Wexford County Public Records /Wexford County Court Records

Wexford County Court Records

How To Find Court Records in Wexford County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Wexford County may access publicly available case information through several official channels, including clerk offices, courthouse terminals, and statewide judicial search tools. WexfordRecords.us provides access to publicly available information that may relate to court records maintained by Wexford County courts and affiliated agencies. The information available through such resources may include, depending on case type and applicable access rules:

Criminal case filings and disposition records
Civil court dockets and judgment entries
Probate filings, estate records, and guardianship orders
Family court matters, including divorce and custody proceedings
Traffic and ordinance violation records
Small claims filings and outcomes

Court records in Wexford County may be searched through five primary methods:

1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Wexford County Clerk maintains official court records for the Circuit Court, Probate Court, and related divisions. Members of the public may submit in-person requests during regular business hours. Providing the full case number, party name, or filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.

2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Wexford County Courthouse. These terminals allow members of the public to search case indexes and view docket entries without charge during courthouse hours.

3. Online Court Search The Michigan judiciary operates the MiCOURT Case Search portal, which provides online access to case information for participating courts. Some courts display only case numbers and conviction information where sentencing occurred within a defined period.

4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Cases, Opinions & Orders portal maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court provides access to records from the Wexford Circuit Court, Wexford Juvenile Division, and Wexford Probate Court, among other courts statewide.

5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Wexford County Clerk's office. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return mailing address. Fees for copies apply.

Wexford County Clerk's Office
437 E. Division Street
Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: (231) 779-9450
Wexford County

Are Court Records Public In Wexford County

Court records in Wexford County are subject to public access under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.231 et seq., which establishes the right of members of the public to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by government bodies, including court clerks. Michigan Court Rule 8.119 further governs the maintenance and public availability of court records across the state judiciary.

Records that are generally public include:

Case dockets and indexes
Party names and case numbers
Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling entries
Filed pleadings, motions, and responses in civil and criminal matters
Court orders, judgments, and sentencing entries
Probate filings and estate inventories where not sealed

Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:

Juvenile delinquency and child protective proceedings
Adoption records and related filings
Mental health commitment proceedings
Certain domestic violence protective order details
Expunged criminal records under MCL § 780.621
Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other protected personal identifiers
Sealed filings ordered by the court

A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect a broader range of records in person at the clerk's office, online systems such as MiCOURT Case Search may display limited information, particularly for criminal matters where sentencing occurred outside a defined window or where records have been restricted by court order.

What Are Court Records in Wexford County?

Court records are the official documentary record of proceedings conducted before a court of law. In Wexford County, court records are created at the time of filing and updated continuously through each stage of litigation, from initial complaint or charging document through final disposition, post-judgment proceedings, and any appeal.

The distinction between a docket and a full case file is significant. A docket is a chronological index of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a case. A full case file contains the actual documents — pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, and transcripts — that constitute the complete record. Members of the public may access the docket through online tools, while access to the full case file may require an in-person visit or a formal records request.

Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, including contract claims, property disputes, and tort actions. Criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with violations of state law, from arraignment through sentencing. Probate records document the administration of decedents' estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. Family court records cover divorce, custody, parenting time, and support matters.

The Wexford County Clerk maintains trial court records for the Circuit Court and Probate Court. The 28th District Court maintains records for district-level matters. Appellate records are maintained by the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. The Search - Michigan Courts portal provides access to documents and docket information across multiple court levels.

What's Included in a Wexford County Court Record?

A court record in Wexford County may contain the following information, subject to applicable access rules and case type:

Case identification: Case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type designation
Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and counsel of record
Case status: Open, closed, dismissed, appealed, or transferred
Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, rulings, and administrative actions
Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, briefs, stipulations, notices, and supporting exhibits where not sealed
Court orders and judgments: Preliminary orders, final judgments, consent decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and post-judgment relief
Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly displayed

Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged criminal matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The Wexford County Guide published by the Archives of Michigan identifies historical court records available at the state archives, including chancery calendars dating from 1881.

Types of Courts in Wexford County

Wexford County is served by several courts operating within Michigan's unified court system. Each court maintains jurisdiction over specific case types and retains its own official records.

