Genesee County was created in 1835 and had a population of 406,211 as of the 2020 Census. It is known for its large county park system covering about 11,000 acres. Flint City is the county’s seat and largest city.

Courts in Genesee County

Genesee County’s court system is made up of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court, the 67th District Court, the Court of Claims, and the Genesee County Probate Court.

The Genesee Circuit Court has broad authority over several kinds of cases. It has jurisdiction over civil claims of more than $25,000 and hears felony cases punishable by at least two years. The court has a family division that hears domestic and juvenile matters, including divorce, adoption, paternity, delinquency, and dependency cases. Additionally, the Circuit Court has appellate jurisdiction over matters tried by the District Court, Probate Court, and administrative agencies.

The District Court hears civil claims of up to $25,000, small claims not more than $7,000, traffic tickets and violations, and misdemeanor offenses. The court also handles landlord-tenant matters. However, monetary claims of over $1,000 brought against the state or its departments come before the Court of Claims.

The Genesee County Probate Court handles matters relating to the administration of deceased estates and trusts, wills, guardianships and conservatorships, and mental health cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Genesee County

The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of cases heard by the Genesee County Circuit Court. These records are publicly accessible on the MiCOURT case search portal. The portal also contains records of the District Court, made available by the District Court Clerk. Note that District Court records generated before 2014 are not available on the portal. As such, to access these records, submit a completed record request form to the court either in person or via mail or email. For other court records that are not available on the portal, contact the relevant courthouse where the case was heard.

Types of Public Court Records in Genesee County

Court records in Genesee County are materials and documents pertaining to cases brought before courts in the county. These include case dockets, parties’ pleadings, documents filed, and court judgments. Depending on the kind of case, court records in Genesee are generally publicly accessible. Some examples of public court records are: 

• Civil case records
• Small claims records
• Criminal case records
• Probate case records
• Traffic case records

Confidential Court Records in Genesee County

Michigan laws protect certain Genesee court records from public access. Such confidential case records which cannot be requested by members of the public include:

• Adoption records 
• Mental health treatment records
• Records sealed by court order
• Confidential name change cases
• Guardianship cases
• Juvenile cases
• Records containing personal identifying information.

Juvenile Delinquency in Genesee, MI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Genesee 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 1377 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Genesee County. Of that total, 67% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 919 court cases. Another 33% were dependency cases that accounted for 458 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Genesee County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Genesee County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Genesee County, MI

https://www.michigan.gov/

County Seat:	Flint
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1835
Total Square Miles:	650
2019 Population:	407,385
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1101 Beach St County Courthouse Flint , MI 48502-1428 http://www.gc4me.com/

Genesee County, MI Courts