Find Court Dockets in Sanilac County
Sanilac County court dockets are held by the 24th Judicial Circuit Court clerk in Sandusky, Michigan. The County Clerk serves as clerk of both the circuit court and its family division. You can search for cases through the statewide MiCOURT system or contact the clerk's office directly for genealogy records, vital records, and court case copies.
Sanilac County Overview
24th Judicial Circuit Court - Sanilac County
The 24th Judicial Circuit Court covers Sanilac County from the courthouse in Sandusky. The County Clerk serves as the official clerk of the circuit court and its family division. The clerk's office is at 60 West Sanilac, Room 203, Sandusky, MI 48471. Phone is 810-648-3212 and fax is 810-648-5466.
Sanilac County's clerk handles a wide range of duties beyond court record keeping. The clerk is the Chief Election Official for the county. The office handles vital records including births, deaths, marriages, and assumed names. Fingerprinting services are available from 8am to 4pm for school employment and concealed pistol license applications. Passport photos are available for $10.00. The clerk also serves on multiple county boards.
These services all come from the same courthouse office in Sandusky. If you need court docket records, vital records, or any other county clerk service, the Room 203 office at the Sanilac County Courthouse is the right place to go.
| Address | 60 West Sanilac, Room 203, Sandusky, MI 48471 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 810-648-3212 |
| Fax | 810-648-5466 |
| Passport Photos | $10.00 |
| Fingerprinting Hours | 8:00am - 4:00pm |
Sanilac County Court Docket Online Search
Sanilac County does not have its own dedicated online court records portal. The statewide Michigan Courts Case Search covers 24th Circuit Court cases. This free tool lets you search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results show docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. Document images are not available online; copies require a direct request to the clerk.
Genealogy records are also searchable through the clerk's office in Sandusky. The county has historical vital records available for research. FamilySearch has some Sanilac County records in its database as well. For current court docket searches, MiCOURT is the fastest option. For older historical records, contact the clerk directly.
The Michigan Clean Slate Act limits online criminal name searches to cases from 2018 forward. Older criminal records require an in-person or mail request to the clerk's office. Civil and family case coverage may go further back in the statewide system. Confirm coverage dates with the clerk when making a request.
Official court forms for Sanilac County cases are free at the SCAO forms page on the Michigan Courts website.
Sanilac County Fees and Payment
Sanilac County uses specific pay location codes (PLC) for different types of payments. If you are paying fees online or at a payment kiosk, use the correct PLC for your payment type:
- PLC 1017 - Juvenile Fines
- PLC 1565 - Vital Records and Filing Fees
- PLC 1656 - Search Fees
- PLC 1935 - Circuit Fines
- PLC 1936 - Records and Divorce Fees
Standard Michigan vital records pricing applies for birth, death, and marriage record copies. Court copy fees follow standard Michigan rates. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. For passport photos, the fee is $10.00. CPL applicants must arrive before 4pm for fingerprinting services.
For mail requests, include a money order or check for the applicable fees along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the clerk at 810-648-3212 to confirm the current fee for the specific record type before sending payment.
Sanilac County Court Docket Contents
The Register of Actions is the official court docket format in Michigan. Each entry in the Register of Actions shows the date and the action taken. The docket covers a case from first filing through final resolution. You can track every hearing, motion, order, and judgment in the case by reading the docket. It is the fastest way to understand the history of a case without reading every document filed.
In Sanilac County, the 24th Circuit Court dockets cover felony criminal cases, civil suits over $25,000, and family law matters. The family division handles divorce, custody, paternity, and support cases. Felony dockets show arraignment, preliminary exam, plea, trial, and sentencing. Civil dockets track complaints, responses, motions, hearings, and judgments.
Standard Michigan restrictions apply. PPO cases are not available online per MCR 3.705. Juvenile records are confidential per MCL 600.1750. HYTA cases are sealed. First-time drug offenses under MCL 333.7411 are excluded from public online searches. Clean Slate Act set-asides restrict criminal searches to 2018 and later online. Sealed records are excluded from all public access.
Under MCR 8.119(H)(5), courts remove protected personal information from copies given to the public. Social Security numbers, financial account information, and similar data should not appear in public copies. If you receive a document with PII that should be redacted, contact the clerk's office.
Legal Resources for Sanilac County
People who need help with court matters in Sanilac County can use free resources available statewide. Michigan Legal Help is a free online service with self-help guides and forms for family law, housing, debt, and more. It is designed for people who are not attorneys and need plain-language guidance through Michigan's court system.
Official court forms for all case types are free at the SCAO forms page. These forms are accepted in all Michigan courts including the 24th Circuit Court in Sandusky. For attorneys, MiFILE is the official e-filing system. For criminal history checks, use the Michigan State Police ICHAT system at $10 per search.
Sanilac County is in the Eastern District of Michigan for federal court purposes. The federal courthouse for the Eastern District is in Detroit. Legal aid organizations serve the Thumb region of Michigan including Sanilac County. The State Bar of Michigan has a referral service for finding attorneys in the area.
Cities in Sanilac County
Sanilac County communities do not meet the 100,000 population threshold for dedicated city pages. Sandusky is the county seat and location of the 24th Circuit Court where all county court dockets are filed and maintained.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Sanilac County in Michigan's Thumb region.