Lapeer County, Michigan, was founded in 1822. The city of Lapeer is its county seat and largest city. The county has more than 88,000 residents. According to the US Census Bureau, Lapeer County covers a land area of 647 square miles.

Courts in Lapeer County

Michigan’s 40th Circuit Court serves as the apex court in Lapeer County. As a general jurisdiction court, the Circuit Court typically presides over all criminal and civil lawsuits beyond other lower courts in Lapeer. Civil actions involving more than $25,000 in financial disputes and felony criminal proceedings are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. Other cases handled at the apex court include corporation disputes, personal protection orders, and appeals from lower courts. The Lapeer County Circuit Court has a Family Division that handles interstate domestic cases, name changes, divorces, and juvenile cases.

The 71A District Court in Lapeer has limited jurisdiction over some civil lawsuits and criminal trials. Cases exclusive to the District Court include civil disputes below $25,000 monetary settlements and criminal cases involving less than one-year jail sentences. Lapeer’s District Court may also hear eviction proceedings, mortgage foreclosures, traffic violations, and felony preliminary trials. The Small Claims Division of the District Court is responsible for handling legal disputes in which the amount of the claim is $6,500 or less.

Lapeer County has a Probate Court tasked with resolving guardianship/conservatorship cases and distribution of decedents' estates. The Probate Court also has jurisdiction over some adoption, juvenile, and mental health-related legal proceedings.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lapeer County

The Lapeer County Clerk is the designated record custodian for court documents created in the Circuit Court. Requesters can call or visit the county clerk’s office to obtain official Circuit Court records. Note that the county clerk does not maintain court records from lower courts like the District and Probate courts. To obtain official court documents from lower courts in Lapeer County, requesters may visit the court where the case was filed.

Members of the public can access Lapeer County court records online via the MiCOURT Case Search. To use the statewide repository, record searchers must select the Lapeer County court (Circuit, District, Probate Courts). Next, provide the names or case numbers of the involved parties so that related court documents can be found. Public court records typically show information such as court dockets, transcripts, case filings, and court judgments.

Types of Public Court Records in Lapeer County

Interested persons can find the following types of public court records in Lapeer County:

• Civil court records
• Criminal court records (limited records for criminal trials concluded more than 7 years ago)
• Family court records
• Probate case files
• Traffic records
• Small Claims records

Confidential Court Records in Lapeer County

In Lapeer County and other Michigan counties, confidential court records are non-public, contain limited information, and are fully accessible to certain persons. For instance, personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers, passport numbers, financial account numbers, or Michigan-issued personal identification card numbers are not included in all court documents. Other confidential court records in Lapeer County include the following:

• Medical records
• Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
• Adoption records
• Records from Juvenile and Child Protective Proceedings
• Mental Illness records
• Personal Protection Orders.

Juvenile Delinquency in Lapeer, MI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lapeer 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 193 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lapeer County. Of that total, 90% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 174 court cases. Another 10% were dependency cases that accounted for 19 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Lapeer County, MI

https://www.michigan.gov/

County Seat:	Lapeer
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1837
Total Square Miles:	663
2019 Population:	88,174
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	255 Clay St County Courthouse Lapeer , MI 48446-2205 http://www.lapeercountyweb.org/

Lapeer County, MI Courts