How to Search Ingham County Court Records
The county runs a free public search tool for Circuit Court and Probate Court files. It is called the Ingham County Court Record Search. The page lets users look up cases by party name, business name, or case number. The portal warns that it searches only one court at a time. Users must pick either Circuit or Probate before they run a name search. The system also says victim data is hidden and that personal protection order case info is not shown online. Criminal case data goes back to the year 2000. All other Circuit and Probate cases go back to 1986.
The Ingham County Court system also runs a search-by-case-number tool for users who already have the case number. That is the quickest way to pull a file. The portal does not give certified copies. To get an official record, the user must visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office or the Probate Register's Office.
The county's Courts and Sheriff landing page lists every court office and online tool in one spot. 
That index page is the simplest jump-off point for first-time users who do not know which Ingham County Court office holds the file they want.
- Open the Court Record Search portal at courts.ingham.org.
- Pick one court: Circuit or Probate.
- Enter the last name (at least two letters) and first name (at least one letter). For business parties, use the business name with no punctuation.
- Add date of birth for any criminal or traffic search. The portal flags DOB as required for those case types.
- Pick a party type (Plaintiff/Petitioner or Defendant/Respondent) and a case type for Circuit searches. Probate skips those fields.
- Run the search and click into matches to see the docket entries.
- Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court or Probate Register's Office for a certified copy.
Note: The Ingham County Court Record Search lists matches as leads, not as the official record of the court.
Search-field table for the Ingham Circuit and Probate portal
The full set of fields shown on the name and business search screen is below. The page-level instructions reflect what the portal itself prints next to each field.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courts to be Searched | Radio | Yes | Circuit or Probate. One court at a time. |
| Business Name | Text | Optional | For business-party searches. Omit punctuation. |
| Last Name | Text | Yes for person search | Wildcard. At least 2 letters. "SM" returns Smith, Smithton, Smith Auto Parts. |
| First Name | Text | Yes for person search | At least one letter. |
| Date of Birth | Month/Day/Year | Yes for criminal/traffic | Required for criminal and traffic cases. |
| Party Type | Checkbox | Yes for Circuit | Plaintiff/Petitioner; Defendant/Respondent. Check 1 or both. |
| Case Type | Checkbox | Yes for Circuit | Civil/Family; Criminal. Probate skips this field. |
| Date Range | Dropdown | Optional | Criminal back to 2000; other Circuit/Probate back to 1986. |
| Search | Button | n/a | Submits criteria. |
The Ingham County Judicial System
Michigan runs what the state calls "one court of justice." That phrase covers the top court, the appeals court, and the trial courts below them. The state Supreme Court sits at the top. The Michigan Judicial Branch is the umbrella site for rules, forms, and statewide guidance. Below the Supreme Court is the Michigan Court of Appeals. Trial work happens in the circuit courts, the probate courts, and the district courts. Local municipal courts cover small slices of a few cities. The Ingham County Court structure follows that same shape, with three main trial courts under the state appellate courts.
Case flow inside the Ingham County Court system runs like this: District Court > Circuit Court > Michigan Court of Appeals > Michigan Supreme Court. Felony cases start with a District Court arraignment and preliminary hearing. If the case is bound over, it moves up to the 30th Judicial Circuit Court for trial. Probate matters take their own track inside the Probate Court and can be appealed under Michigan court rules.
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Supreme Court | Statewide, final appellate | Final appeals, court rules, statewide administration |
| Michigan Court of Appeals | Statewide, intermediate appellate | Appeals from Circuit Court and most agency matters |
| 30th Judicial Circuit Court | Ingham County | Felonies, civil over $25,000, family, juvenile, PPOs, name changes, appeals from District |
| Ingham County Probate Court | Ingham County | Wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health treatment |
| 55th Judicial District Court | Ingham County (not Lansing or East Lansing) | Traffic, misdemeanors, civil up to $25,000, small claims up to $7,000, landlord-tenant |
The 30th Judicial Circuit Court is the main trial court for Ingham County. The official Circuit Court page lists family division work, the general trial division, the Business Court, Mental Health Court, and the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program. 
