Wayne County Clerk court records: Detroit Resource

06 Courts and self-help

Wayne County

Records

By appointment

Provides copies of Wayne County Circuit Court civil and family case files, including certified copies of judgments and orders, in person, by mail or by email request.

What it is

The Wayne County Clerk is the official keeper of Circuit Court files. The Records Division in the lower level of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center holds civil and divorce records back to 1942.

Why it matters

You may need a certified judgment, a prior case file or proof of a dismissal for an insurance claim, a new lawsuit or an appeal. Dockets can be searched for free at 3rdcc.org/case-search.

What to know first

Files from 2014 onward can be viewed in the records room; older files are ordered from Archives and ready the next business day after 2 pm. Criminal records for Detroit cases are kept at the Criminal Justice Center instead.

Limits and eligibility

Only records held by the Wayne County Clerk; copies are $2 per page plus $10 certification, personal checks are not accepted, and certified copies must be mailed.

What to have ready

Case number or party names
Approximate year of the case
Money order or card (plus $2.50 card fee)
Photo ID for DD214 requests

How to reach them