Berrien County, MI Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The 2nd Judicial Circuit Court serves Berrien County and handles felonies, larger civil cases, appeals, and family and juvenile matters. The County Clerk serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court and keeps those records.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | The 2nd Judicial Circuit Court (Circuit Court, Michigan) |
| Clerk | County Clerk, Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Handles | Felonies; civil claims above the District Court limit; family matters in the Family Division; juvenile matters; appeals from District and Probate Courts and agencies |
| Does NOT Handle | Misdemeanors, traffic, and ordinance violations (District Court); estates, trusts, and guardianships (Probate Court); claims against the state (Michigan Court of Claims); federal cases (U.S. District Court for Michigan); parking tickets (issuing agency) |
| Online Case Search | Statewide, not county-specific: courts.michigan.gov |
How to Search Berrien County Court Records
Have the full name, case number if known, and approximate dates ready before you search. Keep in mind that the District and Probate Courts keep their own records.
Online
Go to courts.michigan.gov for statewide court information.
Note that statewide links are not specific to Berrien County.
Use the links there to find the court that holds your case.
Best for: Finding statewide court information
By Phone
Call the County Clerk using the number on the county's official website.
Ask for the Clerk of the Circuit Court to confirm which records you need.
Confirm the case type before you call to speed up the request.
Best for: Confirming which office holds a record
Search by Name on MichiganCourts.org
Go to MichiganCourts.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Berrien County Court Statistics (CY 2025)
Berrien County courts received 37,244 new cases in CY 2025 and disposed of 32,723, a clearance rate of 87.9%. Filings rose 2.1% from 36,473 in CY 2024.
37,244
Total filings in CY 2025
32,723
Total dispositions in CY 2025
~4,656
Filings per judicial position (8 estimated positions)
+2.1%
Change in total filings vs CY 2024
| Metric | CY 2025 | CY 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | 37,244 | 36,473 | +2.1% |
| Total Dispositions | 32,723 | 32,068 | +2.0% |
| Criminal Filings | 11,062 | 11,367 | -2.7% |
| Civil Filings | 10,015 | 8,575 | +16.8% |
| Family Law Filings | 2,187 | 2,334 | -6.3% |
| Probate Filings | 656 | 715 | -8.3% |
| Mental Health Filings | 283 | 214 | +32.2% |
| Juvenile Filings | 875 | 825 | +6.1% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~8 | ~8 | ~+0.0% |
The largest movement was in civil filings (8,575 to 10,015); the total also includes 12,166 civil infraction and parking filings; rows marked ~ are estimates.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Berrien County?
Total filings in Berrien County fell 5.1% between CY 2021 and CY 2025, from 39,258 to 37,244.
| Fiscal Year | Total Filings | Total Dispositions | YoY Filing Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CY 2025 | 37,244 | 32,723 | +2.1% |
| CY 2024 | 36,473 | 32,068 | -9.6% |
| CY 2023 | 40,362 | 36,088 | +7.0% |
| CY 2022 | 37,717 | 33,460 | -3.9% |
| CY 2021 | 39,258 | 34,791 | ~+10.5% |
Total filings fell 5.1% over five years, from 39,258 in CY 2021 to 37,244 in CY 2025. The largest annual change was -9.6% in CY 2024. The latest change of +2.1% was driven by civil filings, and dispositions were 32,723 against 37,244 filings.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Berrien County?
Criminal cases are the largest category in Berrien County, at 44.1% of filings in CY 2025.
| Case Type | Filings CY 2025 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 11,062 | 44.1% | -2.7% |
| Civil | 10,015 | 39.9% | +16.8% |
| Family law | 2,187 | 8.7% | -6.3% |
| Probate | 656 | 2.6% | -8.3% |
| Juvenile | 875 | 3.5% | +6.1% |
| Mental health | 283 | 1.1% | +32.2% |
Mental health cases grew fastest (+32.2%) and probate cases fell fastest (-8.3%); rows marked ~ are estimates.
How Does Berrien County Compare With Michigan Overall?
Berrien County accounts for 1.01% of the 3,677,054 cases filed in Michigan courts in CY 2025, with 1.51% of the state's population.
| Metric | Berrien County | Michigan | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | 37,244 | 3,677,054 | 1.01% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | +2.1% | +7.9% | Lower than state |
| Filings per judicial position | ~4,656 | ~6,531 | Estimated using positions from earlier data |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~4,090 | ~5,493 | Estimated using positions from earlier data |
| Criminal share of filings | 29.7% | 25.3% | Above state |
| Civil share of filings | 26.9% | 23.8% | Above state |
| Family law share of filings | 5.9% | 3.8% | Above state |
Berrien County files cases at a lower rate per resident than Michigan (244.3 against 363.1 per 1,000), and its filings rose 2.1% against +7.9% statewide. Its criminal and civil shares of filings are both above the state's; rows marked ~ are estimates.