The Circuit Court page is also where users find the link to watch hearings online, request transcripts, and read the local court rules that govern Ingham County Court filings.
Trial court comparison
Each trial court in the Ingham County Court system handles a different slice of the docket. The grid below sorts them by what the court actually files.
| Feature | 30th Circuit Court | Probate Court | 55th District Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil limit | Over $25,000 | n/a | Up to $25,000 |
| Criminal | Felonies | n/a | Misdemeanors and prelims |
| Family | Divorce, custody, juvenile, PPO | Minor guardianship | n/a |
| Wills/estates | n/a | Yes | n/a |
| Traffic | Felony only | n/a | All civil infractions, misdemeanor traffic |
| Small claims | n/a | n/a | Up to $7,000 |
Types of Court Records Available in Ingham County
The Ingham County Court system files a wide range of records. Each trial court holds its own files, and each clerk's office runs its own copy desk. Most files are public. Some are sealed by statute. The mix below covers the main categories users ask about.
The Ingham County Court Record Search shows civil, family, criminal, and probate cases from the Circuit and Probate Courts. Traffic and small claims live in the 55th District Court system. The Clerk of the Circuit Court page describes how the office docks every filing, protects the official court file, and collects filing fees.
- Civil Circuit Court records - Complaints, answers, motions, orders, judgments, garnishments, and liens above the district threshold.
- Criminal Circuit Court records - Felony complaints, plea records, sentencing orders, probation terms, and appeals.
- Family Court records - Divorce, custody, child support, Friend of the Court, adoption, juvenile cases, and PPOs.
- Probate Court records - Wills, decedent estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health treatment files.
- District Court criminal records - Misdemeanors, civil infractions, bonds, probation, and preliminary felony hearings.
- Traffic court records - Tickets, OWI prelims, civil infractions, and ordinance violations from the 55th District Court.
- Small claims and landlord-tenant - Filed in the 55th District Court Civil Division.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court page also lists the records request and fee desk for Circuit Court files. 
The clerk's office is the right stop for certified copies of any Ingham County Court Circuit Court order or judgment.
What Ingham County Court Records Show
Every case file in the Ingham County Court system follows the same basic frame. The docket lists what was filed, by whom, and when. The case file holds the documents. The disposition tells you how the case ended. Some fields stay public. Some are hidden by court rule. The table below shows the main fields the public-facing record search displays.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Year, case-type code, and a sequential number assigned by the Ingham clerk. |
| Court | Circuit, Probate, or District. The search portal asks the user to pick one. |
| Filing Date | The day the case was opened in the Ingham County Court system. |
| Parties | Plaintiff/Petitioner and Defendant/Respondent. Victim names are suppressed. |
| Case Type | Civil, family, criminal, traffic, estate, guardianship, conservatorship, or mental health. |
| Charges / Cause | Listed counts, statute cites, or the cause of action filed. |
| Hearings | Date, time, courtroom, judge, and hearing type. |
| Disposition | How the case ended: dismissed, guilty plea, judgment, or transferred. |
| Sentence / Judgment | Fines, costs, probation terms, restitution, or money damages. |
| Financials | Filing fees, copy fees, fines, bonds, and payment status. |
The portal's own help text says these search results are leads, not the official court record. The Circuit and Probate court record search tells the user to visit the Ingham County Circuit Court Clerk's Office for the official file. 
That step matters most for criminal record checks, where the portal says common name and date matches can return cases that do not belong to the searched person.
Public Access Laws for Ingham County Court Records
Michigan splits public access into two tracks. Court case files run under court rules set by the Michigan Supreme Court. Other county records, like sheriff policies and budgets, run under the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). For Ingham County Court case records, the central rule is MCR 8.119 from the Michigan Court Rules. For non-case records held by county offices, the user files a FOIA request under MCL 15.231 and the sections that follow.
