Court records of Van Buren County, Michigan, are maintained by the county clerk and district court clerk and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. VanburenCourt.us will help you find public information about court cases in this county. Additional sources include the statewide MiCOURT portal, the Circuit Court Case Information page on the county's website, and the clerk's office in Paw Paw.
Van Buren Court System Overview
Van Buren County is part of the 36th Circuit Court and is served by the 7th District Court, whose jurisdiction extends exclusively to this county. The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction that handles serious criminal cases, large civil claims, family cases, and appeals from the District Court. Judge Kathleen M. Brickley presides over the Circuit Court of the county. The District Court handles misdemeanors, small civil claims, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in criminal cases. Both courts are located in the county building in Paw Paw.
Courts Serving Van Buren
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County Circuit Court (36th Circuit) | 212 E. Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 | (269) 657-8218 |
| 7th District Court | 212 E. Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 | (269) 657-8218 |
| Van Buren County Probate Court | 212 E. Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 | (269) 657-8218 |
| U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan | 410 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 | (269) 337-5700 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Michigan | One Monroe Center, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | (616) 456-2693 |
There are no municipal courts in the county — all local level cases are handled by the 7th District Court.
What Types of Cases Van Buren Courts Hear
The county courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases — felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil claims — general civil cases, small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity
- Probate — inheritance cases, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases — cases involving minors, child protection, adoption
- Traffic violations — fines, DUI
Details regarding the jurisdiction of each court are disclosed below.
District Court Cases in Van Buren
In Michigan, the term "District Court" refers to a court of limited jurisdiction — do not confuse it with federal. The 7th District Court handles all misdemeanors, civil claims up to $25,000, eviction claims (landlord-tenant), traffic violations, and conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases. If a District Court judge finds sufficient grounds for a felony charge, the case is bound over to the Circuit Court. Cases are assigned to judges according to the court's internal rules. District Court decisions can be appealed to the Circuit Court.
Magistrate Court Cases in Van Buren
Michigan does not have a separate "Magistrate Court" as an independent structure. Instead, magistrates work within the District Court and perform limited functions: they take affidavits for arrest warrants, conduct arraignments, set bail, and handle small cases. Small claims in Michigan are handled by the District Court with a claim limit of $6,500. General civil jurisdiction cases in the District Court are limited to $25,000. Traffic violations and DUI cases also start here — from arraignment to sentencing. If the case involves a serious felony, the magistrate conducts only the initial hearing, after which the case moves to the Circuit Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Van Buren
Family law. Divorce, custody and child support determinations, paternity establishment, protective orders (PPO), and termination of parental rights fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. The county clerk accepts relevant claims and manages the paperwork.
Probate. The separate Probate Court of the county handles inheritance cases, appointment of guardians and conservators, and trust matters. It is located in the same building on Paw Paw St.
Juvenile cases. Cases involving minors — from offenses to child protection proceedings and adoption — are handled by the Family Division Circuit Court. Juvenile case records are generally confidential under Michigan law.
How Cases Move Through the Van Buren Court System
- Initiation. A criminal case begins with a prosecutor's complaint or police report; a civil case with the filing of a complaint with the office of the appropriate court; a family or probate case with a petition.
- Assignment of a judge. The case is assigned to a specific judge according to the internal schedule.
- Initial hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment (reading of charges, setting of bail). In civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-trial phase. Filing of motions, exchange of evidence (discovery), in criminal cases — possible plea negotiations.
- Trial. Court process (bench or jury trial), settlement, plea, or default judgment.
- Post-judgment. Sentencing, filing of an appeal, enforcement of the judgment.
Information about hearing schedules can be checked on the Case Information / Calendars page.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Van Buren
The administration of the county courts is carried out by the Trial Court Administrator under the guidance of the chief judge of the Circuit Court. Local court rules and court forms are available on the Resources, Links & Forms page of the county's official website — where forms for requesting public records of the District Court are also posted.
According to Michigan Court Rules and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), most court records are public. Exceptions: juvenile cases, sealed cases, certain records in family cases. To obtain copies, submit a request to the office of the appropriate court.
Court sessions can be attended in person. Some hearings are broadcast online — at the judge's discretion. More details about virtual participation can be found on the Circuit Court page.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Van Buren
- Online court case search. The MiCOURT Case Search portal allows you to search cases of all Michigan courts, including the 36th Circuit and 7th District Court of Van Buren County.
- Hearing schedules and dockets. Dockets by judges and session calendars are published on the Case Information / Calendars page.
- Forms and self-help resources. Local and statewide court forms are collected on the Resources, Links & Forms page.
- County clerk and public records requests. The clerk's office registers births, deaths, marriages, and also manages the Circuit Court's paperwork. Requests for records can be submitted in person or via the FOIA form.
- State vital records. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for all events in Michigan (starting from 1867) are issued by the Michigan Vital Records Office.
- Criminal history. The ICHAT system from the Michigan State Police allows you to check a person's public criminal history.
- County inmate search. The current list of inmates at Van Buren County Jail is available through the Inmate Roster. Additional information is on the Jail & Inmate Information page.
- State prison inmate search. The OTIS tool from the Michigan Department of Corrections shows information about individuals serving sentences in state facilities.
- Property records. The Register of Deeds online service allows you to search for land and property documents in the county.
- FOIA requests. To obtain police reports or other public records from the county sheriff, submit a request through the sheriff's services page.