Wexford County Circuit Court (28th Judicial Circuit) The Circuit Court is Michigan's general-jurisdiction trial court. It hears felony criminal cases, civil matters involving amounts over $25,000, family law cases including divorce and custody, and appeals from lower courts. The Circuit Court also includes a Juvenile Division that handles delinquency, child protective, and status offense matters.

Wexford County Probate Court The Probate Court has jurisdiction over the administration of decedents' estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health proceedings. Records from the Wexford Probate Court are accessible through the Cases, Opinions & Orders portal.

28th District Court The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims cases (up to $7,000), and traffic and ordinance violations. The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction.

What Types of Cases Do Wexford County Courts Hear

Felony criminal: Circuit Court
Misdemeanor criminal and traffic: District Court
Civil over $25,000: Circuit Court
Civil under $25,000 and small claims: District Court
Family law (divorce, custody, support): Circuit Court – Family Division
Juvenile delinquency and child protective: Circuit Court – Juvenile Division
Probate, estates, guardianship: Probate Court
Mental health proceedings: Probate Court
Appeals from District Court: Circuit Court

Wexford County Courthouse
437 E. Division Street
Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: (231) 779-9450
Michigan Courts

How to Search Wexford County Court Records for Free?

Several methods for searching Wexford County court records are available at no cost. In-person inspection of court records at the Wexford County Clerk's office is free of charge. Members of the public may review case files and docket entries during regular business hours without paying a fee for inspection alone.

The MiCOURT Case Search portal provides free online access to case index information for participating Michigan courts, including Wexford County courts. Courthouse public access terminals are also available at no charge.

Fees apply when copies or certified copies of records are requested. Under Michigan Court Rule 8.119 and applicable clerk fee schedules, the following charges are standard:

Service	Typical Fee
Standard copy (per page)	$1.00 per page
Certified copy	$10.00 per document
Exemplified copy	$13.00 per document
Online record search	Free (index only)
In-person inspection	Free

Fees are subject to change and members of the public should confirm current amounts with the Wexford County Clerk's office prior to submitting a request. Research fees may apply for requests requiring extended staff time.

How Long Does Wexford County Keep Court Records?

Retention periods for court records in Wexford County are governed by the Michigan Trial Court Case File Management Standards and the records retention schedules established by the State Court Administrative Office. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.

Felony criminal case files are retained permanently or for a minimum of 25 years following final disposition.
Misdemeanor criminal case files are retained for a minimum of 7 years following final disposition.
Civil case files are retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition.
Probate case files involving decedents' estates are retained permanently.
Juvenile case files are subject to separate retention rules and may be sealed or destroyed upon the subject reaching adulthood, depending on case type.
Docket books and minute records are retained permanently.
Judgment records are retained permanently.

Paper files may be converted to microfilm or digital imaging and the original paper documents destroyed following imaging, provided the reproduced record meets archival standards. Older records from Wexford County, including chancery calendars from 1881 to 1948, are available through the Wexford County Guide at the Archives of Michigan.

Destruction of a record differs from sealing, redaction, or expungement. A sealed record continues to exist but is restricted from public access. An expunged record under MCL § 780.621 is set aside and removed from public view, though it may be retained in restricted form by the court and law enforcement.

How To Find a Court Docket in Wexford County

A court docket is a chronological index of all actions, filings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from the full case file in that it records what occurred and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed. The docket serves as the official record of case activity and is the primary tool for tracking case status and history.

Dockets for Wexford County cases may be accessed through the following methods:

Online via MiCOURT: The MiCOURT Case Search portal allows members of the public to search for case dockets by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system returns docket entries showing filing dates, hearing dates, and case status. Note that some courts display limited information for criminal matters, particularly where sentencing occurred outside a defined period or where records are restricted.

In Person at the Clerk's Office: Members of the public may request docket sheets directly from the Wexford County Clerk's office. Staff can print or display docket entries for a specific case upon request. Providing the case number expedites the search.

Courthouse Public Terminals: Public access terminals at the Wexford County Courthouse allow members of the public to search docket indexes without staff assistance during courthouse hours.

A court docket entry typically contains the date of the action, a description of the filing or proceeding, and the name of the judicial officer involved. Dockets do not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that have been restricted by court order. Hearing calendars and motion schedules may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse.

The Wexford County Family Court Plan published by the Michigan Courts identifies the Wexford County Clerk as the administrator responsible for maintaining family court records, with Alaina Nyman serving as the Family Court Administrator for Wexford County.