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Iron County, MI Courts and Public Records

Table of Contents

The Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and Family Division serve Iron County as the county's trial courts. The Circuit Court is the 41st Judicial Circuit Court, and the elected County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court.

FieldDetails
Court NameIron County Circuit Court (41st Judicial Circuit Court)
Judicial Circuit41st Judicial Circuit (Michigan)
Clerk of the Circuit CourtCounty Clerk, who keeps the Circuit Court records
HandlesFelonies, civil claims over $25,000, divorce, child custody and support, and juvenile matters in the Family Division; appeals from District and Probate Court
Does NOT HandleFederal cases (U.S. District Court for Michigan), estate and guardianship matters (Probate Court), and parking tickets (issuing city or agency)
Statewide Case Informationcourts.michigan.gov (statewide, not limited to Iron County)

How to Search Iron County Court Records

Have the full name, the case number if known, and approximate dates ready. The County Clerk keeps Iron County Circuit Court records.

Online

Go to courts.michigan.gov for statewide court information, not county-specific records.

Check the court's site for the division that holds your case.

Use the county's official website to confirm local court contact details.

Best for: Statewide court information and directories

In Person

Go to the County Clerk at the courthouse in the county seat.

Bring the case number and party names if you have them.

Ask the clerk which division handles your case type.

Best for: Records and copies not available online

By Phone

Call the County Clerk or the court listed on the county's official website.

Ask which court division holds your case before you visit.

Confirm the records you need and any copy requirements.

Best for: Confirming the division and records needed

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

Iron County Court Statistics (CY 2025)

Iron County courts received 2,004 new cases in CY 2025 and disposed of 1,624, a clearance rate of 81.0%. Filings fell 5.4% from 2,118 in CY 2024.

2,004

Total filings in CY 2025

1,624

Total dispositions in CY 2025

~2,004

Filings per judicial position (1 estimated positions)

-5.4%

Change in total filings vs CY 2024

MetricCY 2025CY 2024Change
Total Filings2,0042,118-5.4%
Total Dispositions1,6241,751-7.3%
Criminal Filings644707-8.9%
Civil Filings474425+11.5%
Family Law Filings200184+8.7%
Probate Filings71109-34.9%
Mental Health Filings4830+60.0%
Juvenile Filings5956+5.4%
Authorized Judicial Positions~1~1~+0.0%

The largest movement was in criminal filings (707 to 644); the total also includes 508 civil infraction and parking filings; rows marked ~ are estimates.

How Have Court Filings Changed in Iron County?

Total filings in Iron County fell 3.2% between CY 2021 and CY 2025, from 2,071 to 2,004.

Fiscal YearTotal FilingsTotal DispositionsYoY Filing Change
CY 20252,0041,624-5.4%
CY 20242,1181,751-7.2%
CY 20232,2821,868-8.6%
CY 20222,4972,140+20.6%
CY 20212,0711,701~+10.5%

Total filings fell 3.2% over five years, from 2,071 in CY 2021 to 2,004 in CY 2025. The largest annual change was +20.6% in CY 2022. The latest change of -5.4% was driven by criminal filings, and dispositions were 1,624 against 2,004 filings.

What Types of Cases Are Filed in Iron County?

Criminal cases are the largest category in Iron County, at 43.0% of filings in CY 2025.

Case TypeFilings CY 2025Share of TotalYoY Change
Criminal64443.0%-8.9%
Civil47431.7%+11.5%
Family law20013.4%+8.7%
Probate714.7%-34.9%
Juvenile593.9%+5.4%
Mental health483.2%+60.0%

Mental health cases grew fastest (+60.0%) and probate cases fell fastest (-34.9%); rows marked ~ are estimates.

How Does Iron County Compare With Michigan Overall?

Iron County accounts for 0.05% of the 3,677,054 cases filed in Michigan courts in CY 2025, with 0.12% of the state's population.

