Allegan County, Michigan State Court Records
Allegan County court records are official documents created throughout the course of legal proceedings filed within the county's court system. They contain important information about cases, such as the party names, attorney names, presiding court and judge, the charges or claim, docket entries, and the court's final decision.
The Allegan County Clerk and Recorder's Office is responsible for the county's circuit, district, and probate court records and handles their filing, preservation, and public dissemination. Court records sometimes intersect with other types of public records, like arrest records maintained by the county sheriff's office and vital records maintained by the department of health.
Are Allegan County Court Records Public?
According to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Allegan County court records are public. This Act gives everyone (except incarcerated individuals) the right to view and copy court records. By this law, court clerks and other public record custodians are obligated to make copies of court records publicly available. However, exemptions apply in situations when the restriction of a record serves a greater public interest than disclosing them, such as when their disclosure puts an ongoing investigation at risk or may interfere with the outcome of an ongoing criminal proceeding.
Furthermore, other statutes prohibit the public dissemination of certain information in order to protect a record subject's privacy and, in some cases, prevent identity theft. Per MCL 15.243, the following information is exempt from public access:
- Investigating records compiled for law enforcement purposes
- Trade secrets
- Information protected by certain privileges, e.g., attorney-client, physician-patient, etc.
- Medical records
- Information or records that could disclose a person's social security number
What Information is Available in Allegan County Court Records?
The following pieces of Allegan County court case information/documents are publicly viewable:
- Case party names
- Case type and number
- Final disposition (for closed cases)
- Attorney names
- Court orders and judicial rulings
- Sentencing information (for criminal cases)
- Summonses and subpoenas
- Exhibits
- Docket entries
- Motions and responses
- Appeals and post-judgment filings
Allegan County Court Records Search
The Office of the County Clerk and Register is the primary custodian of all Allegan County court records, generated in the county's various courts. It is also responsible for disseminating records to the public (for a fee payable by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards). Interested individuals can access court records through any of the following methods:
Online Access
Online access is achieved through a statewide portal known as MiCOURT. It provides case information for all of Michigan counties' courts (district and circuit) for free. A separate MiCOURT website exists for probate court records. MiCOURT users will find information like basic docket entries, scheduled hearings or events, party name, case number, and case type. To search for records,
- Visit the website and accept the terms of service to proceed to the search page
- Choose the search method: party name, case number, citation number, business name, or attorney name
- Select the specific court you wish to search
- Enter the search criteria and submit
Users can search for records across the entire state or specify the court of interest. Note that sensitive case types are not available online, including adoptions, personal protective orders, and juvenile cases.
In-Person Access
For complete files, certified copies, or non-public information, researchers must contact the county clerk's office directly. This typically requires their knowledge of the case number or a case party's name. To request a record, complete the record request form and submit it with the appropriate fee to the clerk's office at
113 Chestnut Street
Allegan, MI 49010
Phone: (269) 673-0300
Fees for Court Records in Allegan County
The Allegan County Clerk's office is legally permitted to assess non-refundable fees for court records. Depending on the method of access, fees are payable by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards. Furthermore, the cost of a record depends on the number of pages produced.
- Certified copies cost $10.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy
- Plain copies cost $1.00 per page
Allegan County Courthouse Locations
Allegan County has a single courthouse, which houses four different courts. Find their address and phone numbers below:
Allegan County Courthouse
113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI 49010
Phone: (269) 673-0300
Allegan County Courthouse
113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI 49010
Phone: (269) 673-0400
Fax: (269) 673-0490
Allegan County Probate Court
Allegan County Courthouse
113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI 49010
Phone: (269) 673-0250
Fax: (269) 686-5157
48th Judicial Circuit Court
Family Division
113 Chestnut Street
Allegan, MI 49010
Phone: (269) 673-0534
Fax: (269) 673-0466
Criminal Records Access in Allegan County
Allegan County criminal court records can be retrieved through the MiCOURT case search portal. However, this resource only exists for informational purposes and, as such, does not contain complete records and documents. Record seekers should contact the county clerk's office for information not available online.
The county clerk does not provide criminal background checks, as this falls under the jurisdiction of the Michigan State Police. Individuals can conduct name-based searches through ICHAT (Internet Criminal History Access Tool). Note that ICHAT does not provide traffic records, juvenile records, local misdemeanors, warrant information, federal records, and criminal history from other states.
Allegan County Probate Records
Allegan County probate cases are filed in theAllegan County Probate Court and all associated records are public, unless statutory or court-ordered restrictions apply. Probate records capture all documents generated or created in relation to probate matters, such as trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, deceased estates, and mental health proceedings.
Probate court records are available through the MiCOURT case search platform, which is searchable by a case party's first and last name, case number, or citation number, with filing date range as a search filter. Results will show basic case information like case number and type, filing date, case status, names of involved parties, scheduled hearings, and case disposition.
Note that full documents or images may not be available online-only from the county clerk's office. Interested individuals should complete a record request for and send it to the clerk's office or visit the courthouse.
Allegan County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the 48th Judicial Circuit Court handles all family law matters, such as juvenile delinquency proceedings, protective proceedings, emancipation of minors, name changes, adoptions, and guardianship of minors. While family court records are presumed public, many family cases like adoptions and child custody are considered sensitive and are not open to the public. Nonpublic records like this, as well as certified copies of family court records, are only available (for a fee) at the court clerk's office:
48th Judicial Circuit Court
Family Division
113 Chestnut Street
Allegan, MI 49010
Phone: (269) 673-0534
Fax: (269) 673-0466
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Federal Court Records in Allegan County
The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan maintains jurisdiction over legal matters pertaining to federal law, e.g., civil rights abuse, tax evasion, human trafficking, and immigration violations. Records generated in the course of such legal proceedings are known as federal court records and are maintained using PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
Federal case records on this database are accessible through the PACER Case Locator (PCL). Accessing records on PCL costs $0.10 per page, with a maximum of $3.00 for any single document. Fee waivers are applicable for users who spend $30.00 or less for the quarter.
