Benzie County, located in the northwestern part of Michigan, has a population of just under 18,000 residents. Established in 1869, the county is known for its pristine lakes, rivers, and forests, boasting over 100 lakes and several miles of State forests. Benzie County covers about 860 square miles, of which around 321 square miles is land and the remainder is water. Its county seat is Beulah City.
Courts in Benzie County
The Benzie County judicial system comprises Circuit, District, and Probate Courts. The 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Benzie County has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, and civil disputes of more than $25,000. The Circuit Court has a Family Law and Juvenile Divisions.
The Family Law Court presides over divorce, child support, and child custody cases, while the Juvenile Courts hear cases involving minors, such as child protection and juvenile delinquencies.
The 85th District Court in Benzie County presides over limited criminal and civil cases, including misdemeanors, small claims for disputes up to $6,500, general civil cases up to $25,000, municipal civil infractions, and traffic violations. The Probate Court hears wills, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, and estates.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Benzie County
Public court records are documents maintained by the courts that are open to the general public. In Benzie County, public court records are available online through the MiCourt Case Search. Record seekers may also visit the courthouse during business hours to view and obtain copies of court documents or mail written requests for public court records.
Types of Public Court Records in Benzie County
The following court records are open to Benzie County residents to inspect, view, or copy:
- Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanor records, such as aggravated assaults, homicides, shoplifting, and vandalism
- Civil Court Records: Employment disputes, contract breaches, property disputes, foreclosures, and small claims records
- Family Law Records: Child support, child custody, alimony, divorce, legal separation, and annulments
- Probate Records: Estate, guardianships, wills, conservatorships, and trusts
- Traffic Records: Traffic citations, including speeding tickets, illegal parking, illegal U-turns, and driving under the influence
Confidential Court Records in Benzie County
Confidential court records are documents or information within court files unavailable to the public. Confidential records are sealed or restricted to protect sensitive information and the privacy of the person named on the court record. These court records are confidential and exempted from public view in Benzie County:
- Juvenile Court records
- Mental health records
- Trade secrets and proprietary information
- Criminal records involving minors
- Adoption records
In addition, court records contain personal data exempted from public view. Personal identifiers are information used to identify an individual. They are redacted or kept confidential to protect privacy and misuse. Personal identifying information exempted from court records include:
- Medical records
- Passport number
- Driver’s license number
- Bank account and credit card numbers
- Social Security numbers
Juvenile Delinquency in Benzie, MI
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Benzie County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Michigan often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 60 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Benzie County. Of that total, 68% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 41 court cases. Another 32% were dependency cases that accounted for 19 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Benzie County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Benzie County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 1,222 |
| Dependency | 148 |
| Status | 153 |
Government of Benzie County, MI
| County Seat: | Beulah |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1863 |
| Total Square Miles: | 860 |
| 2019 Population: | 17,573 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.05 |
Benzie County, MI Courts
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Benzie County Circuit Court
Address: 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617
Phone: 231-882-9671