| Circuit Court Clerk | Kent County 17th Circuit Court Name Search |
|---|---|
| Probate Court | Kent County Probate Court |
| Clerk address | Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (Circuit Court Clerk, Suite 2400; Probate Court, Suite 2500) |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk's Office main line via Kent County Courthouse; Probate Court (616) 632-5440; 61st District Court (616) 632-5700 |
| Hours | Circuit Court Clerk's Office: Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Friday 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | $10.00 plus $1.00 per page (MCL 600.2546), unless a more specific statute sets a different fee |
Kent County's Clerk of the Court is the clerk of the 17th Circuit Court, which has general jurisdiction over felony and larger civil cases and sole jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile matters. The clerk's office, on the second floor of the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids, offers an online 17th Circuit Court Name Search (registration required) for criminal and civil case records.
Kent County's Probate Court is a separate court and office in the same courthouse, with its own online Probate Name Search for estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and mental-health cases. The 61st District Court, also in the Kent County Courthouse, handles misdemeanors, civil claims up to $25,000, landlord-tenant cases, and traffic matters for Grand Rapids; other cities and townships in Kent County are served by different district courts with their own clerks.
Because the circuit clerk's name search requires a free account, first-time users should expect to register before searching; the probate name search and the statewide MiCOURT tool do not.
Search Kent County court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Kent County 17th Circuit Court Name Search
- Cost
- Free to search after registration
- Coverage
- 17th Circuit Court criminal and civil case records, searchable by defendant name and birth year
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
A free account is required. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is on the 2nd floor of the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400, Grand Rapids.
Probate Court
Kent County Probate Court
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental-health cases, with an online Probate Name Search
- Records
- Probate
Located at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids.
Other courts
Kent County — Search Court Records (general index)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- County landing page linking to the 17th Circuit Court Name Search, Probate Name Search, and MiCOURT
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Use this page to route to the correct search tool for circuit, probate, or district court records.
What is available online
The 17th Circuit Court Name Search covers circuit court criminal and civil cases and requires free registration. The Probate Name Search covers probate filings without registration. Michigan's statewide MiCOURT Case Search also covers Kent County's circuit court. The 61st District Court (Grand Rapids) and Kent County's other district courts are not covered by the circuit or probate name-search tools; check the specific district court or MiCOURT for those cases.
Which clerk has your record
In Michigan, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Michigan page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (57 statewide) | Felony criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family-division cases; Civil suits over $25,000 | County Clerk, acting as Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| District Courts (105 statewide) | Misdemeanor criminal cases and felony arraignments; Civil claims up to $25,000; Small claims and landlord-tenant cases | District Court Clerk or Court Administrator (varies by court; not always the county clerk) |
| Probate Courts (78 divisions statewide) | Decedent estates and wills; Guardianships and conservatorships; Trusts | Probate Register or Probate Court Clerk |
Request records in person or by mail
Kent County clerk offices
Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (Circuit Court Clerk, Suite 2400; Probate Court, Suite 2500)
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk's Office main line via Kent County Courthouse; Probate Court (616) 632-5440; 61st District Court (616) 632-5700
Hours: Circuit Court Clerk's Office: Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Friday 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Circuit Court records. Register for a free account and search the 17th Circuit Court Name Search, or visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office on the 2nd floor of the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, for copies and current fees.
Probate Court records. Search the Probate Name Search online, or contact the Probate Court at Suite 2500 in the same courthouse, (616) 632-5440.
District court records. For Grand Rapids cases, contact the 61st District Court at the Kent County Courthouse. For other Kent County cities and townships, contact that municipality's district court directly.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Michigan |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | $10.00 plus $1.00 per page (MCL 600.2546), unless a more specific statute sets a different fee |
MCL 600.2546 sets the default certified-copy and exemplification fee for circuit, district, and probate courts. Plain (uncertified) copy fees are set locally by each court or county and vary; some Michigan clerks charge a flat per-page photocopy fee while others provide free printouts from a public terminal. Confirm the plain-copy fee with the specific clerk before requesting copies.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Michigan court records are presumptively public under Michigan Court Rule 8.119, but several categories are restricted or excluded from routine searches:
The Michigan guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to search Kent County court records?
To search circuit court criminal and civil cases through the 17th Circuit Court Name Search, yes — a free account is required. The Probate Name Search does not require registration.
Which office has my Kent County divorce or felony case?
The Kent County Clerk of the Court, as clerk of the 17th Circuit Court, which has sole jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile cases as well as felonies and larger civil suits.
Where do I find a Kent County estate or guardianship case?
The Kent County Probate Court, in Suite 2500 of the Kent County Courthouse, searchable online through the Probate Name Search.
How do I look up a Grand Rapids misdemeanor or traffic case?
Contact the 61st District Court, located in the Kent County Courthouse, which handles misdemeanors, smaller civil claims, and traffic matters for Grand Rapids.
Sources
- Kent County — Search Court Records — https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1036/Search-Court-Records
- Kent County 17th Circuit Court Name Search — https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1533/17th-Circuit-Court-Name-Search-Account-L
- Kent County Probate Court — https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1421/Probate-Court
- Kent County Probate Name Search — https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1104/Probate-Name-Search
- Michigan Courts — About the Courts — https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/
- MiCOURT Case Search — https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/
- Michigan Courts — Court of Appeals — https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/court-of-appeals/
- Michigan Court Rules (current rules, Chapter 8 — court records) — https://www.courts.michigan.gov/rules-administrative-orders-and-jury-instructions/current-rules-and-jury-instructions/michigan-court-rules/
- Michigan State Police — Criminal History Records — https://www.michigan.gov/msp/services/chr
- MCL 780.621 — Setting Aside Convictions ("Clean Slate") — https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-780-621
- MCL 600.2546 — Certified Copy and Exemplification Fees — https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-600-2546
- MCL 15.232 — Freedom of Information Act, definitions (judiciary excluded) — https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-15-232
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan — https://www.mied.uscourts.gov/
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan — https://www.miwd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Michigan counties.