Court access is not the same as FOIA. A FOIA request goes to the public body. A request for a court case file goes to the clerk under the court rules. The two tracks have different fee schedules and different appeal paths. Court denials are challenged through court motions, not the FOIA process. FOIA denials are appealed under MCL 15.235.
Key Michigan Statutes and Court Rules:
MCL 15.231 - Michigan FOIA policy. The state says all persons may get full info about government affairs, subject to set exemptions.
MCL 15.233 - Right to inspect and copy public records held by Michigan public bodies, including county offices.
MCL 15.234 - FOIA fee rules covering labor, copying, mail, deposits, and itemized fee calculation.
MCL 15.235 - FOIA response, denial, extension, and the appeal path to circuit court.
MCR 8.119 - Michigan Court Rule on court records management. This is the rule that controls case-file access at the Ingham County Court level.
MCR 3.705 - The court rule that keeps personal protection order case info off the public online search.
MCL 712A.28 - Juvenile record confidentiality. Most juvenile files are not open public records.
Note: A county FOIA request must be in writing, and the public body has five business days to respond or claim an extension under Michigan law.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every Ingham County Court file is open to the public. Some are sealed by statute. Some are held back by court rule. Some are redacted before release. The categories below are the most common reasons a record will not show in a public search.
Juvenile records sit under MCL 712A.28, which limits who can view the social file. Adoption files are kept under MCL 710.67. Mental health treatment files are held under MCL 330.1748. Set-aside convictions are governed by MCL 780.621, and the effect of a set-aside order is set out in MCL 780.623. PPO files do not appear in the public search at all because of MCR 3.705.
A Michigan set-aside, which most people call an expungement, does not erase every trace of a case. It moves the conviction out of the public court file and out of public criminal-history results. Courts, prosecutors, police, and licensing boards may still see the record for limited official uses. To get a set-aside, the petitioner files in the convicting court, serves the required state agencies, and attends a hearing unless the relief is automatic under the new Clean Slate framework.
Specialty Courts in Ingham County
The Ingham County Court system runs several problem-solving dockets. These dockets mix judicial review, treatment, and tight supervision in place of a normal probation calendar. The 30th Circuit Court runs Mental Health Court, Business Court, Pretrial Services, and the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program. The 55th District Court runs problem-solving courts that include a Sobriety Court for alcohol and drug cases.
Mental Health Court takes on defendants whose criminal involvement is tied to a mental health condition. The judge reviews treatment compliance, the team coordinates with community providers, and sanctions are stepped. Swift and Sure targets high-risk probationers. It uses fast, certain, and proportionate sanctions for violations. The Sobriety Court has graduated dozens of classes; the 55th District page tracks graduations by number, with the 67th class noted for March 18, 2026.
Business Court inside the 30th Circuit handles business and commercial disputes that qualify under Michigan's business-court statute. It uses set case-management orders and assigned judges. The court still files its docket through the Clerk of the Circuit Court like any other Circuit case.
Ingham County Sheriff and Jail Information
The Ingham County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail, civil process, road patrol, and the inmate locator. The Sheriff's official site is the main spot for office news, programs, and divisions. The jail itself runs a separate site for inmate lookup and inmate communication. People who need to find someone who was just booked into the Ingham County Court system should start at the jail page.
The Ingham County Inmate Locator lets users search by name or by inmate number. 
The page also lists the rules for digital mail, deposits through eXpressAccount, and video visits through SmartJailMail. Full roster details and the booking process are on the Ingham County inmate records page. Outstanding warrants are tracked through the warrant records page and the 55th District Court warrant list.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
The Ingham County Clerk issues marriage licenses, files some vital records, and acts as the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Divorce files are Circuit Court family records. Probate runs through its own court and register's office. Each of these record types has its own subpage on this site for full detail. The short version is below.
Marriage license applications start at the County Clerk marriage license page. A three-day waiting period runs from the day the user clicks submit. After the wait, applicants pick up the license at one of the two County Clerk offices. The fee is $20 for Ingham County residents. 
