
| Address | 660 Plymouth Road, Plymouth, MI 48170 |
| Phone | (734) 459-4740 |
| Website | 35thdistrictcourt.org |
Searching Canton Civil Court Records Online
The 35th District Court has a records page that explains how to access case information. The court links to the MiCOURT Case Search system for online lookups. You can search by party name or case number. The system shows the register of actions, hearing dates, and case status. Document images are not available online.
For Wayne County Circuit Court cases, use the Odyssey Public Access portal. This tool covers the 3rd Circuit Court. You can also go through the statewide MiCOURT portal and select the 35th District Court or the 3rd Circuit Court from the dropdown. MiCOURT pulls data from many Michigan courts into one search interface.
Note: The 35th District Court is in Plymouth, not Canton, but it handles all Canton civil cases at the district level.
Getting Copies of Canton Court Records
There are three ways to get copies of Canton civil court records from the 35th District Court. The first is using MiCOURT to view internal case records online. This gives you the register of actions and basic case info, but not full documents. The second option is visiting the courthouse in person. Use the public terminal in the lobby to find your case, then ask the clerk for printed copies at $1 per page.
The third option is a certified record request by email. Send your request to Recordchecks@35thdistrictcourt.org. Include the case number, party names, and a description of what you need. Certified copies cost $10 for certification plus per-page charges. For Wayne County Circuit Court records, contact the clerk at 2 Woodward Avenue in Detroit or email wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov. MCR 8.119 guarantees public access to court records.
Canton Court Fees and Costs
Standard copies at the 35th District Court cost $1 per page. This includes copies from the public terminal in the lobby. Certified copies run $10 for the certification fee plus $1 per page after that. These are the standard rates for Canton civil court records at the district level.
Wayne County Circuit Court has its own fee schedule. Standard copies are $1.50 per page for pleadings. Certified copies cost $10 plus $1 per page. Transcript copies run $0.30 per page. Name searches are $1 per name. MCL 600.2546 gives courts the authority to charge these fees. Filing new civil cases involves separate filing fees that vary by case type and the amount in dispute.
The 35th District Court records page provides information about accessing Canton civil court records and requesting copies.
This page outlines the three ways to request court records: online viewing, in-person terminal, and email requests for certified copies.
Canton Civil Case Types
The 35th District Court processes general civil cases, small claims, and civil infractions for Canton residents. General civil cases cover everything from contract disputes to property damage claims. Small claims are for simpler disputes up to $7,000 where no lawyer is needed. The court also handles city and township ordinance violations that carry civil penalties.
Cases above $25,000 get filed at the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court. That court sits in Detroit and handles large civil matters for all of Wayne County. Canton civil court records at both levels are public under Michigan law. Under MCR 8.119, anyone can inspect these records during normal business hours. Personal info is protected under MCR 1.109, so Social Security numbers and full dates of birth are redacted.
Note: Email certified record requests to Recordchecks@35thdistrictcourt.org with the case number and party names.
Filing and Legal Help in Canton
File civil cases at the 35th District Court in person or through MiFILE if the court accepts electronic filing. Self-represented parties can create a free account. Michigan Legal Help has guides and forms for filing small claims, general civil cases, and other matters. The Michigan Courts website also provides standardized forms and procedural information.
Wayne County Records
Canton is in Wayne County. Circuit court civil cases are filed through the Wayne County Clerk's office in Detroit.
Nearby Cities
Other Wayne County cities near Canton have their own district courts. You can search civil court records in these locations as well.