Clare County is located among the largest forests in Michigan’s lower peninsula and is popular for its rich wildlife. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,856 residents and a median household income of $47,816. The county’s seat is Harrison City.
Courts in Clare County
The 55th Circuit Court is the highest trial court in Clare County. It has jurisdiction over civil claims involving more than $25,000. Its criminal jurisdiction covers felony offenses punishable by a prison term. The Circuit Court has a family division that handles divorce, adoptions, paternity, name changes, and other domestic matters. The division also hears cases relating to minors, including juvenile delinquency, child abuse, and juvenile guardianship. The office of the Friend of the Court assists the division in the handling of domestic relations cases involving minors.
Clare County is also home to the 80th District Court. The District Court is also known as the People’s Court because it handles the most common cases in the county. It handles traffic tickets and violations, misdemeanor offenses, and preliminary hearings of felony cases. It also has civil jurisdiction over landlord-tenant matters and cases involving $25,000 or less. Additionally, the court has a small claims division that hears minor civil claims of $7,000 or less. The procedures of the small claims court are informal, and litigants do not need to be represented by an attorney.
Furthermore, Probate Court District 17 serves Clare County. The court has jurisdiction over matters relating to wills, estate administration, appointment of guardians and conservators, and mental health cases.
In addition to the regular trial courts in Clare County, the Michigan Court of Claims also operates in the county. The jurisdiction of the court is limited to money claims of over $1,000 brought against the State of Michigan or any of its departments.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Clare County
Members of the public can access Clare County public court records that are not protected by a law or court order. For documents in the custody of the Clerk of the 55th Circuit Court, submit a completed record request form to the clerk’s office. Similarly, records of other courts in the county are obtainable by requesting them from the relevant courthouse. Requestors can also find Clare County court records on the statewide MiCOURT case search portal.
Types of Public Court Records in Clare County
Public court records in Clare County refer to case documents and materials that are accessible to the members of the public without legal restriction. Some examples are:
- Civil case records
- Traffic case records
- Probate case records
- Criminal case records
Confidential Court Records in Clare County
Confidential court records include case documents and materials restricted from public access by statute or court order. Some examples in Clare County include:
- Guardianship case records
- Record of adoption proceedings
- Juvenile case records
- Confidential name change records
Juvenile Delinquency in Clare, MI
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Clare County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Michigan often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 118 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Clare County. Of that total, 74% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 87 court cases. Another 26% were dependency cases that accounted for 31 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Clare County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Clare County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 3,204 |
| Dependency | 634 |
| Status | 450 |
Government of Clare County, MI
| County Seat: | Harrison |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1840 |
| Total Square Miles: | 575 |
| 2019 Population: | 30,653 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.02 |
| County Contact: | PO BOX 438
County Courthouse Harrison , MI 48625-0438 http://www.clareco.net |