Probate files, including wills and estates, run through the Ingham County Probate Court, and the court requires the most current SCAO-approved forms when one is published. For divorce files, search Circuit Court records and ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court for certified copies. Full detail lives on marriage and divorce records and probate records.
Common probate terms
Probate cases use a small set of legal terms that come up often in Ingham County Court filings.
- Testator
- The person who made the will.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to settle the estate. Michigan often uses "personal representative" in court files.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will. State law decides who inherits.
- Guardian
- A person appointed to make personal care choices for a minor or adult who cannot.
- Conservator
- A person appointed to manage another person's money and property.
- Inventory
- A probate filing that lists the estate's assets.
How to Interpret Ingham County Court Records
Reading a court file takes a little practice. The docket reads from the top down, with the oldest entry first. Each line lists a date, an event type, and a short code. Some events are filings. Some are orders. Some are hearings. The disposition is the line that closes the case. Online matches do not include every paper document; many docs are kept only at the clerk's office.
A charge is not the same as a conviction. A charge means the prosecutor filed the count. A conviction means the case ended with a guilty plea or a guilty verdict. A "dismissed" line means the charge was dropped. "Dismissed with prejudice" means the case cannot be refiled. "Dismissed without prejudice" leaves the door open. A "nolle prosequi" line means the prosecutor chose not to pursue the count. A "deferred" plea means the conviction is held off if the person finishes a set program.
Note: The Ingham County Court online search lists criminal results as leads only; common names and dates can match the wrong person.
Fees and Costs for Records
Fees in the Ingham County Court system depend on which office holds the file. The Clerk of the Circuit Court collects filing, copy, and certification fees for Circuit cases. The Probate Court runs its own probate fee schedule. The 55th District Court publishes fines, costs, and fees for traffic and misdemeanor cases. Court payments for fines and costs run through the Ingham court payments portal.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license (Ingham resident) | $20 |
| Circuit Court copies and filing fees | See Clerk of the Circuit Court fee desk |
| Probate filing fees | See the Probate Court fee schedule |
| Probate inventory fee | Use the Probate inventory fee calculator |
| District Court fines and costs | Set by judge per the 55th District schedule |
| FOIA labor and copy fees | Capped under MCL 15.234 |
Court payment by check or money order at the 55th District Court must be made payable to "55th District Court." The court does not accept pleadings by fax.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online Ingham County Court data lags real-time activity. Clerks post entries after a hearing or filing is processed, which can take hours or days. The court warns that name searches may return the wrong person. Dates of birth are limited in display. Victim data is hidden. PPO data is not online. Set-aside cases are not visible at all to the public after the order is entered.
Note: Confirm any record with the originating clerk before you rely on online data for a hearing, a job, or a legal filing.
Court Schedules and Daily Calendars
The Ingham County Court system runs a separate schedule portal. It lists upcoming hearings, courtroom, judge, and case type. The schedule helps lawyers, family members, and reporters confirm when a case will be called.
Two tools live at the same hostname. The Court Hearing Schedule search lets users look up a hearing by name or case. 
The Daily Court Schedule lists the full daily calendar, judge by judge. 
The daily schedule is the right tool when a user wants to know what is on the docket today, but it is not the same as the official court file. A user can also try the search by case number screen when the case number is in hand.
The 55th District Court
Most day-to-day Ingham County Court contact happens in the 55th Judicial District Court. The 55th has jurisdiction in Ingham County except for the cities of Lansing and East Lansing, which run their own city courts. The 55th handles traffic, misdemeanors, civil infractions, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims up to $7,000, landlord-tenant, and felony preliminary work. It also runs a probation division and the Sobriety Court.
The court's site is the gateway to all of that work. The 55th District Court home page lists divisions, hours, and judges. 
The court moved into the Ingham County Justice Complex east of the prior courthouse, off Cedar Street between Buhl Avenue and Curtis Street, while keeping the 700 Buhl Ave/St. address in Mason. MiFILE electronic filing for District Court civil actions started June 5, 2025.