Berrien County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are Michigan statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Berrien County. Agency reporting may be incomplete, and county crime counts are not available here. Statewide violent and property crimes combined fell 8.7% from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, reporting agencies covered about 97.3% of Michigan's population, so year-over-year changes can partly reflect which agencies reported.
42,285
Violent crimes, Michigan statewide, 2025
127,513
Property crimes, Michigan statewide, 2025 (includes arson)
417.5
Violent crime rate per 100K, Michigan statewide, 2025 (population 10,127,884)
-8.7%
Change in total violent plus property crimes, Michigan statewide, 2025 vs 2024 (169,798 vs 185,956)
| Offense | 2025 | Rate per 100K | 2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 442 | 4.4 | 492 | -10.2% |
| Rape | 5,446 | 53.8 | 5,777 | -5.7% |
| Robbery | 2,692 | 26.6 | 3,173 | -15.2% |
| Aggravated assault | 33,705 | 332.8 | 34,537 | -2.4% |
| Violent crimes total | 42,285 | 417.5 | 43,979 | -3.9% |
| Burglary | 15,726 | 155.3 | 19,316 | -18.6% |
| Larceny-theft | 92,281 | 911.2 | 97,850 | -5.7% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 18,406 | 181.7 | 23,544 | -21.8% |
| Property crimes total | 127,513 | 1259.0 | 141,977 | -10.2% |
Rates use the Michigan 2025 population of 10,127,884. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Berrien County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Berrien County Courthouse Locations
Berrien County court proceedings are held at the Berrien County Courthouse. Check your notice or case paperwork to confirm the courthouse assigned to your case before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berrien County Courthouse | 811 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 | 269-983-7111 | See location page |
Addresses and phone numbers come from public directory listings and may change, so confirm them with the clerk before you visit.
Which Court Handles Your Case in Berrien County?
Cases for Berrien County are split among the Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and Family Division by case type. Federal cases are heard in the U.S. District Court for Michigan.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | District Court | Traffic citations and ordinance violations are handled by the District Court. |
| Parking ticket | The agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are handled by the issuing agency, not by the courts. |
| Misdemeanor | District Court | Misdemeanor charges are heard in the District Court. |
| Felony | Circuit Court | The District Court holds the preliminary examination, and the Circuit Court tries felonies. |
| DUI | District Court or Circuit Court | Misdemeanor OWI cases go to the District Court, and felony charges go to the Circuit Court. |
| Domestic violence | District Court or Circuit Court | Criminal charges follow the misdemeanor or felony route, and protection order questions go to the Family Division. |
| Civil lawsuit | Circuit Court or District Court | The Circuit Court hears civil claims above the District Court limit, and the District Court hears smaller claims. |
| Small claims | District Court, Small Claims Division | Small claims are heard in the Small Claims Division of the District Court. |
| Eviction | District Court | Landlord-tenant cases are heard in the District Court. |
| Divorce | Family Division of the Circuit Court | Divorce cases are heard in the Family Division of the Circuit Court. |
| Child custody or support | Family Division of the Circuit Court | Custody and support cases are heard in the Family Division, and the Friend of the Court handles support and parenting time. |
| Probate or estate | Probate Court | Estates, trusts, guardianships, and mental health matters are heard in the Probate Court. |
| Juvenile case | Family Division of the Circuit Court | Juvenile delinquency and dependency matters are heard in the Family Division. |
| Appeal | Circuit Court or Michigan Court of Appeals | Appeals from District and Probate Courts go to the Circuit Court, and Circuit Court decisions go to the Michigan Court of Appeals. |
Are Berrien County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Berrien County court records are public, with exceptions. Michigan Court Rules (MCR 8.119) govern public access to court records.
Public records
Most case files are open to the public, including dockets, filings, and orders in criminal, civil, traffic, and family cases, unless a law or court order restricts them.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, sealed, expunged, adoption, mental health, protective-order-restricted, and other confidential records are not publicly available.
Online access
Statewide court information is available at courts.michigan.gov. Online access is not specific to Berrien County, and not every document is available online.
In-person access
Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court or the court office that keeps the record to view or request records. Copies are requested by contacting that court office.
Fees
No fees are stated on this page. Confirm fees with the court office before requesting copies.
How to Search Berrien County Court Records Online
Use the statewide court information at courts.michigan.gov to identify where a Berrien County case is kept, and ask the court office for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
- Open courts.michigan.gov for statewide court information and links to the courts.
- Search by party name or case number where the case type is listed, and note the case number.
- Review the case details, such as status and scheduled dates, where they are available.
