Rochester Hills Court Docket Records
Rochester Hills court dockets are maintained by the 52-3 District Court at 700 Barclay Circle and the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court. The 52-3 District Court serves Rochester Hills along with the Cities of Rochester and Auburn Hills and Orion Township. You can search Rochester Hills court records online through the Oakland County Court Explorer or Michigan's statewide case search portal. This page explains how to access and request court dockets for Rochester Hills cases.
Rochester Hills Overview
52-3 District Court: Rochester Hills Cases
The 52-3 District Court handles limited jurisdiction cases for Rochester Hills, Rochester, Auburn Hills, and Orion Township. It is located at 700 Barclay Circle in Rochester Hills. The court's jurisdiction covers criminal misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. When a Rochester Hills felony case reaches the probable cause stage, the docket moves to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac for trial.
The 52-3 Division is one of four divisions in the 52nd District Court, each serving a different part of Oakland County. The other divisions serve Clawson and Troy (52-4), Clarkston (52-2), and another nearby area. The Rochester Hills division at 700 Barclay Circle is the one that handles Rochester Hills cases. The main phone number for the 52-3 District Court is (248) 853-5553. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| 52-3 District Court | 700 Barclay Circle, Rochester Hills, MI 48307 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (248) 853-5553 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Jurisdiction | Rochester Hills, Rochester, Auburn Hills, Orion Township |
Search Rochester Hills Court Dockets Online
The best place to start searching Rochester Hills court dockets is Oakland County's Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com. This portal gives access to Oakland County court case information for both district and circuit courts. It is separate from the statewide Michigan Courts portal and may have cases or search features not available elsewhere. Both tools are free to use.
The statewide Michigan Courts Case Search portal covers all 57 Michigan circuit courts including the Oakland County 6th Circuit. If a Rochester Hills case moved to the circuit court after bindover, search for it here by party name or case number. The portal shows case status and Register of Actions entries but not document images. For 52-3 District Court cases specifically, contact the court at (248) 853-5553 if you cannot find what you need online.
The Oakland County Court Explorer portal is the primary public access tool for Rochester Hills and other Oakland County court records. It covers both the 52-3 District Court and the 6th Circuit Court serving Rochester Hills.
Electronic filing for Rochester Hills cases may be available through MiFILE. Check the available courts list to see if the 52-3 District Court or Oakland County Circuit Court accepts your case type for e-filing. The Rochester Hills city website at rochesterhills.org may also have local government contacts that can point you to court resources.
Note: Oakland County Court Explorer and Michigan Courts case search are not official court records. For certified copies or official documentation, contact the clerk's office in person or by mail.
Oakland County 6th Circuit Court and Rochester Hills
Rochester Hills felony cases and civil matters over $25,000 go to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. The 6th Circuit is based at the Oakland County courthouse, which is in Pontiac even though Rochester Hills has a larger population. Divorce, child custody, and probate matters for Rochester Hills residents also go through the Oakland County Circuit Court. This is the court that handles the more serious and complex cases.
Circuit court dockets for Rochester Hills cases are searchable through the Court Explorer portal and the statewide Michigan Courts portal. You can also visit the Oakland County Clerk's office in Pontiac to review circuit court records in person. The Oakland County website at oakgov.com has court contacts, hours, and links to all county court resources. For all circuit court matters tied to Rochester Hills, the Oakland County page has the full county-level picture.
Requesting Rochester Hills Court Records
You can get Rochester Hills court docket records in person, by mail, or electronically for some case types. For district court records, go to the 52-3 District Court at 700 Barclay Circle during business hours. Bring a case number or party name. Staff will locate the case and can make copies. Standard copy fees run $1-2 per page. Certified copies cost more and require you to fill out a specific request form. The court accepts common payment types including check, money order, and credit/debit cards where available.
For circuit court records, contact the Oakland County Circuit Court Clerk in Pontiac. You can visit in person or submit a written request by mail. Include the case number, party names, case type, and filing year. Mail requests should include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Processing times vary. Call the circuit court clerk's office ahead of time to ask about turnaround times if your request is time-sensitive.
Free court forms for all case types are available at the Michigan SCAO forms page. Download and complete forms before going to the courthouse to save time. Electronic filing through MiFILE is an option for some case types at participating Oakland County courts.
Rochester Hills Court Dockets: Public Access Rules
Most Rochester Hills court dockets are public under MCR 8.119. The Register of Actions for civil and criminal cases is available to anyone, not just the parties. Courts redact protected personal identifying information before releasing records under MCR 8.119(H)(5). This applies to both paper copies and electronic documents.
Some Rochester Hills cases are not available to the public. Personal Protection Orders are excluded from online search under MCR 3.705. Juvenile cases are sealed under MCL 600.1750. Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) cases are confidential and do not appear in public dockets. First-time drug offenses under MCL 333.7411 are not publicly searchable. Records removed under Michigan's 2020 Clean Slate Law are also gone from public access. If you can't find a case, contact the court to ask whether it falls under one of these exclusions.
For formal background checks, the Michigan State Police ICHAT system is the proper tool. Each search costs $10 and pulls from a statewide conviction database. The court docket system alone does not provide a complete background check, and the courts' own terms prohibit using case search for that purpose.
Legal Resources in Rochester Hills
Rochester Hills residents can use Michigan Legal Help for free guidance on court procedures, docket access, and self-representation. The site covers family, civil, housing, and criminal law topics in plain language. Oakland County also has legal aid organizations that serve residents with low income on a range of civil legal matters.
All official Michigan court forms are free at the Michigan SCAO forms library. Get the forms before going to court so your visit is more efficient. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov also has the Michigan Court Rules, court fee information, and general guidance on how courts work in Michigan. For e-filing, check mifile.courts.michigan.gov to see what is available for your case type and court.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Rochester Hills in Oakland County with court docket information available online.
Oakland County Court Dockets
Rochester Hills is part of Oakland County. For full county-level court information including the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac, all district courts in Oakland County, clerk contacts, and fee schedules, visit the Oakland County page.