Ann Arbor court records are the official judicial files that document every civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate case heard at the Washtenaw County trial courts—the 22nd Circuit Court and the 15th District Court. These public records show who filed what, when hearings occurred, what judges ruled, and how cases ended. Most files date back decades and remain searchable today through the county’s Tyler Odyssey portal. Whether you need an Ann Arbor court docket search for a background check, a legal proceeding, a journalism investigation, or simple personal curiosity, the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office holds the authoritative versions of every document. The records cover felony indictments, misdemeanor pleas, divorce decrees, custody orders, small claims judgments, and OWI convictions. Citizens, attorneys, employers, landlords, and personal researchers all rely on these verified facts that carry legal weight in Michigan courtrooms and beyond. Each entry in the docket reveals a timeline of court activity that helps users understand exactly what happened in a particular legal matter under Washtenaw County jurisdiction.
Ann Arbor court records lookup via the official Washtenaw County portal gives free, no-registration access to docket sheets, party information, hearing schedules, and judgment entries. Visitors can complete an Ann Arbor court case search by typing a last name, a case number like 24-001234-FC, or an attorney bar number. The Washtenaw County court records database powers free Ann Arbor court records retrieval for traffic citations, small claims filings, criminal dispositions, divorce judgments, and probate openings. Online Ann Arbor court records refresh within hours of each new filing, giving freshness that paid background sites often miss. Ann Arbor public court records follow the same access rules under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, which presumes judicial files are open except when sealed by court order. For certified copies, visitors must appear in person with the case number and pay the clerk’s certification fee. Anyone unsure how to find court records in Ann Arbor should start with the Clerk’s online portal. Walk-in visitors can request Ann Arbor courthouse records or start an Ann Arbor court file search through the public terminal near the clerk’s entrance during business hours.
What Are Ann Arbor Court Records and Why Do They Matter
Ann Arbor court records are the official, publicly accessible case files of the Washtenaw County trial courts, covering the 22nd Circuit Court and 15th District Court, and documenting every filing, hearing, ruling, and judgment in civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. They serve as the legal memory of the Washtenaw County justice system, accessible under Michigan’s presumption of public access. These records carry weight because they reflect the official actions of a court of record and are admissible as evidence in subsequent proceedings when properly certified.
Court Records vs. Court Dockets
Many users search for an Ann Arbor court docket but mean the case file. A docket is the chronological index of every filing, motion, and order in a case. The record is the full case file, including exhibits, transcripts, and judgments. The docket tells you what happened and when. The record contains the actual documents filed.
Why These Records Are Publicly Available
Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, MCL 15.231 through 15.246), judicial records are presumed open. Sealed records require a specific court order citing a statutory basis. The public access presumption supports transparency in the justice system and allows citizens to monitor court activity.
Who Uses Ann Arbor Court Records
- Journalists investigating local cases and public officials
- Attorneys conducting conflict checks and case background research
- Landlords and employers, with FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agencies only
- Defendants, victims, and family members tracking case progress
- Genealogists and academic researchers studying legal history
- Real estate buyers checking for land court or condemnation actions
The Washtenaw County Court System Explained
Ann Arbor court cases are heard in two principal trial courts, the 22nd Circuit Court (felony, civil over $25,000, family, and probate appeals) and the 15th District Court (misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, civil up to $25,000), plus specialty dockets like the Ann Arbor Veterans Treatment Court and Mental Health Court. Each court maintains its own clerk and case file system, although all share the same Washtenaw County Odyssey portal for online searches.
Washtenaw County Trial Courts at a Glance
| Court | Jurisdiction | Record Source | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd Circuit Court | Felony criminal, civil over $25,000, divorce, family, probate, appeals from district | Washtenaw County Clerk/Register | 101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
| 15th District Court | Misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, civil up to $25,000 | 15th District Court Clerk | 101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
| Washtenaw Probate Court | Estates, guardianships, mental health commitments | Probate Court Register | 101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
22nd Circuit Court Records
The 22nd Circuit Court handles the heaviest felony and family law caseload in Washtenaw County. Felony indictments, divorce judgments, custody orders, and personal protection order (PPO) actions all begin here. Records are searchable through the Washtenaw County online case search portal under the Circuit Court division.
15th District Court Records
The 15th District Court is the court of limited jurisdiction serving the City of Ann Arbor. Records here include Ann Arbor traffic tickets, OWI and other DUI misdemeanors, retail fraud, simple assault, small claims filings, and landlord-tenant disputes. The court also runs satellite locations in Ypsilanti and Pittsfield Township.
