Kent County, located in the western part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, has a population of approximately 660,000 and covers about 2,250 square kilometers. Established in 1831, it was named after James Kent, a prominent New York jurist and legal scholar. Its county seat, Grand Rapids, is the largest city and economic hub, known for its art museums, breweries, and medical research facilities.

Courts in Kent County

The Kent County court system incorporates Circuit, District, and Probate Court. The 17th Circuit Court in Kent County has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. The court presides over civil cases involving more than $250,000 in dispute and grievous misdemeanors cases. It also handles appeals from the lower courts.

The District Courts in Kent County have exclusive authority over civil disputes over $25,000. They also preside over eviction proceedings, mortgage foreclosures, and land contracts. The 63rd District Court is a trial court of limited jurisdiction with authority over traffic violations and small claims.

The Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over proceedings relating to transferring the decedent's assets, including wills and trusts. It also handles conservatorships and petitions requesting mental health treatment for individuals.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Kent County

Public court records are documents from legal proceedings in Kent County open to members of the public for viewing and copying. The Clerk of the Circuit Court makes publicly available court records through the Search Court Records platform. In addition, record seekers can access public Probate Court records using the Probate Court Record Search tool.

Types of Public Court Records in Kent County

Public court records provide the public with a comprehensive view of the judicial process in Kent County. The following types of court records are publicly available in Kent County:

• Civil Court Records: Court records arising from civil disputes such as contract disputes, property disputes, small claims, injunctions, and personal injury claims
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors such as arson, drug possession and trafficking, petty theft, and public intoxication
• Probate Court Records: Arising from a deceased estate, including guardianship of minors, trusts, and conservatorship records
• Traffic Court Records: Speeding tickets, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and license issues
• Family Court Records: Divorce records, marriage annulment, child custody, and spousal and child support records

Confidential Court Records in Kent County

Confidential court records are documents from judicial proceedings excluded from public access. They contain sensitive information not readily available to the public to protect the rights of the persons involved. Confidential court records are sealed by a court order or restricted by state or federal laws. Confidential court records in Kent County include medical and psychological records, juvenile records, protective orders, adoption records, and court records containing the identity of victims of sexual assault.

Furthermore, personal identifiers on a public court record are exempted from public view. Personal information such as financial information, Social Security numbers, tax identification numbers, medical records, personal email addresses, and driver's license numbers are redacted from public court records to protect the privacy of the record holder.

Juvenile Delinquency in Kent, MI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Kent County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Michigan often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 921 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Kent County. Of that total, 0% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 2 court cases. Another 100% were dependency cases that accounted for 919 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Kent County, MI

https://www.michigan.gov/

County Seat:	Grand Rapids
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1836
Total Square Miles:	872
2019 Population:	648,594
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	300 Monroe Ave Nw County Administration Building Grand Rapids , MI 49503-2206 http://www.co.kent.mi.us

Kent County, MI Courts