Clinton County Court Dockets
Clinton County court dockets are held at the County Clerk's office in St. Johns. The 5th Circuit Court, shared with Barry and Eaton Counties, handles civil, criminal, and family cases for Clinton County residents. You can search court dockets online through Michigan's statewide portal or contact the clerk's office to view the Register of Actions, request certified copies, and access full case files from the 5th Circuit Court.
Clinton County Overview
Clinton County 5th Circuit Court
Clinton County is part of the 5th Circuit Court, a multicounty circuit shared with Barry and Eaton Counties. The County Clerk's office in St. Johns serves as the clerk for the 5th Circuit Court in Clinton County. Clinton County is located in mid-Michigan, just north of Lansing. Its proximity to the state capital means many residents work there and may have legal matters in both counties. But cases are always filed in the county of residence or where the incident occurred.
The clerk's office handles all circuit court filings for Clinton County. The Register of Actions for each case tracks every filing, hearing, and court order from start to finish. Civil, criminal, family, and probate cases all generate their own dockets in the clerk's office. These records are open for public inspection during business hours.
Contact information for the clerk's office and county services is at the Clinton County website.
| Court | 5th Circuit Court - Clinton County |
|---|---|
| Location | Courthouse Building, St. Johns, MI |
| County Website | clinton-county.org |
Contact the Clinton County Clerk directly for current address, phone, and office hours.
How to Search Clinton County Court Dockets
Use the Michigan Courts Case Search to find Clinton County court dockets online. This free statewide portal covers all 57 Michigan Circuit Courts including the 5th Circuit in Clinton County. Search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results show case status, docket entries, and party information at no cost. No login is needed.
The Michigan Courts main portal is the best starting point. From there you can reach the case search, download forms, and access the MiFILE e-filing system. The portal covers both civil and criminal cases at the circuit level. For cases that went to appeal, the same portal covers Court of Appeals and Supreme Court records.
The Michigan Courts main portal shown above is the official gateway to case search, forms, and e-filing resources for Clinton County's 5th Circuit Court and all other Michigan courts.
For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office in St. Johns during business hours. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search the case index without staff help. Bring the party name or case number to make the search faster. Online results from the portal are informational and not official. Get certified copies from the clerk for any legal or official purpose.
Note: The Clean Slate Law may limit public access to some Clinton County circuit court criminal records to 7 years as expungement processing continues statewide.
Getting Clinton County Court Records
Court records from the 5th Circuit Court in Clinton County are available in person or by mail. Visit the courthouse in St. Johns during weekday business hours. Bring the case name and number. For mail requests, write to the clerk with a clear description of what you need. Include the case name, case number, and specific documents. Also include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment.
Standard copies are typically $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Contact the Clinton County Clerk directly for current fees before sending payment. Make checks or money orders payable to the Clinton County Clerk. Processing time for mail requests can vary. Calling ahead to confirm availability speeds up the process.
Official Michigan court forms for record requests and filings are free at the SCAO forms page. For historical Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records, the Archives of Michigan holds older case files. Research fees start at $15 per search. For free legal guidance, visit Michigan Legal Help.
Clinton County Docket Records and Public Access
Most court records in Clinton County's 5th Circuit Court are public. The Register of Actions for each case is open to anyone who asks. Civil, criminal, and family case dockets can be viewed during business hours. You do not have to be a party to the case to request access. Public access is governed by MCR 8.119, which sets the rules for what Michigan courts must provide and how they must handle personal information in released documents.
Certain case types are restricted. Juvenile cases are confidential under MCL 600.1750. PPO cases are not available online under MCR 3.705. HYTA cases are sealed. First-time drug offense dispositions under MCL 333.7411 are also restricted from public online searches. Clinton County's circuit court is implementing the Michigan Clean Slate Law, which limits some criminal records to 7 years of public access.
For official criminal background checks, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. ICHAT provides certified criminal history records for employment and licensing decisions. Court docket searches are for informational use and not a substitute for ICHAT when official criminal history is required.
Cities in Clinton County
Clinton County does not have cities above the qualifying population threshold for dedicated pages. St. Johns is the county seat. All 5th Circuit Court cases for Clinton County are handled by the clerk's office in St. Johns.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Clinton County. Clinton shares the 5th Circuit Court with Barry and Eaton Counties.