- Contact the court office that keeps the record to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Statewide court information at courts.michigan.gov | Case information where it is published | Coverage varies; confirm with the court office |
| Traffic | District Court; contact the court by phone through the county's official website | Case information from the court office | Traffic records may require a request to the court |
| Civil | Circuit Court (Clerk) or District Court, depending on the claim | Case information where it is published | Documents may require a request to the court office |
| Small claims | Small Claims Division of the District Court | Case information from the court office | Documents may require a request to the court office |
| Family law | Family Division of the Circuit Court | Case information from the court office | Confidential details are restricted |
| Probate | Probate Court, contacted directly | Estate, trust, and guardianship files | Not searched through the Circuit Court; contact the Probate Court |
| Juvenile | Family Division of the Circuit Court, contacted directly | Case information only through the court office | Juvenile proceedings are confidential and not publicly available |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Berrien County
Contact the District Court or the Clerk of the Circuit Court by phone to ask which payment options apply to your citation.
- Phone: Call the court that issued the citation, using the phone number listed on the county's official website, to ask which payment methods the court accepts.
Parking tickets are handled by the agency that issued them, not by the District Court.
Berrien County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Berrien County court records?
Start at courts.michigan.gov for statewide court information, or contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court or the court that holds the case.
Are Berrien County court records public?
Most are, under Michigan Court Rules (MCR 8.119), but juvenile, sealed, and other confidential records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Felonies are heard in the Circuit Court and misdemeanors in the District Court, so contact the court that handles the charge.
How do I find a court date?
Check your ticket or notice, or contact the court that issued it by phone through the county's official website.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Contact the District Court by phone through the county's official website to ask which payment methods it accepts.
How many cases are filed in Berrien County each year?
Court filing counts by county are not published on this page. The county had 152,444 residents in 2025, per Census Bureau estimates.
What is the most common type of case?
Case counts by type are not published on this page, so no most common type is shown for Berrien County.
Is crime in Michigan rising or falling?
County crime counts are not available here. Statewide, reported violent crimes fell 3.9% to 42,285 in 2025 from 43,979 in 2024, and property crimes fell 10.2% to 127,513 from 141,977, as reported to the FBI. These are Michigan statewide figures, and reporting coverage changed between years.
Courts in the County
Berrien County Circuit CourtMore Info
| Address: | 811 Port St., St. Joseph, MI, 49085 |
| Phone Number: | 269-983-7111 |
| Website: | http://berriencounty.org/1042/Courts-Legal-Services |
Useful Links
- Berrien County Courthouse: Access information about Berrien County Courts including circuit, probate, and district court services.
- Berrien County Circuit Court: View details about circuit court cases, judges, and court schedules in Berrien County.
- Michigan Department of Health & Human Services: Provides links to family and health-related court services and resources.
- Berrien County Probate Court: Find probate court information and services in Berrien County, including estates and guardianships.
- Michigan Courts: Explore statewide court information, case lookup, forms, and resources across Michigan.
- Berrien County District Court: Learn about district court jurisdiction, traffic, civil cases, and legal processes.
- Michigan Legal Help: Resource for self-guided legal help on various Michigan civil legal issues and court forms.
- Berrien County FOIA Policy and Procedures: Understand how to request public records under Berrien County’s Freedom of Information Act guidelines.
- Berrien County Magistrate Fee Schedule: Review the magistrate fee schedule for court services and legal filings in Berrien County.
- Berrien County Court FAQs: Get answers to frequently asked questions about court services in Berrien County, including jury duty and filing cases.
- State Bar of Michigan: Connect with legal professionals, access resources for attorneys, and find public legal assistance in Michigan.
- Berrien County Clerk's Office: Obtain vital records, court documents, election information, and more from the clerk's office.
- Berrien County Community Service Information: Learn about court-sponsored community service opportunities and requirements within Berrien County.
- Michigan Attorney General: Provides information on consumer protection, legal opinions, and ongoing state prosecutions in Michigan.
- Berrien County Prosecuting Attorney: Find details on criminal prosecutions, victim advocacy, and justice initiatives in Berrien County.
- Michigan Trial Court Case Search: Online tool for searching public case records from Michigan trial courts including Berrien County.
- ACLU of Michigan: Offers civil liberties-related legal support and information that may intersect with court cases in Michigan.
- Berrien County Restitution Brochure: A guide on understanding and processing restitution payments for victims in court cases.
- Berrien County Ex-Offender Manual: Resource guide for ex-offenders seeking reintegration and legal assistance post-incarceration.
- Berrien County Jury Service: Information and resources for residents selected for jury duty in Berrien County courts.
Table of Contents
- Berrien County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Berrien County Court Records
- Berrien County Court Statistics (CY 2025)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Berrien County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Berrien County?
- How Does Berrien County Compare With Michigan Overall?
- Berrien County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Berrien County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Berrien County?
- Are Berrien County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Berrien County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Berrien County
- Berrien County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links