Washtenaw Probate Court Records
Probate records cover wills, estate inventories, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health commitment proceedings. These files are kept separately from circuit and district court records and have distinct access rules, especially for mental health files under Michigan’s Mental Health Code.
Specialty and Problem-Solving Courts
Veterans Treatment Court, Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Sobriety Court produce docket records that are searchable through the main portal. Sensitive treatment details, however, are often redacted or sealed to protect participant privacy under MCR 8.119(B).
How to Search Ann Arbor Court Records Online
The official online case search portal at washtenaw.org is the authoritative source for free Ann Arbor court records, allowing users to look up cases by name, case number, or attorney bar number. Third-party aggregators offer broader nationwide indexing but are not the official court record. The Washtenaw portal updates within 24 hours of new filings, so users see nearly real-time data without paying a subscription.
Step-by-Step Official Washtenaw County Case Search
- Navigate to the Washtenaw County Clerk/Register page and click Court Records Search, which opens the Odyssey Public Portal.
- Select the court division: 22nd Circuit, 15th District, or Probate.
- Enter a search criterion: full party name, business name, case number (format YY-12345-FC), or attorney bar number P-XXXXX.
- Apply date-range filters to narrow results, for example filed between 01/01/2023 and 12/31/2025.
- Click a case to view the docket sheet, parties, charges, hearings, and any available document images.
- To obtain certified copies, follow the Request Certified Copy workflow or visit the Clerk’s Office in person.
What You Can Search For
- Plaintiff and defendant names
- Case number and year of filing
- Attorney name and bar number
- Citation number for traffic cases
- Date of birth only as a narrow exact-match filter
- Business name for corporate party searches
Understanding the Odyssey Public Portal
Washtenaw County uses Tyler Technologies’ Odyssey case management system. This same platform runs in roughly 70 percent of Michigan counties, so the search operators you learn in Washtenaw transfer directly to counties like Wayne, Oakland, Kent, and Ingham. Tyler Odyssey is the official software vendor under contract with the State Court Administrative Office.
How to Read a Washtenaw County Docket Sheet
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Year-prefix identifier (for example 24-001234-FC means 2024 Felony Circuit case 001234) |
| Case Type Code | FC equals Felony Circuit, DC equals District Civil, DS equals District Criminal, TR equals Traffic, SM equals Small Claims |
| Status | Open, Closed, Disposed, or On Appeal |
| Disposition | Final judgment such as guilty plea, verdict, dismissal, or default |
| Judicial Officer | Assigned judge, magistrate, or referee |
Types of Ann Arbor Court Records You Can Access
Washtenaw County maintains more than 10 distinct case categories in its docket system, each with unique search considerations. Understanding the case-type code is the single biggest factor in successful record retrieval, because the portal will not return results from other divisions if you search the wrong court.
Ann Arbor Criminal Court Records
Felony cases filed at the 22nd Circuit Court and misdemeanor cases filed at the 15th District Court are both searchable. Records include charging documents, plea entries, sentence orders, probation conditions, and restitution judgments. Pre-trial motions, discovery orders, and trial transcripts are available as document images when uploaded by the court clerk.
Ann Arbor Civil Court Records
Civil records cover contract disputes, personal injury, property damage, employment claims, and small claims actions. Civil records are public unless sealed under MCR 2.313(C) for good cause shown. Settlement agreements filed with the court become part of the public record unless the parties request and the court orders sealing.
Ann Arbor Family Court Records
Divorce, custody, child support, and Personal Protection Order (PPO) files are kept in the 22nd Circuit Court’s Family Division. Many family records are partially sealed to protect minor children and domestic violence victims, especially the addresses of protected parties in active PPO cases.
Probate and Estate Records
Wills, estate inventories, accountings, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings are filed at the Washtenaw Probate Court. Public access varies by document type, with mental health commitment records heavily restricted under MCL 330.1468.
Traffic and OWI Records
OWI, speeding, and moving violations filed at the 15th District Court appear in the public docket with the defendant’s name, charge, fine amount, and disposition. These court records are distinct from the Secretary of State driving record, which tracks points and license status. A driver can resolve a ticket in court but still face a separate license sanction from the state.
Land Court and Condemnation Records
Eminent domain and land title cases are particularly relevant for Ann Arbor property owners facing city acquisition. The Michigan Land Court Fast Track Act governs many of these cases, and Washtenaw County dockets include filings for the Ann Arbor-area acquisitions related to road projects and redevelopment.
Sealed and Expunged Records
Records sealed under MCL 600.2545 or expunged under MCL 780.621 do not appear in the public portal. Juvenile records are also restricted under MCL 712A.28. The Michigan Clean Slate Act, effective April 11, 2021 and expanded in 2024, set up automatic expungement for many non-conviction records and one-time expungement for eligible convictions after waiting periods.
