Livingston County Court Records Search: MiCOURT, Cases, Dockets & Certified Copies
Searching for a Livingston County case? Start with Michigan’s official MiCOURT public search. This guide helps you choose between the 44th Circuit Court, 53rd District Court and Probate Court, find available dockets, check records-access limits and request copies from the correct courthouse office.
Independent court-record guide · Official Michigan court sources · Reviewed October 22, 2026
Where Livingston County Michigan court records are kept
Livingston County has three important trial-court record routes. The 44th Circuit Court handles major civil litigation, felony trials and family matters. The 53rd District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims and other district-level matters. The Probate Court handles estates, guardianships, conservatorships and related proceedings.
Each court has its own official page and record custodian. Michigan’s MiCOURT Case Search allows the public to search available electronic case information from participating courts.
Which Livingston County court should you search?
| Record needed | Correct court | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Felony trial or sentencing | 44th Circuit Court | Use Circuit Court MiCOURT search; early hearings may also appear in District Court records. |
| Misdemeanor | 53rd District Court | Search the District Court register of actions. |
| Traffic ticket or civil infraction | 53rd District Court | Use District Court case search or contact Traffic/Civil Infractions. |
| Major civil lawsuit | 44th Circuit Court | Search Circuit Civil records, then review judgment and post-judgment activity. |
| Small claim | 53rd District Court | Use MiCOURT District Court search and review small-claims information on the county site. |
| Eviction / landlord-tenant | 53rd District Court | Check the District Court civil docket, orders and any subsequent case activity. |
| Divorce / custody | 44th Circuit Court | Search public domestic case information; request certified decrees from the Circuit Clerk. |
| Probate / estate / will | Probate Court | Use the Probate Court case search. Call for cases before 2004. |
| Guardianship / conservatorship | Probate Court | Contact Probate; confidential or restricted records may not appear online. |
| Federal court case | Eastern District of Michigan | Use PACER rather than MiCOURT. |
How to search Livingston County court records by name or case number
Choose Circuit, District or Probate based on the case type. The county’s official court pages link to their MiCOURT searches.
Visit Michigan’s public case-search system, read the terms and continue.
Choose the 44th Circuit Court, 53rd District Court or appropriate Probate Court entry. Do not select a court with a similar number in another county.
Enter the exact case number when known. If searching by party name, use the fields the official portal provides and avoid assuming that one name match identifies the correct person.
Compare court name, case number, filing date, parties, case category and docket activity. Read later orders before drawing a conclusion about the case outcome.
Some case types are excluded from MiCOURT. Older records may also require contacting the court directly.
Use the correct Clerk office for a judgment, disposition, decree, order or other certified record.
How to read a Livingston County court docket accurately
Register of actions
A chronological list of docket events. It may show filings, court dates, motions and orders without providing every complete document.
Party and attorney
Names and roles may be shown. Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner and respondent are legal roles, not conclusions about guilt or liability.
Pending or closed
A status field should be read with later docket entries. Closed does not always mean a person was convicted or that a judgment was paid.
Disposition
A dismissal, plea, acquittal, judgment or sentence describes different events. Read the actual order for official meaning.
If a civil judgment appears, check for later satisfaction, appeal, modification or vacatur. If a criminal charge appears, distinguish initial allegations from the court’s final disposition.
Livingston County court record portals and what to do after opening them
44th Circuit Court Records
Open official Circuit Court Records- Choose Start a Case Search.
- Open the MiCOURT public search.
- Review the register of actions.
- Use the page’s copy request instructions if you need documents.
53rd District Court
Open official District Court- Locate District Court Case Search.
- Review public MiCOURT entries.
- Check criminal, traffic or civil case type.
- Contact the District Court for official copies or clarification.
Livingston County Probate Court
Open Probate Court- Select Probate Court Case Search.
- Check whether the case is searchable online.
- For cases before 2004 call 517-546-3750.
- Confirm any confidentiality or certification requirements.
MiCOURT Case Search
Open Michigan MiCOURT- Read the terms of service.
- Choose the appropriate participating court.
