Waterford Township Court Docket
Waterford Township court dockets are filed through the 51st District Court at 5100 Civic Center Drive in Waterford. The 51st District Court serves Waterford Township exclusively. For felony cases and larger civil matters, the docket moves to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. You can search Waterford Township court records through Oakland County's Court Explorer or Michigan's statewide case search portal. This page covers how to find and access those records.
Waterford Township Overview
51st District Court: Waterford Township Cases
The 51st District Court at 5100 Civic Center Drive is Waterford Township's dedicated district court. Unlike many Michigan communities that share a court with neighboring cities, this court serves Waterford Township exclusively. The court handles misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic violations, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims up to $6,500, landlord-tenant disputes, and preliminary examinations for felony cases. The court is part of Oakland County's district court system.
Two judges sit on the 51st District Court bench, Richard Kuhn Jr. and Todd Fox, as of recent records. The main phone number is (248) 674-4655. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Payment methods include check, money order, and credit/debit cards with a convenience fee for card payments. An after-hours drop box is available outside the building for payments. When a case at the district court level involves a felony and probable cause is found, it moves to the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac for the next stage.
| 51st District Court | 5100 Civic Center Drive, Waterford, MI 48329 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (248) 674-4655 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Jurisdiction | Waterford Township only |
| Small Claims Limit | Up to $6,500 |
Note: An after-hours drop box is available outside the 51st District Court building for payment submissions when the court is closed.
Search Waterford Township Court Dockets Online
Oakland County's Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com is the main online portal for Waterford Township court dockets. It covers Oakland County courts at both the district and circuit level. You can search by name or case number and view case status and docket entries. The portal is free and available to the public without registration. It is separate from the statewide Michigan Courts portal and often has Oakland County-specific case information not found elsewhere.
The statewide Michigan Courts Case Search portal is another option, especially for circuit court cases. If a Waterford Township felony case moved to the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac, search for it at the state portal. You can also search the Michigan Courts portal for historical cases and appellate decisions. For district court cases specific to the 51st District, calling the court at (248) 674-4655 during business hours is the most direct way to confirm case information if your online search comes up empty.
Oakland County Court Explorer provides public access to Waterford Township court records through a searchable online portal. Use it to look up case status, docket entries, and court dates for district and circuit court cases tied to Oakland County.
For case search at the state level, the Michigan Courts portal covers all circuit courts in the state. Below is a view of that system.
The MiFILE system at mifile.courts.michigan.gov handles electronic filing for many Michigan courts. Check whether the 51st District Court or Oakland County Circuit Court accepts e-filings for your case type.
Oakland County Circuit Court and Waterford Township Cases
When a Waterford Township felony case completes its preliminary examination at the 51st District Court, it moves to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. The circuit court also handles civil cases over $25,000, divorce and child custody, and probate for all of Oakland County including Waterford Township. Pontiac is the county seat and where the circuit court clerks office is located.
Circuit court dockets for Waterford Township cases are searchable through the Oakland County Court Explorer and the statewide Michigan Courts portal. For certified copies of circuit court records, visit or mail the Oakland County Circuit Court Clerk in Pontiac. The Oakland County website at oakgov.com lists clerk contacts, hours, and resources for all county courts. The Waterford Township government website at waterfordmi.gov may also link to local court contacts and services.
How to Get Waterford Township Court Records
To get copies of Waterford Township court docket records, you have a few options. For district court records, go to the 51st District Court at 5100 Civic Center Drive during business hours. Call ahead at (248) 674-4655 to confirm what you need to bring and whether the clerk can help with your specific request. Bring a case number or the full name of a party. Staff can locate the case and provide copies. Standard copy fees run $1-2 per page. Certified copies carry a higher base fee.
Mail requests work for most record types at the district court level. Write to 5100 Civic Center Drive, Waterford, MI 48329. Include the case number, party names, case type, and approximate filing year. Send payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. For after-hours payments on open cases, use the drop box outside the building. For circuit court records, contact the Oakland County Circuit Court Clerk in Pontiac directly. The process is similar but goes to the county courthouse rather than the township court.
For electronic filing options, visit MiFILE at mifile.courts.michigan.gov. Check the available courts list to see if the 51st District Court accepts electronic submissions for your case type. Court forms for all matter types are available free at the Michigan SCAO forms page. Download forms before going to court to save time.
Waterford Township Court Dockets: What Is Public
Under MCR 8.119, most Waterford Township court dockets are open to the public. The Register of Actions shows every filing, hearing, motion, order, and final outcome in a case. Anyone can view this information, not just parties to the case. Courts remove protected personal identifying information from shared records under MCR 8.119(H)(5) before releasing them.
Certain Waterford Township cases are not public. Personal Protection Orders are excluded from online access under MCR 3.705. Juvenile records are confidential under MCL 600.1750. Cases handled under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) are sealed. First-time drug offenses under MCL 333.7411 are not publicly searchable. Records expunged under Michigan's 2020 Clean Slate Law are also no longer in public results. If a case you're looking for isn't showing up, one of these exclusions may be the reason. Contact the court to confirm.
For employment or licensing background checks, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. Each ICHAT search costs $10 and draws from statewide conviction records. Court docket search alone is not a substitute for a complete background check.
Legal Help for Waterford Township Residents
Free legal guidance for Waterford Township residents is available at Michigan Legal Help. The site explains how courts work, what court dockets contain, and how to handle many common legal matters without a lawyer. It covers family law, civil disputes, housing issues, and criminal matters. Oakland County legal aid organizations can also be found through the site by entering your location and case type.
Official court forms for all case types are free at the Michigan SCAO forms library. Download them before going to court. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov also has the full Michigan Court Rules, a court locator, and general guidance on public access to court records. The court rules governing public access are at MCR 8.119, and those rules apply to all courts including the 51st District Court in Waterford Township.
Nearby Cities
Other Oakland County cities near Waterford Township with court docket resources available online.
Oakland County Court Dockets
Waterford Township is in Oakland County. For full county-level court information covering the 6th Circuit Court, all Oakland County district courts, clerk contacts, and fee schedules, visit the Oakland County page.