Saginaw County Court Dockets

Saginaw County court dockets are available through both the statewide MiCOURT system and a dedicated Odyssey portal run by the county. The 10th Circuit Court at 111 South Michigan Avenue in Saginaw handles civil, criminal, and family division cases. You can search case records online, request copies by phone or mail, or visit the records office in person.

10th Circuit Court - Saginaw County

The 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Saginaw handles all general jurisdiction cases for Saginaw County. This includes felony criminal cases, civil suits over $25,000, and family law matters including divorce, custody, and support. The Circuit Court Records Office is the point of contact for docket record requests.

The courthouse is at 111 South Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602. The Circuit Court Records Office phone is (989) 790-5540. The County Clerk's office is at the same address with phone (989) 790-5251. The Register of Deeds is also there at (989) 790-5270. The 70th District Court, handling misdemeanors and smaller civil matters, is also at the same address. All four offices operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Saginaw County Court Docket Online Access

Saginaw County offers two online paths for court docket access. The county runs its own Saginaw County Odyssey Portal at odysseycourtinformation.saginawcounty.com. This portal covers court cases and hearings for the 10th Circuit Court and provides case-level information. The statewide Michigan Courts Case Search also includes Saginaw County cases and may be easier to use for general name-based searches.

The Saginaw County portal is linked through the county government site at saginawcounty.com. Together, the Odyssey portal and the statewide MiCOURT system provide more online access options than many similarly sized Michigan counties.

Civil, criminal, family, probate, property, vital records, business licenses, tax records, election records, and meeting minutes are all available as types of records in Saginaw County. Free inspection of records is allowed during business hours without copy fees. You only pay when you request copies.

The Saginaw County official website shown below provides the gateway to county court records and the Odyssey portal.

Visit saginawcounty.com for links to court records, the Odyssey portal, and all county departments.

The Saginaw County Odyssey portal shown below provides direct access to circuit court case records and hearings.

Use the Saginaw County Odyssey Portal to search court cases and hearings online.

Visit saginawcounty.com for direct links to all county departments and court resources.

Requesting Saginaw County Court Records

FOIA requests for Saginaw County records follow a standard process. Written requests go to the appropriate department. A standardized FOIA form is available on the county website. Each request must include the requestor's name, address, and contact information, a detailed description of the records needed, and the preferred delivery method. The county must respond within 5 business days, though complex requests may be extended by 10 days.

For deposits, Saginaw County may require a good-faith deposit of up to 50% of the estimated cost for requests over $50. Fee waivers are available for public interest requestors or indigent individuals. The first $20 of fees is waived for qualifying individuals with a signed affidavit.

Specific Saginaw County fees: photocopies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $10.00 certification plus copy costs. Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce decrees) cost $15.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional. Staff time is billed at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee capable of handling the request, in 15-minute increments. Electronic records cost the actual media cost. Mailing costs the actual postage.

Restricted records in Saginaw County include juvenile records, adoption records, sealed cases, personal information (Social Security numbers, financial data), and records from active investigations. Incarcerated persons are excluded from making FOIA requests under MCL 15.231.

Saginaw County Court Docket Contents

The Register of Actions is the official docket in Michigan courts. It lists every action in a case in date order. Each entry shows what was filed, what hearing occurred, and what the court ordered. Reviewing a Register of Actions gives you the full case timeline. In Saginaw County, the Odyssey portal makes these registers accessible online for circuit court cases.

The 10th Circuit Court handles a wide range of case types. Felony criminal dockets show arraignment, bail decisions, preliminary exams, plea entries, trial, verdict, and sentencing. Civil dockets track business disputes, personal injury cases, and contract claims over $25,000. Family dockets cover divorce, legal separation, custody, parenting time, child support, alimony, and paternity.

The 70th District Court at the same address handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil claims under $25,000. District court dockets are separate from circuit court records but follow the same Register of Actions format. The Michigan Courts statewide portal covers both courts. The Saginaw Odyssey portal is specific to circuit court records.

Standard Michigan restrictions apply. PPO cases are not online (MCR 3.705). Juvenile records are confidential (MCL 600.1750). HYTA and first-time drug cases (MCL 333.7411) are excluded from public online access. Michigan's Clean Slate Act limits online criminal searches to 2018 and later cases by name. Sealed records are also excluded.

Legal Help and Resources in Saginaw County

Saginaw County residents have access to several legal resources. Michigan Legal Help is free and online with guides for family law, housing, debt, and many other areas. It is designed for people handling legal matters without an attorney. Saginaw County also has local legal aid organizations that serve qualifying residents at no cost.

Court forms for all standard case types are free at the SCAO forms page. These are official Michigan forms and work in Saginaw County courts. For e-filing, MiFILE is Michigan's official system. Attorneys must use it for most filings. Self-represented parties should ask the clerk whether they can use MiFILE in the 10th Circuit or 70th District Court.

For criminal history checks, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system. Court dockets are public case information, not official criminal history reports. ICHAT provides official reports for background check purposes. The Saginaw County Sheriff's Records Division at (989) 790-5456 handles law enforcement records separately from court records.

Cities in Saginaw County

Saginaw County communities do not meet the 100,000 population threshold for dedicated city pages. The City of Saginaw is the county seat and the location of the 10th Circuit Court, 70th District Court, and County Clerk's office where court dockets are maintained.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Saginaw County in central Michigan.