- Search using available fields.
- Verify results through the court of record.
Circuit Court Clerk
Open Circuit Clerk information- Confirm current address and office hours.
- Find record request information.
- Review available forms.
- Call before mailing payment or documents.
Official Court Transcripts
Open transcript request instructions- Download the transcript request form.
- Complete the hearing and case information.
- Submit through the listed court administration method.
- Arrange cost and delivery with the assigned provider.
County Clerk
Open Livingston County Clerk- Confirm whether you need court or vital records.
- Use Circuit Court Clerk for court cases.
- Use County Clerk Vital Records for birth, marriage and death certificates.
- Contact the relevant office.
Eastern District of Michigan
Open federal district court- Confirm federal jurisdiction.
- Check court divisions and locations.
- Use PACER for federal docket access.
- Contact the federal Clerk for certified copies.
PACER Case Locator
Open PACER federal search- Find the federal court if unknown.
- Search by case number or available party fields.
- Review current access charges.
- Use the individual court for current docket information.
Livingston County record-copy and certification fees
The county publishes different information for Circuit and Probate record requests. Fees for a transcript, District Court document or special request should be confirmed with that office rather than assumed from another court’s schedule.
| Service | Listed charge | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| 44th Circuit Court public register search | Free | MiCOURT public register of actions. |
| 53rd District Court public register search | Free | MiCOURT public register of actions. |
| Circuit Court document copy | $1.50 per page | Contact the Clerk to confirm page count. |
| Circuit Court certification | $10 per document | Confirm the number of separate documents to certify. |
| Probate document copy | $1.50 per page | Call ahead for closed or lengthy case files. |
| Certified Probate letters of authority | $13 each | Specific fee for letters of authority. |
| Court transcript | Provider quote | The authorized transcription provider discusses cost and delivery. |
Estimate Circuit Court copy costs
This calculation uses the published 44th Circuit Court rates. It excludes postage, transcript charges, special retrieval and other services.
Estimated total: $16.00
How to request certified Livingston County court documents
44th Circuit Court: mail or in-person records request
The Circuit Court Clerk publishes a specific copy-request process. Its self-service indexes are available at the office for public use without charge. For mailed copies, complete the current Circuit Court Record Copy Request Form and follow the Clerk’s instructions.
Use MiCOURT to confirm the case number, year, court and party names. Avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information.
Open the Circuit Court Records page and select the current request form.
Ask how many pages the requested document contains and whether it requires certification. The office also accepts email or fax inquiries about page count.
The Clerk instructs mailed requesters to include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Checks should be payable to Livingston County Clerk; the posted instructions specify in-state checks or money orders only.
44th Circuit Court Clerk, 204 S Highlander Way, Suite 4, Howell, MI 48843.
Preserve the Clerk certification and any associated seal or authentication.
Probate Court copies
Probate Court asks requesters to have the file number or case name and call or visit the office. Copies cost $1.50 per page. Closed or lengthy files may require advance notice because the file may be in storage. Certified letters of authority cost $13 each.
Livingston County court addresses, phone numbers and visiting information
The three principal trial-court offices are located at the Livingston County Judicial Center in Howell. Suite numbers are important because each office handles different case records.
44th Circuit Court Clerk
204 S Highlander Way, Suite 4
Howell, MI 48843
Phone: 517-546-9816
Email: circuitcourtclerk@livgov.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Paperwork processed until 4:45 p.m.
53rd District Court
204 S Highlander Way, Suite 1
Howell, MI 48843
Office: 517-548-1000
Civil department: 517-540-7648
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Livingston County Probate Court
204 S Highlander Way, Suite 2
Howell, MI 48843
Phone: 517-546-3750
Email: probatecourt@livgov.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Livingston County Clerk / Vital Records
200 E Grand River Avenue
Howell, MI 48843
Phone: 517-546-0500
This office provides county clerk services including vital records. It is not the same address as the Circuit Court Clerk’s records counter.
Why a Livingston County case may not appear in MiCOURT
The most common problems are choosing the wrong court, searching outside the database’s coverage or expecting a confidential case to be publicly available.
