The filing fee to open a Circuit Court Case is $150.00

The filing fee for a Motion is $20.00

Friend of the Court Final Judgment or Order Fee will be $80.00 regardless of whether Friend of the Court conducted an investigation, made a recommendation to the Court or the parties "Opted Out" of Friend of the Court. In addition, any post-judgment action in which the Custody or Parenting Time of minor children is determined will incur an $80.00 fee to be paid at the same time the $20.00 Motion Fee is paid.

In any action where the support of minor children is determined or modified, a $40.00 fee will be paid at the same time the $20.00 Motion Fee is paid.

In the event a Judgment or Order contains both Custody/Parenting Time and Support issues, only the $80.00 fee is to be paid.

The $80.00 Fee as well as the $40.00 will be waived along with the $20.00 Motion Fee if an "Affidavit and Order Suspension of Fees/Costs" has been signed either by the Clerk's Office if currently receiving public assistance or application is granted by the Court.

Yes, VISA or MasterCard are accepted for filing fees as well as Court Ordered Fees and Bonds. The credit card may be presented in person, called in by telephone to (989) 832-6735 or provided by written request. If request is in writing, you must provide credit card information including name the card is issued in, expiration date, credit card number and address with zip code. This information will be shredded by the Court.

Yes, the policy for filing by FAX is as follows:
This court will permit the filing of pleadings and court documents by the use of fax equipment. Documents which require a filing fee will not be accepted unless the filing fee and service fee are paid in full. Payment may be made to the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office use of VISA or MasterCard charges. The "service fee" is in addition to the statutory filing fee and is $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 of each additional page. Documents will be received by the Clerk of the Circuit Court between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Faxes received after 4:00 pm will be considered filed on the following business day. You may include the Credit Card information on the coversheet of the FAX filing, or phone in the credit card information to (989) 832-6735. Include name card is issued in, expiration date, credit card number and address with zip code. This information will be shredded by the Court.

Yes, the fee for the packet is $55.00 for Divorce Forms with and without minor children. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office cannot give you any legal advice. The packet comes with procedural instructions. It is your obligation to read and follow these directions as no one from the Court will ever call or write you regarding the filing of pleadings.

You apply for a Personal Protection Order, both "Domestic" and "Stalking", at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. There is no fee for the paperwork or filing. However, if you have a Law Enforcement Agency do the service for you, there is a fee.

You may hire an attorney to represent you in this matter or you may opt to represent yourself. The Court Clerk's Office does not supply these forms nor can they give you any legal advice. The fillable PDF forms MC-227 "Application To Set Aside Conviction" and MC-228 "Order to Set Aside Conviction" can be accessed through the State Court Administrator's Web Page.

You must obtain your paperwork from the Friend of the Court's Office on the 1st floor of the Courthouse, or online at the Friend of the Court's website. You will file the paperwork with the Circuit Court Clerk's Office along with a $20.00 Motion Fee plus $80.00 for an Order Regarding Parenting Time or Custody. If your Petition pertains to support and will result in an Order Regarding Support, the fee is $20.00 for the Motion Fee plus $40.00.

A married woman in Michigan does not have to assume the last name of her husband. Therefore, a woman does not really lose her maiden name while married. Instead she is permitted to use that husband's name as an assumed name while married to him. She can change back to using her maiden name while still married and can also do so after a divorce. No court order is necessary to do this. The woman's birth certificate is proof of the maiden name and that is all the proof that is necessary to get documents changed.

Circuit Court records begin in 1865 and continue to the present. Records from 1865 to 1946 are kept at the Herbert D. Doan History Center, 3417 W. Main, Midland, Michigan, phone (989) 631-5930 ext.1301. Records from 1947 to 1978 are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at the Midland County Courthouse. Please contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at (989) 832-6735 prior to coming to the Courthouse to view those records. Every effort will be made to have the files available to you as soon as possible. Copies of these records are available at $1.00 per page.

Yes, all Civil & Felony records are open to the public unless restricted by Statute, Court Rule or Suppressed Order has been entered by the Court. You may review the file in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Copies are available at $1.00 per page. Certified Copies are $15.00 plus $1.00 per page.

Yes, you may order copies of Transcripts directly from the Court Reporter. There is a fee for these documents. Please contact the Court Reporter for prices and more information:

Judge Lauderbach's Court at (989) 832-6827
Judge Beale's Court at (989) 832-6832