How to Search Saginaw County Court Records
Saginaw County Court records are searched through the county's own case portal, the Saginaw County Court Case and Hearing Information site. The home screen offers two paths, one to search for a court case and one to search for a court docket. The portal covers Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, District Civil, District Criminal, Probate, and Traffic matters. It is free to use, though it is important to know one limit up front. Public case documents are not available online. The site provides case and hearing information only, and it states plainly that the online information is not the official record.
Before starting, gather what you know about the case. A case number gives the cleanest results, because the portal warns that name searches can be unreliable when two or more people share the same name and birth date, and criminal defendants sometimes use aliases. The county's public records hub links the court case search alongside property and Register of Deeds searches, which helps confirm you are heading to the right tool.
A quick look at the county records hub shows how the court search sits beside the county's other lookup tools.
From that hub, the court case and hearing search is one click away, keeping property, deeds, and court files in a single place for the county.
- Open the Odyssey case portal and choose "Search for a Court Case" for case records or "Search for a Court Docket" for hearing dates.
- Enter a case number when you have one, since the portal itself flags name searches as less reliable.
- If searching by name, type the Party Name as Last, First Middle Suffix, and try spelling variations.
- Narrow by Court, such as Circuit Criminal or Traffic, and by Police Agency for criminal or traffic files.
- Complete the reCAPTCHA, click Search, and treat results as informational only.
- Request certified copies or documents for a fee at the Circuit Court, Probate, or District Court office.
The case search form exposes a rich set of fields. The table below lists the main ones and how each is used.
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Party Name | Text | Entered as Last, First Middle Suffix; try spelling variations |
| Case Number (any part) | Text | Accepts any portion of the case number |
| Case Status | Dropdown | All, Active, or Inactive |
| Court | Dropdown | Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, District Civil, District Criminal, Probate, Traffic |
| Judge or Presiding Official | Dropdown | Long list of current and historic judges and magistrates |
| Police Agency | Dropdown | City, county, township, state, university, and tribal agencies |
| Filed / Closed Dates | Date range | Optional; can be ignored with the paired checkboxes |
| Display Order | Dropdown | Sort by party, file date, close date, judge, or court |
| reCAPTCHA | Verification | Required before the search will submit |
The Saginaw County Judicial System
Michigan runs what it calls the "One Court of Justice," a single structure topped by the Michigan Supreme Court. Below it sits the Michigan Court of Appeals and three trial courts: circuit, district, and probate. Saginaw County's primary trial court is the 10th Judicial Circuit Court, which hears felonies after bindover, major civil suits, divorce and family matters, personal protection orders, and appeals from the District Court. The 70th District Court is the limited-jurisdiction court, and Probate Court oversees estates and protective proceedings.
Michigan's court website explains how these trial courts split the work across the state.
That statewide framework is what shapes every Saginaw County courtroom, from the smallest traffic ticket to the most serious felony.
Case flow: District Court › Circuit Court › Michigan Court of Appeals › Michigan Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Supreme Court | Highest court | Reviews Court of Appeals decisions and judicial administration |
| Michigan Court of Appeals | Intermediate appellate | Appeals from Circuit and Probate courts |
| 10th Circuit Court | General trial | Felonies after bindover, major civil, divorce, family, PPOs |
| 70th District Court | Limited trial | Misdemeanors, felony prelims, traffic, small claims, landlord-tenant |
| Probate Court | Probate trial | Estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health |
A felony case shows how the courts connect. It begins in the 70th District Court for arraignment on the complaint and a preliminary examination. If a judge finds probable cause, the case is bound over to the 10th Circuit Court for arraignment on the information, pretrial, trial or plea, and sentencing. Saginaw County's 2012 concurrent jurisdiction plan lets any judge in the county handle any type of matter, a step meant to speed cases and remove barriers between divisions.
Note: Since January 1, 1998, juvenile delinquency, neglect and abuse, and adoption cases have been handled by the Family Division of the Circuit Court rather than Probate Court.
Saginaw County Courthouse and Offices
Most Saginaw County Court functions share one address, the Saginaw County Courthouse and Governmental Center at 111 S. Michigan Avenue in downtown Saginaw. The County Clerk sits on the first floor in Room 101, the 70th District Court operates from the third floor, and the Prosecuting Attorney is in Room 212. Probate Court also works from the same courthouse. The Sheriff's Office and jail are the main exception, located a short distance away on South Harrison Street.
