Antrim County Civil Court Records Search
Antrim County civil court records are filed at the courthouse in Bellaire, in the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The 13th Circuit Court, which also covers Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, handles major civil disputes here. The 86th District Court takes care of smaller civil claims. Whether you need to search for a pending case, pull copies of a judgment, or file a new civil action, this page covers the steps, costs, and tools involved in working with Antrim County court records.
Antrim County Overview
Antrim County Court Contact Info
The Antrim County Courthouse sits on East Cayuga Street in Bellaire. The county clerk's office is in this building. That is where you go for civil court record requests, copy orders, and general court inquiries. The 13th Circuit Court administration, however, operates out of Traverse City since the circuit serves three counties.
| Office | Details |
|---|---|
| Antrim County Courthouse | 203 E. Cayuga Street, Bellaire, MI 49615 |
| Clerk Phone | (231) 533-6353 |
| Clerk Email | clerk@antrimcounty.org |
| 13th Circuit Administration | 328 Washington Street, Suite 300, Traverse City, MI 49684 |
| Circuit Court Phone | (231) 922-4701 |
| Circuit Court Email | c13court@hotmail.com |
The 13th Circuit Court serves Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties. Civil cases over $25,000 go to circuit court under MCL 600.8301. The 86th District Court handles civil claims up to $25,000, plus small claims of $6,500 or less. If your dispute falls on the smaller end, district court is likely where your case will land.
Because the circuit court covers multiple counties, some administrative functions are based in Traverse City rather than Bellaire. But filings for Antrim County cases still go through the Antrim County Clerk's office in Bellaire.
How to Search Antrim Civil Court Records
You have a few ways to search for civil court records in Antrim County. The quickest is the MiCOURT Case Search portal. This state-run tool lets you search by party name, case number, business name, or attorney. It covers both the 13th Circuit Court and 86th District Court. Results show docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. The service is free and works around the clock.
Keep in mind that MiCOURT rarely shows the full text of filed documents. What you see are summaries and action entries. For actual copies of complaints, motions, or orders, you need the clerk's office. MCR 8.119 gives you the right to access public court records, but the format is up to the court. Most courts have not put full document images online yet.
You can also visit the Antrim County Courthouse in person during business hours. Staff at the clerk's window can look up cases in the system and pull files for you to review. If you want copies, they will make them on the spot for the standard per-page fee.
Requesting Antrim County Court Documents
In-person requests are the simplest route. Walk into the clerk's office at 203 E. Cayuga Street in Bellaire. Provide the case number or the names of the parties. The staff will find the file and copy the pages you need. Bring payment for the copy fees.
Mail requests work too, especially if you cannot make the trip to Bellaire. Send your request to the Antrim County Clerk at 203 E. Cayuga Street, Bellaire, MI 49615. Include the case number, party names, and which documents you want. Add a check for the estimated copy fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow at least a week for processing and return mail.
For filing new documents, the MiFILE system allows electronic submissions. Attorneys generally must file electronically. Self-represented litigants can choose paper or electronic filing. MiFILE runs 24 hours a day, which is handy for deadlines.
Note: You can email the clerk at clerk@antrimcounty.org with questions, but record requests usually need to be made in person or by mail.
Court Record Fees in Antrim County
Standard copy fees follow MCL 600.2546. Expect to pay $1.00 to $2.00 per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost about $10.00 to $11.00 for the certification, plus the per-page rate. Get certified copies if you plan to use the documents in another legal proceeding.
Filing fees for new civil actions vary. Small claims cases in the 86th District Court are the cheapest to file. Standard district court civil cases start around $30 to $35 for claims up to $600. Larger claims have higher fees. Circuit court filings carry the highest costs, matching the higher dollar amounts at stake. Contact the clerk at (231) 533-6353 for exact current fees.
Antrim County Records Privacy Rules
MCL 600.1420 establishes that Michigan courts are public. Civil court records in Antrim County are open to anyone who asks. You do not have to state a purpose or show identification to review a public case file. The clerk is required to let you see it under MCR 8.119.
Certain records stay confidential. Juvenile cases, adoptions, and mental health proceedings are not public. Sealed cases require a court order to access. Since April 2022, Michigan courts redact protected personal information from public filings. Under MCR 1.109, details like dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and bank account numbers are removed before the public can view them.
Michigan courts are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.232(h)(iv). You cannot use FOIA to get court records. All requests go directly through the clerk's office instead.
Legal Help and Antrim County Resources
If you are handling a civil case on your own, Michigan Legal Help offers free guides, self-help tools, and court forms. This is a good place to start if you need to understand the process for filing or responding to a civil lawsuit in Antrim County. The Michigan Courts portal also has standardized forms and court rules that apply statewide.
The Antrim County website has information about county departments and services. For questions about the 13th Circuit Court specifically, the 13th Circuit Court page provides administration contacts and court details.
The clerk's staff can explain how to fill out forms and where to file them. What they cannot do is give you legal advice about your specific situation. For that, talk to a lawyer or use the free resources online.
Note: The 13th Circuit Court administration in Traverse City handles scheduling and case management for Antrim County circuit court cases.
The 13th Circuit Court page has details about the multi-county circuit court that handles Antrim County civil court records.
This page covers the 13th Circuit Court serving Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties, including court contacts and procedures for civil case filings.
Nearby Counties
These northern Michigan counties neighbor Antrim and also maintain civil court records.