Free vs. Paid Ann Arbor Court Record Search
The Washtenaw County Clerk provides free, official public access with no registration required. Third-party people search sites charge between $1 trial offers and $95 monthly subscriptions for the same official data, often repackaged with delays and inaccuracies. For legal-grade accuracy, the official portal beats any aggregator.
Comparison: Free Official vs. Paid Third-Party Court Records
| Feature | Washtenaw County Official Portal | Third-Party Aggregators |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $1 trial up to $95 per month |
| Data Freshness | Real-time to 24-hour delay | Often weeks or months stale |
| Source Authority | Primary court source | Republished public data |
| Certified Copies | Available with $10 certification fee plus $1 per page | Not available |
| Historical Depth | Back to roughly 1990s online, older via microfilm | Variable and often limited |
| FCRA Compliance | Not a consumer report | Not FCRA-compliant for employment use |
| Privacy | No account required | Requires account and sells user data |
When Paid Services Add Real Value
Multi-state background checks for hiring, batch monitoring with alerts when new cases appear, and aggregated family-tree genealogy through Ancestry and MyHeritage courthouse collections all justify a paid subscription. CourtListener provides free federal court records and some state appellate coverage but does not replace the Washtenaw County portal for local cases.
Common Upsell Traps to Avoid
Auto-renewing subscriptions, vague unlimited reports with hidden redaction fees, and criminal record results that mix court data with sex offender registry mismatches all create legal exposure for the user. Always pull the official record before relying on a third-party report for any legal action.
Getting Certified Copies and Records In-Person
For court records needed for legal filings, immigration, or employment verification, certified copies must be obtained from the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office at 200 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor. The Clerk charges a $10 certification fee plus $1 per page for standard copies. Walk-in service is available during business hours, and mail requests are accepted with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Washtenaw County Clerk and Register of Deeds Office
- Address: 200 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (excluding court holidays)
- Phone: (734) 222-6700
- Email: clerk@washtenaw.org
Certified Copy vs. Certified Exemplified Copy
A certified copy bears the clerk’s seal and signature and is accepted for most state-level legal filings. An exemplified copy adds the seal of the presiding judge and is required for out-of-state or federal use, especially in immigration, federal court, and out-of-state estate proceedings.
Mail and Online Requests for Certified Records
The Clerk accepts written requests by mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order. Standard turnaround runs 5 to 10 business days. The Clerk also accepts online credit card payments through the Odyssey portal for certified copies of select document types, with an additional convenience fee.
Legal Use, Privacy, and Restrictions on Ann Arbor Court Records
Michigan law presumes court records are public, but using them for employment, tenant screening, or credit decisions requires FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agencies. Using court records for harassment, stalking, or identity theft is a criminal offense under MCL 750.285 and federal statutes. These restrictions exist to balance the public access presumption with personal safety.
Fair Credit Reporting Act Compliance
Court records alone cannot serve as the basis for adverse hiring, housing, or credit decisions. A FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agency must be used for those purposes under 15 U.S.C. § 1681. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against employers who relied on raw court records instead of proper background check vendors.
Penalties for Misuse of Public Records
Under MCL 750.285, using personal information from court records to stalk, harass, or commit identity theft is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Federal identity theft statutes under 18 U.S.C. § 1028 add additional exposure for misuse across state lines.
Sealing and Expungement in Washtenaw County
Michigan’s Clean Slate Act (Public Acts 2020, No. 393, with expansions in 2024) and MCL 780.621 through 780.624 allow automatic expungement of certain non-conviction records and one-time expungement of eligible convictions after statutory waiting periods. The Michigan Attorney General’s office maintains an online Clean Slate eligibility tool, and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office runs an Expungement Clinic for qualifying petitioners.
Confidential Information Automatically Redacted
Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor children’s identifying information are redacted from public view per MCR 1.109. Driver’s license numbers are partially redacted, and the full numbers are available only to parties to the case, attorneys of record, and certain government agencies.
Washtenaw County Courthouse Location and Contact
The main Washtenaw County Courthouse sits at 101 E. Huron St. in downtown Ann Arbor, with the Clerk/Register of Deeds satellite office at 200 N. Main St. The courthouse is within walking distance of several parking structures and is served by Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) bus routes. Visitors should bring a photo ID for security screening at the entrance.
Visiting Hours and Access
- Washtenaw County Courthouse: 101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Washtenaw County Clerk/Register: 200 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- 15th District Court satellite: 7200 S. Huron Pkwy, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, for Pittsfield Township cases
Map: Washtenaw County Courthouse
Sources, Authority, and Verification
The procedural details in this article are grounded in primary sources from the Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds, Michigan Court Rules, the Michigan Compiled Laws, and the State Court Administrative Office. All citations reference official government publications current as of July 30, 2026.
Primary Government Sources
- Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds: washtenaw.org
- 22nd Circuit Court: 22ndcircuitcourt.org
- 15th District Court: 15thdistrictcourt.org
- Michigan Courts (SCAO): courts.mi.gov
- Michigan Compiled Laws: legislature.mi.gov
- Michigan Attorney General: michigan.gov/ag
Legal Citations Referenced
- MCL 15.231 et seq. (Michigan Freedom of Information Act)
- MCL 600.2545 (Sealing of court records)
- MCL 712A.28 (Juvenile records)
- MCL 750.285 (Identity theft / misuse of personal information)
- MCL 780.621 (Expungement)
- MCL 330.1468 (Mental health commitment records)
- MCR 1.109 (Filing and redaction rules)
- MCR 2.313(C) (Civil case sealing)
- MCR 8.119 (Public access to judicial records)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681 (Fair Credit Reporting Act)
- 18 U.S.C. § 1028 (Federal identity theft statute)
Editorial Standards and Update Policy
This article is reviewed quarterly and immediately updated when Michigan legislation, court rules, or Clerk’s Office procedures change. Last reviewed: July 30, 2026.
Meta Title
Ann Arbor Court Records: Free Online Search and Docket Lookup
Meta Description
Search Ann Arbor court records free through the Washtenaw County Clerk’s official Odyssey portal. Find felony, misdemeanor, civil, family, probate, and traffic docket records by name or case number. Includes certified copy instructions, FCRA compliance, and courthouse contact details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor court records give residents, attorneys, journalists, and employers quick access to local justice system activity. These files cover civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate cases at the 22nd Circuit Court and 15th District Court. The Washtenaw County docket system lets you search by name, case number, or attorney bar number. Most searches take less than five minutes on the public portal. The answers below explain how to start a search, what details to gather, and where to go for older or sealed case files. Read through them to pick the right approach for your needs.
What are Ann Arbor court records and how do I access them?
Ann Arbor court records are official court files. They show every case filed at the 22nd Circuit Court or 15th District Court in Washtenaw County. These files cover civil lawsuits, criminal charges, divorce filings, traffic tickets, and probate matters. Each record lists the parties, attorneys, hearing dates, judges, and case outcomes. You can access these records in three ways. First, try the Washtenaw County docket search online. Next, visit the courthouse in person. Finally, request files by mail. The records stay public until a judge seals them.
How do I perform a free Ann Arbor court records search online?
To search Ann Arbor court records free of charge, visit the Washtenaw County Circuit Court website. Then click the public docket search link. Next, type the case number, party name, or attorney bar number. After that, try the Michigan Courts One Court of Justice portal for statewide results. Both systems show case captions, motion filings, and hearing schedules. If the older case you need predates 1990, call the courthouse clerk for archived microfilm access.
Where do I find Washtenaw County court records at the Ann Arbor courthouse?
Visit the Washtenaw County Courthouse at 101 North Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor. First, stop at the clerk’s office on the second floor. Next, use one of the public terminal computers to search the docket database. Then, request copies of documents from the records window. The fee runs $1 per page for standard copies and $10 for certified copies. Finally, bring a photo ID and case details to speed up your search.
Can I look up Ann Arbor traffic court records and family court cases on the same site?
Yes, traffic and family cases both appear on the same portal. Traffic cases from the 15th District Court appear under the criminal or traffic categories. Divorce, custody, and adoption cases from the 22nd Circuit Court Family Division appear under domestic relations. Use the filter buttons on the docket search page to narrow your results. Each division keeps separate files. As a result, a single name search may show different case numbers across divisions. Always confirm the court number before requesting copies.
What details do I need for an Ann Arbor court record lookup?
To complete an Ann Arbor court record lookup, gather the full legal name of any party first. Next, find the approximate filing year. Then, note whether the case sits in circuit or district court. Knowing the case number helps most, but name searches work without one. If you have only a date range, the court staff can run a broader search for $5 per name lookup through their office. The clerk requires a photo ID for any in-person requests. Bring case details to speed up service.
What should I do if the Ann Arbor online docket search shows no results?
If the online search returns no results, first try a different spelling of the name. Next, clear the date filters and search the full range. Then, check both the Circuit Court and District Court portals. If you still find nothing, call the clerk’s office at 734-222-3001 for direct help. The staff can run a manual search using first name, last name, and birth year. A small search fee may apply for staff lookups beyond the public terminals.