The county directory pulls these offices and their phone lines together in one place.
Routing matters inside the building, because District Court civil filings should not go to the County Clerk's Circuit Court Division, and probate questions have their own line.
70th District Court
111 S. Michigan Ave., 3rd Floor
Saginaw, MI 48602
(989) 790-5385
The courthouse is also a civic display space. An America 250 mural contest will place a winning design in the Saginaw County Courthouse as a lasting tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The project is a reminder that the courthouse is a living county landmark, not only a records counter for court files.
Types of Court Records Available in Saginaw County
Saginaw County Court records span every division of the trial courts, and the court that produced a file usually keeps it. Criminal and civil matters split between the Circuit and District courts by seriousness and dollar amount. Family and divorce files run through the Circuit Court, probate and guardianship files sit with Probate Court, and traffic files belong to the District Court.
The county courts landing page lists each division and links to the searches tied to them.
From that page you can move to the specific division that holds the record you need.
- Criminal records - Misdemeanors in the 70th District Court and felonies bound over to the 10th Circuit Court.
- Civil records - District Court civil claims up to $25,000 and larger Circuit Court suits like injury and contract cases.
- Family and divorce records - Divorce, paternity, and domestic relations files kept through the Circuit Court.
- Probate records - Estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and involuntary mental health matters.
- Traffic records - Civil infractions and misdemeanor traffic cases in the District Court Traffic Division.
The three trial courts hold different files, and the comparison below shows which court to approach for which record.
| Feature | Circuit Court | District Court | Probate Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Felonies after bindover | Misdemeanors, felony prelims | None |
| Civil limit | Above $25,000 | Up to $25,000, small claims to $7,000 | Estate value based |
| Family | Divorce, paternity, PPOs | None | Some guardianship of minors |
| Records held from | 1985 to present, computerized | Division counters | Probate case files |
What Saginaw County Court Records Show
A Saginaw County Court record is built from the fields the courts track as a case moves along. The Odyssey portal and the clerk's copy rules point to the same core set of information: who the parties are, which court holds the case, when it was filed and closed, who the judge is, and, for criminal and traffic matters, which police agency was involved. Because documents are not posted online, the searchable data acts as an index that points you to the office holding the full file.
The county homepage is the front door to those record tools for residents and researchers.
From there, the court case and hearing search reveals the field-level detail summarized in the table below.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The unique identifier the court assigns to the case |
| Court | Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, District, Probate, or Traffic |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, or respondent names |
| Filed / Closed Dates | When the case opened and, if resolved, when it closed |
| Judge | The presiding judge or magistrate assigned to the case |
| Police Agency | Arresting or issuing agency for criminal and traffic files |
| Case Status | Active, Inactive, or All |
| Documents | Not online; obtained for a fee at the court office |
Financial entries also appear in many files. Depending on the case type, a record can list fines, court costs, restitution, bond amounts, filing fees, and payment history. The County Clerk's fee page lists a Register of Action at $1.00 per page, which is the running chronological log of everything filed in a case.
Public Access Laws for Saginaw County Court Records
Court records in Michigan are mostly open, but two different rule sets govern them. County administrative records fall under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, while court case files are governed by Michigan Court Rules and handled by the court offices themselves. That distinction matters: a request for a sheriff's administrative record follows a FOIA path, but a case file copy is requested directly from the Circuit, District, or Probate court. Certain records, including juvenile, adoption, and set-aside files, are restricted regardless of the general rule.
Key Statutes and Rules:
MCL 15.231 - Michigan's FOIA states a public policy favoring full information about the actions of public bodies.
MCL 15.243 - Lists FOIA exemptions, including records whose release would interfere with law enforcement or invade privacy.
MCR 8.119 - Sets how court clerks maintain court records and how the public may inspect them.
MCR 1.109 - Defines court records broadly and ties public access to the framework in MCR 8.119.
