Saginaw County, located in the east-central parts of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, is home to over 190,000 residents. It was established in 1822 and covers 816 square meters. Its county seat is in Saginaw City.

Courts in Saginaw County

The trial court system in Saginaw County comprises Circuit, District, and Probate courts. The Saginaw County Circuit Court presides over criminal and civil cases, including felonies, divorce, civil disputes for claims above $25,000, and appeals from the lower courts. The Circuit Court has a Family and Juvenile Division.

The 10th Circuit Court Juvenile and Family Court adjudicates matters concerning minors and family-related disputes. The court hears cases such as adoption, divorce, paternity, division of marital assets, emancipation, child abuse, foster care, and child protection lawsuits.

The District Court in Saginaw County has limited jurisdiction over various criminal and civil cases. It presides over misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, civil disputes for claims under $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims.

The Saginaw County Probate Court deals exclusively with jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the administration of estates and trusts for decedents. It presides over guardianships and conservatorships of minors and deals with matters concerning mental health commitments.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Saginaw County

Public court records are documents and papers from legal proceedings open to the general public. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the record custodian for the county and provides online access to public court records. Interested persons may utilize the Saginaw County Law Enforcement Court Case Search to obtain public court records. Record seekers may also visit the Clerk of Court office during business hours to view and copy the records. The office also permits mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Saginaw County

Access to records can help individuals understand how the legal system works in Saginaw County. The following court documents are open to the public in Saginaw County:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies such as homicides and drug trafficking. Misdemeanors, including petty theft and vandalism
• Civil Court Records: Landlord-tenant disputes, personal injury claims, boundary disputes, small claims, and employment disputes
• Family Law Records: Child custody, child support, annulments, marriage dissolution, legal separation, and alimony
• Probate Records: Wills, estates, conservatorships, trusts, and guardianships
• Traffic Court Records: Illegal U-turns, speeding violations, parking violations, stop sign violations, and driving with a suspended license

Confidential Court Records in Saginaw County

Confidential court records are documents containing sensitive information restricted from the public. Confidential records are sealed to protect the record holder from unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Confidential court records in Saginaw County include:

• Mental health commitment records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Juvenile court records
• Witness protection program records

Confidential court records also include personal information contained in court documents. Personal identifiers are exempted from public view to prevent misuse and fraud. Personal identifying information redacted from public court records includes:

• Social Security numbers
• Home address and phone numbers
• Financial account numbers
• Passport numbers
• Tax identification numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Saginaw, MI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Saginaw 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 480 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Saginaw County. Of that total, 69% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 329 court cases. Another 31% were dependency cases that accounted for 151 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Saginaw County, MI

https://www.michigan.gov/

County Seat:	Saginaw
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1835
Total Square Miles:	816
2019 Population:	191,934
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	111 S Michigan Ave County Courthouse Saginaw , MI 48602-2019 http://www.saginawcounty.com/

Saginaw County, MI Courts