- Older probate cases: the Probate Court expressly says to call for cases before 2004.
- MiCOURT filtering: some participating courts have a seven-year criminal sentencing display filter.
- Nonpublic categories: adoption, certain juvenile proceedings, mental illness, wills and other restricted matters are not displayed.
- Name mismatch: a name variation or incorrect court can prevent an expected match.
- Case data vs full document: viewing the public register does not mean an official image or certified document is downloadable.
- Federal case: federal cases do not appear in Michigan trial-court MiCOURT records.
Court records, arrest records and criminal-history checks are different
Court dockets
Use MiCOURT to locate available Circuit, District or Probate cases. A court docket shows judicial proceedings, not a comprehensive statewide background history.
Michigan criminal history
The Michigan State Police operates criminal-history services including ICHAT. These are different from case-specific court documents.
Jail or custody
Current booking or custody information belongs to the appropriate sheriff or correctional authority, not a Circuit Court docket search.
Vital records
Birth, death and marriage certificates are handled separately by county or state vital-record offices. A divorce judgment is a court document, not a marriage certificate.
Livingston County federal cases and PACER
Livingston County is within the Eastern District of Michigan for federal district court purposes. Federal cases are not stored in the Livingston County Circuit, District or Probate Court systems.
For federal civil cases, district assignment depends on the federal court’s current local rules. The court’s civil venue rules list Livingston among counties served through Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint and Port Huron. The criminal assignment rule places cases arising in Livingston County with the Flint location.
Visit Eastern District of Michigan to confirm court locations and Clerk services.
Use PACER Case Locator if you do not know the federal court or case number.
PACER access can incur fees. Check the current pricing page before running searches or retrieving documents.
Contact the federal court Clerk for official certification or authentication rather than relying on a downloaded docket page.
Federal bankruptcy cases use the applicable federal bankruptcy court and PACER, not the Livingston County small-claims or civil docket.
Livingston County Court Records FAQ
Where can I search Livingston County Michigan court records?
Use the official Michigan MiCOURT public case search through Livingston County’s 44th Circuit Court, 53rd District Court or Probate Court website. Choose the correct court before entering a case number or party name.
Is Livingston County MiCOURT case search free?
Yes. Livingston County states that public registers of action for its 44th Circuit Court and 53rd District Court can be searched at no cost through MiCOURT. Certified copies and other Clerk services may carry fees.
Which court handles Livingston County felony cases?
The 44th Circuit Court handles felony trials and related Circuit Court proceedings. The 53rd District Court may handle early felony proceedings such as arraignments and preliminary examinations.
Where are Livingston County traffic and misdemeanor cases searched?
Start with the 53rd District Court and its public MiCOURT case-search link. The District Court also handles civil infractions, misdemeanor matters, small claims and landlord-tenant cases.
Can I find Livingston County divorce records online?
Publicly available divorce and family case information may be searchable through the 44th Circuit Court in MiCOURT. Some family documents are restricted, and a certified judgment of divorce must be requested from the Circuit Court Clerk.
How do I search Livingston County probate records before 2004?
The Livingston County Probate Court advises users searching for cases before 2004 to call 517-546-3750. More recent searchable public probate cases can be accessed using the court’s online case-search route.
What is the fee for Livingston County Circuit Court certified copies?
The Circuit Court Clerk lists copies at $1.50 per page and certification at $10 per document. Contact the office to confirm the page count and exact total before sending payment.
Why is a Livingston County case missing from MiCOURT?
The case may be in another court, outside online coverage, older than the available electronic record, sealed, confidential or excluded by MiCOURT display rules. Contact the responsible court when a known case is missing.
Where is the Livingston County Circuit Court Clerk located?
The 44th Circuit Court Clerk is at 204 S Highlander Way, Suite 4, Howell, Michigan 48843. The phone number is 517-546-9816, and listed hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where do I find federal court cases involving Livingston County Michigan?
Use PACER and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Federal district and bankruptcy records are separate from Livingston County’s Circuit, District and Probate Court systems.