MCL 780.621 - Lets eligible Michigan convictions be set aside by application, which removes them from public view.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every Saginaw County Court file is open to the public. Several categories are sealed or limited by statute, and treating them like ordinary adult case records is a common mistake. Juvenile delinquency and many family and juvenile files run through the Family Division and carry special confidentiality rules under MCL 712A.28. Adoption records are confidential under MCL 710.67. Involuntary mental health proceedings in Probate Court are also sensitive and are not handled like routine estate files.
Convictions that have been set aside disappear from public view as well. Michigan's Clean Slate framework expanded eligibility to many misdemeanors and up to three eligible felonies, with waiting periods tied to the seriousness and number of convictions. A person generally files the set-aside application in the court where the conviction occurred, using a separate application for each court. A set-aside is not the same as exoneration, and restitution obligations plus certain law enforcement and court uses of the record remain.
- Juvenile delinquency, neglect, and abuse files in the Family Division.
- Adoption records confidential under Michigan law.
- Set-aside and expunged convictions removed from public access.
- Involuntary mental health commitment proceedings in Probate Court.
- Social Security numbers, financial data, and protected addresses redacted under court rules.
Specialty Courts in Saginaw County
Saginaw County runs several problem-solving courts alongside its regular dockets, most established by local administrative order. These programs offer treatment and intensive supervision instead of, or alongside, traditional sentences, and they leave their own marks on criminal, probation, and sentencing records. The best-known local example is Swift:Sure, run by Probate Judge Patrick J. McGraw, which intensely supervises felons and gives them a second chance to avoid prison.
The county's specialty dockets grew from a cluster of orders adopted in the early 2010s.
- Swift:Sure Sanctions Probation Program - Intensive felony supervision aimed at keeping participants out of prison.
- Adult Drug Treatment Court - Established for the 10th Circuit in 2012 for substance-related cases.
- Mental Health Treatment Court - Established by order in 2013 as a diversion-focused docket.
- Veterans Treatment Court - Established by order in 2013 for eligible veterans.
- Business Court - A specialized civil docket created for the 10th Circuit in 2013.
Recovery Court and the STAR Program also appear on the county courts menu as additional treatment and specialty resources.
Saginaw County Sheriff and Jail
The Saginaw County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff William L. Federspiel, runs the county jail, handles booking, and provides security and transport for the courts. The office serves roughly 200,000 residents across 810 square miles, and the jail houses about 511 inmates on a daily basis. The Sheriff's Office operates from 311 S. Harrison Street, apart from the main courthouse, and its transport units move inmates throughout the court system and the state.
Inmate information is handled a little differently in Saginaw County. The jail page lists the Saginaw County Sheriff app as its inmate-information channel, and an automated jail phone line is also available, but the regular website does not publish a traditional browser roster. For the full lookup process, jail contacts, and money and mail rules, see the Saginaw County inmate records page, and for outstanding warrants review the warrant records page.
Note: The Sheriff's app is not for emergencies, and anyone facing an emergency should call 911 rather than use the app.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage licenses and marriage records are County Clerk and Vital Records functions, while divorce is a Circuit Court domestic relations matter maintained through Circuit Court records. Probate estates, guardianships, and conservatorships sit with the Probate Court. For step-by-step help, see the marriage and divorce records page and the probate records page. A few probate terms come up often and are worth defining.
- Testator
- The person who made a will that a probate estate carries out.
- Executor
- The personal representative who settles a decedent's estate under court supervision.
- Conservator
- A person appointed to manage the finances of a protected individual.
- Guardian
- A person appointed to make personal or care decisions for a ward.
Marriage records from 1995 to present are searchable through the county Vital Records Self-Service portal, and marriage licenses are public records that anyone may request a certified copy of.
Saginaw County Court Records Fees
Copy and search fees are set by the County Clerk for Circuit Court records and vital records. Over-the-counter Circuit Court copies are charged per page, certification adds a flat fee on top, and mail searches carry a per-name search fee plus a return envelope. Criminal record searches by mail also require a signed release form or a photocopy of the person's driver's license. The fee table below lists the common charges.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Circuit Court copy per page | $1.00 |
| Circuit Court certification | $10.00 plus $1.00 per page |
| Register of Action per page | $1.00 |
| Record search by mail | $10.00 per name plus return envelope |
| Marriage license in county | $20.00 |
| Marriage license out of county | $30.00 |
| Vital records certified copy | $15.00 first copy; $7.00 each additional |
Payment methods vary by counter. The District Court Criminal Division accepts cash, money order, or credit card for fines and costs, but bonds must be posted in cash only and in the defendant's name. If a case carries an active arrest warrant, the county's payment page warns that the person cannot pay online and must appear in court.
