Court Dockets in Antrim County
Antrim County court dockets are managed by the County Clerk in Bellaire. The 13th Circuit Court serves Antrim County along with Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties. The 86th District Court handles lower-level criminal, traffic, and civil cases locally. You can search case dockets online through the Michigan Courts statewide portal, view records at the courthouse, or request copies by mail from the Antrim County Clerk's office.
Antrim County Overview
Antrim County Court System
Antrim County has two courts that generate public dockets. The 13th Circuit Court is a multicounty circuit shared with Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties. It handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over the jurisdictional limit, family law disputes, and probate. The county clerk in Bellaire serves as the clerk for the 13th Circuit Court in Antrim County. For 13th Circuit Court records in other counties, you must contact each county's clerk individually.
The 86th District Court handles local matters including traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims, and small claims. This court has its own online resources including case search and payment options. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for self-service lookups of both circuit and district court dockets.
The Antrim County website has links to both courts, the clerk's office, and online services for residents.
| Circuit Court | 13th Circuit Court (Antrim, Grand Traverse, Leelanau) |
|---|---|
| District Court | 86th District Court |
| Address | 203 E Cayuga Street, PO Box 520, Bellaire, MI 49615 |
| Phone | (231) 533-6353 |
| Fax | (231) 533-6935 |
| guy@antrimcounty.org | |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| County Clerk | Sheryl Guy |
| Friend of the Court | (231) 533-8917 |
Searching Antrim County Court Dockets Online
Use the Michigan Courts Case Search to find Antrim County circuit court dockets online. This free portal covers all 57 Michigan Circuit Courts. Search by name, case number, or attorney name. The system shows case status, party information, and docket entries. Both civil and criminal cases from the 13th Circuit Court can be searched in one place. No fee or login is required.
The 86th District Court has additional online tools including case payment and case search features. These are available through the Antrim County website and the Michigan Courts portal. For online case searches, start with the main Michigan Courts portal and then select advanced search to narrow results by court type or location.
The Antrim County website links to court information, clerk services, and online tools for searching case records from the 13th Circuit Court and 86th District Court.
The 13th Circuit Court supports e-filing. Attorneys and some self-represented parties can file documents electronically through MiFILE. E-filed documents update the docket faster than paper filings. If you are tracking a case, MiFILE can notify you by email when new activity is posted.
Note: For 13th Circuit Court records in Antrim County, you must contact the Antrim County Clerk directly. Records for Grand Traverse and Leelanau portions of the circuit are held by those counties' clerks.
Antrim County Record Request Process
You can get Antrim County court records in person or by mail. Visit the clerk's office at 203 E Cayuga Street in Bellaire during normal business hours. Bring the case name and case number if available. Public access terminals are at the courthouse for self-service searches. Staff can assist you in locating the right terminal but will not conduct searches for you.
Mail requests go to PO Box 520, Bellaire, MI 49615. Write out your request clearly. Include the case name, case number, and the specific documents you want. Standard copies are $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee. Call (231) 533-6353 before sending payment to confirm current certification fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with mail requests.
Standard forms for record requests are available free at the SCAO forms page. These forms are accepted at all Michigan courts including the 13th Circuit Court in Antrim County. For historical records, the Archives of Michigan holds older Supreme Court and Court of Appeals case files.
Public Access and Restricted Records in Antrim County
Court records in Antrim County's circuit and district courts are mostly public. The Register of Actions for each case is open for inspection. Anyone can ask to see a file or request copies without being a party to the case. Public access is governed by MCR 8.119, which sets out the rules for court records in Michigan. This rule also requires courts to remove protected personal identifying information from documents before handing them out.
Some case types are off limits. Juvenile cases are confidential under Michigan law. Personal Protection Order (PPO) cases are not available online per MCR 3.705. Matters under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act are sealed. First-time drug offense dispositions under MCL 333.7411 are also restricted from online public access. These restrictions apply across all Michigan courts, not just Antrim County.
If you need to check someone's criminal history for a job, housing, or licensing decision, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. ICHAT provides official criminal records and is the right tool for background checks. Court docket searches through the case search portal are not a substitute for ICHAT results.
Cities in Antrim County
Antrim County does not have cities that reach the qualifying population threshold for dedicated pages. Bellaire is the county seat. All 13th Circuit Court and 86th District Court cases in Antrim County are processed through the clerk's office in Bellaire.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Antrim County in northern Michigan. Antrim shares the 13th Circuit Court with Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties.