Livingston County court records in Michigan are maintained by the clerks of the Circuit Court and the Probate Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court office. LivingstonCourt.us will help you navigate publicly available information about court cases in this county. Additionally, you can use the MiCOURT Case Search portal, contact the court office by phone, or visit the courthouse in person.
Livingston Court System Overview
Livingston County is part of the 44th Circuit Court, which exclusively serves this county. The Circuit Court handles serious criminal cases, large civil claims, and family law cases. Concurrently, the 53rd District Court covers the entire Livingston County area and handles less serious criminal cases, small civil claims, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. The Probate Court operates separately and deals with inheritance, guardianship, and juvenile cases.
Courts Serving Livingston
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 44th Circuit Court | 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843 | (517) 546-9816 |
| 53rd District Court | 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843 | (517) 546-1500 |
| Livingston County Probate Court | 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843 | (517) 546-3750 |
| U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Michigan | Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226 | (313) 234-5005 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Eastern District of Michigan | 211 W. Fort St, Suite 1900, Detroit, MI 48226 | (313) 234-0065 |
There are no municipal courts in Livingston County — all local-level cases are handled by the 53rd District Court. Individuals detained by Brighton police are temporarily held at the station before being transferred to the Livingston County Jail.
What Types of Cases Livingston Courts Hear
Livingston County courts hear a wide range of cases. Below are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations, including DUI
- Civil claims of various levels, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, child custody, alimony, paternity establishment
- Probate matters: wills, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases: child protection, juvenile offenses, adoption
Each category is handled by the appropriate court, as detailed in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Livingston
In Michigan, the term "district court" refers to a lower-level court, not a federal level. The 53rd District Court in Howell conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases — if the judge finds sufficient evidence, the case is transferred to the 44th Circuit Court for further proceedings. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases from the start of the trial to sentencing, civil claims over $25,000, and appeals from the District Court. Cases are assigned to Circuit Court judges according to internal procedures. Post-sentencing motions and requests for case review are filed here.
Magistrate Court Cases in Livingston
The 53rd District Court performs functions that, in other states, belong to the magistrate court. It handles:
- Misdemeanors and minor infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil claims up to $25,000
- Small claims — up to $6,500 according to Michigan law
- Traffic violations
- DUI hearings
The District Court also conducts arraignments and sets bail. High-volume cases — particularly traffic violations — are often scheduled on separate hearing days. You can check the schedule via the Livingston County online schedule board.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Livingston
Family Law. Divorce, custody, alimony, protective orders, and paternity establishment cases are handled by the 44th Circuit Court, Family Division. Claims are filed through the Circuit Court Clerk's office or via the MiFILE system.
Probate Matters. The Livingston County Probate Court handles estate matters of deceased persons, appointment of guardians and conservators, and trust issues. This court operates separately from the Circuit and District Courts.
Juvenile Cases. Juvenile offense and Child Protective Proceedings cases are handled by the Family Division of the Circuit Court. Juvenile case records are confidential — access is restricted by Michigan law.
How Cases Move Through the Livingston Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a prosecutor's complaint; a civil case with a complaint filing; a family or probate case with a petition.
- Judge Assignment. The case is assigned to a specific judge according to the court's internal rules.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment (charges announced and bail set). In civil cases — a planning conference.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions; in criminal cases, plea bargaining may occur.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Criminal cases — sentencing and possible appeal. Civil cases — enforcement of judgment or appeal to the appellate court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Livingston
The administration of Livingston County courts is carried out by the chief judge of the Circuit Court along with the Trial Court Administrator. Local court rules for the 44th Circuit and 53rd District Courts are available on the Michigan Courts website.
Most court records in Michigan are public according to Michigan Court Rules and the Freedom of Information Act. Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed records, and some family cases. To obtain document copies, contact the clerk's office — a fee is usually charged for certified copies.
Hearings can be attended in person at the courthouse. Some sessions are streamed online — check availability through the Court Livestreams directory. For electronic document filing, use the MiFILE system, where Livingston County courts — both Circuit and Probate — are already registered.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Livingston
- Online Case Search. The MiCOURT Case Search portal allows searching for cases by party name or case number. Information is for reference only and does not replace the official record.
- Hearing Schedule. The current Livingston County court schedule is available online, indicating date, time, and courtroom.
- Criminal History. Through the ICHAT system of the Michigan State Police, you can check a person's public criminal history.
- FOIA Requests. To obtain police reports or other public records, submit a Freedom of Information Act request to the appropriate agency.
- Inmate Search. The Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) of the Michigan Department of Corrections allows searching for inmates in state prisons.
- Expungement Assistance. The Michigan Attorney General provides expungement assistance — the procedure for clearing a criminal record, whose rules have significantly changed since 2021.
- Vital Records. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be ordered through the Vital Records Department of the State of Michigan, which keeps records from 1867.
- Electronic Document Filing. Through MiFILE, you can file documents with the Circuit Court and Probate Court of Livingston County.
For additional information on publicly available court records in the county, visit LivingstonCourt.us.