Established in 1820, Oakland County, located in southeastern Michigan, is the second-most populous county in Michigan, with over 1.2 million residents. The County seat is Pontiac, known for its automotive industry heritage. Home to the prestigious Oakland University and Cranbrook Educational Community, Oakland County is renowned for its dependable educational system, vibrant arts and culture, and diverse population.

Courts in Oakland County

The courts in Oakland County consist of a Circuit and Probate Court and 14 District Courts. The 6th Judicial Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases but usually handles lawsuits beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. The Circuit Court has a Family Division and a Business Court. The Family Division hears domestic relations cases, while the Business Court handles disputes between business entities.

The Oakland County District Courts have limited authority over civil and criminal cases. The District Courts has a Small Claims Division for civil matters involving amounts for claims $5,000 and below. The Probate Court presides over lawsuits involving the administration of a deceased estate. The court also presides over cases dealing with the protection and care of persons with mental or physical impairment.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Oakland County

Oakland public court records are the official documents submitted to or generated by the courts during a legal proceeding open to the public for inspection and copying. The Clerk/Register of Deeds Office maintains the court records from the Circuit Court. Record seekers may visit the office in person to obtain the public court record or mail written requests for the court document. Oakland County public court records from the District Court and the Probate Court are available online using the MiCourt Case Search tool. 

Types of Public Court Records in Oakland County

The following are public court records open to the public for inspection and copying in Oakland County:

• Civil Court Records: They include deeds, mortgages, liens, small claims, landlord/tenant disputes, and civil complaints,
• Criminal Court Records: They include felonies and misdemeanors cases such as assault and battery, drug offenses, trespassing, and retail fraud
• Family Court Records: Such as divorce settlement records, adoption petitions, child support orders
• Probate Court Records: Wills, administration of estate, guardianships, trusts,  name change, and conservatorship records

Confidential Court Records in Oakland County

Confidential court records are court records that are not open to the public. Only a person authorized by court order may view confidential court records in Oaklands County. Court records may be restricted from public view by order from the courts by a state or federal law. Confidential court records in Oakland County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Medical and mental health records
• Trade secrets
• Intellectual property rights
• Sealed adoption records

Confidential court records also include personal identifying information or sensitive information, such as:

• Social Security numbers
• Financial information
• Identity of a victim in a crime
• Drivers license numbers
• Home addresses and contact information

Juvenile Delinquency in Oakland, MI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Oakland 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 333 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Oakland County. Of that total, 0% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1 court cases. Another 100% were dependency cases that accounted for 332 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Oakland County, MI

https://www.michigan.gov/

County Seat:	Pontiac
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1819
Total Square Miles:	907
2019 Population:	1,250,836
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1200 N Telegraph Rd County Service Center Pontiac , MI 48341-1032 https://www.oakgov.com/

Oakland County, MI Courts