Mackinac County Court Dockets

Mackinac County court dockets are maintained through the 11th Judicial Circuit Court, which also serves Luce, Alger, and Schoolcraft Counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The courthouse in St. Ignace is the main location for records requests and case filings. This page explains how to search Mackinac County court dockets, request copies, and understand what these records contain.

Mackinac County 11th Circuit Court

The 11th Judicial Circuit Court serves four Upper Peninsula counties: Mackinac, Luce, Alger, and Schoolcraft. Chief Judge Brian D. Rahilly presides over the circuit. In Mackinac County, the court is based at the historic Art Deco courthouse at 100 S Marley Street in St. Ignace. This building has served as the county courthouse since 1935. The Circuit Court Clerk handles civil, criminal, family, and juvenile records.

Court administration for the 11th Circuit is coordinated by Joshua Hall, who can be reached at (906) 341-3655. The Assignment Clerk, Lori Erickson, handles case scheduling at (906) 341-3659. For circuit court records in Mackinac County specifically, call the Circuit Court Clerk at (906) 643-7300. Court reporter Christopher Vogel handles transcripts through the same administrative line.

Probate Court matters in Mackinac County are handled through the 6th Probate District, which Mackinac shares with Luce County. The Probate Court covers estate proceedings, guardianships, and mental health cases. Contact the appropriate probate court office for those records.

Note: The 11th Circuit administration is centralized in Schoolcraft County. For filing procedures and case scheduling, you may need to coordinate with both the Mackinac County courthouse and the Schoolcraft County circuit administration office.

How to Search Mackinac County Court Dockets

The Michigan Courts Case Search portal at courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ covers the 11th Circuit Court and is the main tool for online Mackinac County docket searches. This free system lets you search by party name, case number, or attorney bar number. Results include the Register of Actions, which is the official docket showing every event in a case from filing through judgment.

Online access for Mackinac County is more limited than in large urban counties. The 11th Circuit's web presence is modest. If you cannot find a case in the online system, it may be too old to have been entered digitally, or it may be a restricted case type. In those situations, contact the St. Ignace courthouse directly.

In-person searches at the courthouse are available during regular business hours. Public access terminals allow free viewing of case indexes. Staff can assist with searches by name or case number. For historical docket records dating back before the digital era, ask the clerk about paper record availability.

Requesting Mackinac County Court Records

Court records in Mackinac County are available by in-person request or by mail. For in-person requests, visit the courthouse at 100 S Marley in St. Ignace. Bring the case number, names of the parties, and an approximate filing date. Staff will locate the case and provide copies. Bring a photo ID for certified document requests.

Mail requests go to the Circuit Court Clerk at 100 S Marley, St. Ignace, MI 49781. Describe the records you need, include the case number if available, and send a check or money order for the copy fees. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $10.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. Processing time for mail requests is generally three to five business days.

For transcript requests, contact court reporter Christopher Vogel through the circuit administration at (906) 341-3655. Transcripts are priced separately from standard document copies and the cost depends on the length of the proceeding being transcribed.

MCR 8.119 governs public access to court records throughout Michigan. Courts must redact protected personal identifying information under MCR 8.119(H)(5) before releasing documents. If you need a redacted copy, let the clerk know when you make your request.

Mackinac County Court Docket Types

The 11th Circuit Court in Mackinac County maintains dockets for civil, criminal, family, and juvenile cases. Civil dockets track lawsuits between parties. Criminal dockets follow felony cases from the initial charge through sentencing. Family court dockets record divorce, custody, paternity, and support cases. Juvenile dockets cover child protective proceedings, delinquency cases, and adoptions.

The Register of Actions is the heart of any Michigan court docket. It is the running log of every action taken in a case. The ROA shows when documents were filed, when hearings took place, what orders were entered, and how the case was resolved. This is the document attorneys review when researching a case history, and it is what most people mean when they ask for a court docket.

Certain records in Mackinac County are not public. Personal protection orders are restricted under MCR 3.705 and are not searchable online. Juvenile records are confidential under MCL 600.1750. Cases sealed under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act do not appear in public searches. The Michigan Clean Slate Law of 2020 adds automatic expungement for qualifying criminal convictions after a waiting period, removing those cases from public access over time.

Mackinac County Historical Court Records

Mackinac County has one of the longer histories of any Michigan county. In its early configuration, Mackinac County covered a large area that included what is now much of the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. Records from that era are now split between several counties. If you are researching records from before the reorganization of Upper Peninsula counties, you may need to check multiple county archives.

Current circuit court records begin with the county's modern configuration. For historical records predating the digital era, contact the clerk's office to ask what paper records exist and how far back they go. The Archives of Michigan in Lansing holds Supreme Court and Court of Appeals case files and can be reached at (517) 373-1408 or archives@michigan.gov.

For genealogy research using Mackinac County court records, FamilySearch.org and similar resources may have microfilmed records from older county dockets. The State Bar of Michigan at michbar.org can help you find a local attorney if you need help navigating these historical records.

Legal Resources

If you need help with a Mackinac County court matter, Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org provides free guides for self-represented parties. The guides cover family law, civil cases, probate, and public access to court records in plain language. SCAO court forms are free to download at courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/.

For official criminal record checks, use ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. This Michigan State Police system provides official criminal history information for $10.00 per search. Online court records are not a replacement for ICHAT when an official result is needed.

For e-filing, MiFILE at mifile.courts.michigan.gov/ is the state's electronic filing system. Contact the 11th Circuit Court administration to confirm whether e-filing is available for your case type in Mackinac County before submitting documents electronically.

Cities in Mackinac County

Mackinac County is located in the eastern Upper Peninsula, known for Mackinac Island and the Straits of Mackinac. St. Ignace is the county seat. No cities in Mackinac County meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site.

All circuit court cases for Mackinac County residents are handled through the 11th Circuit at the St. Ignace courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Mackinac County borders Chippewa and Luce Counties in the Upper Peninsula and is connected to the Lower Peninsula via the Mackinac Bridge.