How to Interpret Saginaw County Court Records
Court files use shorthand that can confuse a first-time reader. A docket is the chronological list of hearings and events in a case, while a disposition is the outcome, such as dismissed, pled, convicted, acquitted, or judgment entered. The most important habit is to separate a charge from a conviction, since an early charge can be amended, reduced, dismissed, or resolved by plea long before any final result. The definitions below cover terms that appear across criminal, civil, and family files.
- Plaintiff
- The person or entity that starts a civil case.
- Defendant
- The person being sued in a civil case or charged in a criminal one.
- Arraignment
- The first hearing where a defendant learns the charges, penalties, and rights.
- Bindover
- Transfer of a felony from District Court to Circuit Court after probable cause is found.
- Disposition
- The final outcome recorded for a case.
- Set aside
- A Michigan process that removes an eligible conviction from public view.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online Saginaw County Court information is a convenience, not the official record. The portal states directly that its information is not the official file and that name searches can return the wrong person when names and birth dates match. Older or non-digitized files, sealed matters, and documents themselves live at the court counter, not on the website. Circuit Court records are computerized only from 1985 forward, so earlier matters may take an in-person or mail request.
Note: Confirm any name, charge, or disposition with the Circuit, District, or Probate court office before relying on it for a legal or personal decision.
History of Saginaw County Courts
Saginaw County was organized in 1835 from unorganized territory, with the City of Saginaw as its seat. The area's recorded history runs deeper still. The City of Saginaw history notes that Sauk and Chippewa people and European fur traders lived here well before a permanent settlement formed in 1819, the same year the Treaty of Saginaw was signed.
That long history gave the county the borders and communities its courts serve today.
The county's facts and symbols page records that Saginaw County borders Bay, Tuscola, Genesee, Shiawassee, Gratiot, and Midland counties, contains 37 local units of government, and had a population of 187,714 at the last census.
Court structure evolved alongside the county. The Family Division of the Circuit Court was created on January 1, 1998, and a 2012 concurrent jurisdiction plan let every judge in Saginaw County handle any type of matter to speed cases along.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Saginaw County Court records online?
Use the Saginaw County Court Case and Hearing Information portal. Choose the case search for case records or the docket search for hearing dates, then search by case number or by party name in Last, First Middle Suffix order. The portal covers Circuit, District, Probate, and Traffic matters, but it shows information only. Actual documents are obtained for a fee at the court office.
Can I view court documents online?
No. The county portal states that public case documents are not accessible online. It provides case and hearing information as a service, and it is not the official record. To get copies or certified documents, visit or write the Circuit Court, Probate Court, or 70th District Court office that holds the file and pay the applicable fee.
How much does a certified copy cost?
Circuit Court copies are $1.00 per page, and certification adds $10.00 plus $1.00 per page. A record search by mail costs $10.00 per name plus a return envelope, and criminal record searches by mail also require a signed release or a photocopy of the person's driver's license. Vital records certified copies start at $15.00 for the first copy.
Which court holds the record I need?
It depends on the case. Felonies after bindover, divorce, and major civil suits are Circuit Court records. Misdemeanors, small claims, landlord-tenant, and traffic files belong to the 70th District Court. Estates, guardianships, and conservatorships are Probate Court files. Marriage licenses and marriage records are kept by the County Clerk's Vital Records Division.
How do I check for a warrant in Saginaw County?
There is no public online warrant list. If you believe a warrant exists, call the District Court Criminal Division at (989) 790-5385 or the Circuit Court at (989) 790-5470. Note that the Circuit Court never phones people to demand payment to clear a jury-duty bench warrant. Official missed-jury notices always come in writing.
Are juvenile and adoption records public?
No. Juvenile delinquency, neglect, and abuse files run through the Family Division and are confidential under Michigan law, as are adoption records. Set-aside convictions and involuntary mental health proceedings are also restricted. These files are not treated like ordinary adult criminal or civil records, and access is limited to those the statute allows.