Established in 1796, Wayne County is located in the southeastern parts of Michigan and consists of 43 cities, including the city of Detroit, which serves as its county seat. It is the most populous county in the state, with over 1.7 million residents. Wayne County, the home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the birthplace of the American automotive industry, covers a land mass of 1,743 square kilometers.

Courts in Wayne County

Wayne County trial court system consists of Circuit Courts, District Courts, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts. The 3rd Judicial Circuit Court in Wayne County is the largest courthouse in the county, having jurisdiction over civil, criminal, and family matters. The 36th District Court in Wayne County has limited jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases, such as misdemeanors, preliminary hearings, and civil cases with amounts below $25,000.

The Wayne County Probate Court presides over cases related to administering a deceased estate, including trusts, guardianships, and wills. The Municipal Courts in Wayne County have limited jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases, such as preliminary hearings for felony criminal cases and ordinance violations. 

Where to Find Public Court Records in Wayne County

Public court records in Wayne County are available through online resources and at the courthouses. The Records Division maintains all documents from Circuit and District Court proceedings and provides online access to the records using the Odyssey Public Access.

Likewise, the Probate Court provides online access through Courtview to look at public probate court records. Public court records from the municipal courts are available online at the MiCourt Case Search. The Clerks of the various courts maintain the court records for cases filed and heard in their courts. Record seekers may obtain public court records in person at the courthouses or by written requests via mail or email.

Types of Public Court Records in Wayne County

Public court records are documents from court processes in the county that are open to the public for inspection, viewing, and copying. They include:

• Civil Court Records: They include documents from civil lawsuits between businesses and individuals, such as contracts, landlord/tenant disputes, and real estate titles and boundaries
• Criminal Court Records: Arising from criminal cases such as felonies, misdemeanors, and
• Probate Court Records: Including wills, guardianship, conservatorship, and name change
• Municipal Court Records: Such as civil and criminal ordinance violations and traffic infractions
• Family Court Records: Including divorce records, spousal support, and child custody records

Confidential Court Records in Wayne County

Confidential court records in Wayne County refer to court records inaccessible to the public due to legal restrictions or privacy concerns. Confidential court records contain sensitive information protected by a court order or federal or state statute. These court records include juvenile records, medical records, and adoption records.

In addition, confidential court records include personal identifying information, such as financial information, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers. The personal identifying information is redacted from the document.

Juvenile Delinquency in Wayne, MI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Wayne 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 3 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Wayne County. Of that total, 67% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 2 court cases. Another 33% were dependency cases that accounted for 1 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Wayne County, MI

https://www.michigan.gov/

County Seat:	Detroit
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1796
Total Square Miles:	673
2019 Population:	1,753,616
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	500 Griswold St County Building Detroit , MI 48226-3480 https://www.waynecounty.com/

Wayne County, MI Courts