55th Judicial District Court
700 Buhl St., P.O. Box 217
Mason, MI 48854
General: (517) 676-8400
Civil Division: (517) 676-8401
Criminal Division: (517) 676-8405
Traffic Division: (517) 676-8408
Probation: (517) 676-8422
Jury Clerk: (517) 676-8420
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
docs.ingham.org/courts_and_sheriff/55th_judicial_district_court
History of Ingham County Courts
Ingham County is the home of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. That puts the Ingham County Court system in the middle of state government, with state agencies, legislative offices, the State Bar, and many advocacy groups in walking distance of the courthouse. The 30th Judicial Circuit number is part of Michigan's circuit-court layout, and the Probate Court and District Court were built under Michigan's statewide trial-court frame.
The county court system has moved most public services online in the past decade. Court Record Search, Court Hearing Schedule, Court Payments, the Watch Hearings Online link, and the MiFILE e-filing portal all reflect that shift. The Probate Court also publishes its language access plan, fee schedule, and inventory fee calculator. The 55th District Court relocated into the Ingham County Justice Complex in 2025-2026 while keeping the same Mason address. The county jail moved to a digital mail system on April 1, 2023, with mail routed through a Florida processing center.
Visiting the Courthouse
Most Ingham County Court business now runs online, but some filings, certified copies, and hearings still take an in-person visit. The Circuit Court and the Clerk of the Circuit Court sit in downtown Lansing. The Probate Court is in the same downtown complex. The 55th District Court sits in Mason. Each court has its own security screening at the door.
Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early for a hearing. Bring photo identification and the case number. Phones, cameras, recording devices, and any item that could be used as a weapon are restricted. Confirm the rules on the court's media coverage page before any recording. The directions box farther down on this page covers parking, transit, and accessibility for the Lansing courthouse complex.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Ingham County Court records?
Use the official Court Record Search at courts.ingham.org. Pick either Circuit or Probate. Enter the last name (at least two letters) and the first name (at least one letter). Add a date of birth if the search is for a criminal or traffic case. Pick a party type and case type for Circuit searches. Click Search and review the docket entries that match.
Are online court search results the official record?
No. The Ingham portal states that criminal search results are not the official record. The official Ingham County Court file lives at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office for Circuit cases and at the Probate Register's Office for Probate cases. For a certified copy, contact the clerk's office directly.
Why can I not find a PPO case online?
The portal cites MCR 3.705 and says personal protection order case information is not posted online. To look at a PPO file, the requester must contact the Circuit Court's family division directly. Some PPO data may be shared only with a party to the case or that party's lawyer.
How far back do online court records go?
The Ingham portal says criminal cases go back to the year 2000. All other Circuit and Probate cases go back to 1986. Older cases may exist only on paper at the clerk's office. For pre-1986 records, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court for archive search options.
Is date of birth required to search?
Yes for criminal and traffic cases. The portal flags DOB as required for those case types. For civil and family searches, the DOB field is optional but helps narrow results when a party has a common name. Probate searches do not require DOB at all.
Where do I get an official Michigan criminal history?
The Ingham portal points users to Michigan State Police ICHAT for an official statewide criminal history. ICHAT is a paid lookup run by the state, not the county. The Ingham County Court Record Search returns county-level matches only and is not a substitute for an ICHAT report.
How do I search for an inmate?
Use the Ingham County Inmate Locator at jail.ingham.org. Pick the name tab or the inmate-number tab, fill in the field, and clear the CAPTCHA. Results show current custody status only. For released or transferred inmates, use the MDOC OTIS, VINELink, or the federal BOP locator depending on the case.
What court handles small claims and evictions in Ingham County?
The 55th Judicial District Court Civil Division. The court handles general civil claims up to $25,000, small claims up to $7,000, landlord-tenant evictions, and land contract forfeiture. Forms are filed at the Mason courthouse, and online payment for civil infractions is available through the District Court site.
More questions on the Ingham County Court Records FAQ page.