MetricIron CountyMichiganComparison
Total filings2,0043,677,0540.05% of statewide filings
YoY change in filings-5.4%+7.9%Lower than state
Filings per judicial position~2,004~6,531Estimated using positions from earlier data
Dispositions per judicial position equivalent~1,624~5,493Estimated using positions from earlier data
Criminal share of filings32.1%25.3%Above state
Civil share of filings23.7%23.8%Below state
Family law share of filings10.0%3.8%Above state

Iron County files cases at a lower rate per resident than Michigan (170.5 against 363.1 per 1,000), and its filings fell 5.4% against +7.9% statewide. Its criminal share of filings is above the state's and its civil share is below it; rows marked ~ are estimates.

Iron County Crime Statistics (2025)

These figures are Michigan statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Iron 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)

Offense2025Rate per 100K2024YoY Change
Murder4424.4492-10.2%
Rape5,44653.85,777-5.7%
Robbery2,69226.63,173-15.2%
Aggravated assault33,705332.834,537-2.4%
Violent crimes total42,285417.543,979-3.9%
Burglary15,726155.319,316-18.6%
Larceny-theft92,281911.297,850-5.7%
Motor vehicle theft18,406181.723,544-21.8%
Property crimes total (includes arson)127,5131259.0141,977-10.2%

Rates use the Michigan 2025 population of 10,127,884. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Iron County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.

Iron County Courthouse Locations

Iron County court proceedings are held at the Iron County Courthouse. Check your notice or case paperwork to confirm the courthouse assigned to your case before you go.

CourthouseAddressPhoneVerified Services
Iron County Courthouse2 South Sixth Street, Crystal Falls, MI 49920(906) 875-3221See 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 Iron County?

Most Iron County cases start in the District Court or the Circuit Court, depending on the case type. Matters handled outside the courts, such as parking tickets and federal cases, are noted below.

Your SituationGo ToKey Details
Traffic ticketDistrict CourtTraffic and ordinance violations are heard in District Court.
Parking ticketThe city or agency that issued the ticketParking tickets are not handled by the District Court.
MisdemeanorDistrict CourtDistrict Court hears misdemeanor cases.
FelonyCircuit CourtCircuit Court hears felonies, and District Court holds preliminary examinations.
DUIDistrict Court or Circuit CourtMisdemeanor OWI charges go to District Court, and felony charges go to Circuit Court.
Domestic violenceDistrict Court or Circuit CourtCriminal charges follow the misdemeanor or felony route; ask the clerk about personal protection orders.
Civil lawsuitCircuit Court or District CourtCircuit Court hears civil claims over $25,000, and District Court hears claims up to its limit.
Small claimsDistrict Court, Small Claims DivisionSmall claims are heard in the District Court small claims division.
EvictionDistrict CourtLandlord-tenant cases are heard in District Court.
DivorceFamily Division of Circuit CourtDivorce cases are heard in the Family Division.
Child custody or supportFamily Division of Circuit CourtSupport and parenting time are also handled with the Friend of the Court, which is not a court.
Probate or estateProbate CourtEstates, trusts, and guardianships are handled by the Probate Court.
Juvenile caseFamily Division of Circuit CourtJuvenile matters are heard in the Family Division.
AppealCircuit Court or Michigan Court of AppealsCircuit Court hears appeals from District and Probate Court; the Court of Appeals hears appeals from Circuit Court.

Are Iron County Court Records Public?

Yes, most Iron County court records are public, with exceptions. Michigan Court Rules MCR 8.119 govern public access to court records, and the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231 et seq.) covers records of public bodies.

Public records

Most court case files, including dockets, filings, and orders, are open to the public unless a law or court rule restricts them.

Restricted or confidential records

Juvenile, sealed, expunged, adoption, mental health, and protection-order-restricted records are not publicly available. Other confidential records are also restricted.

Online access

Statewide court information is available at courts.michigan.gov. This site is statewide and is not limited to Iron County. Online results show case information, not every document, and restricted cases are not shown.

In-person access

Visit the County Clerk at the courthouse in the county seat to view or request records. Call ahead through the county's official website to confirm which division holds your case.

Fees

This page does not list court fees for copies or certified records. Ask the County Clerk or the court for current fees before you request copies.

How to Search Iron County Court Records Online

Use the statewide Michigan court site and the County Clerk to search Iron County court records by case type, and ask the court for documents that are not online.

  1. Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
  2. Open courts.michigan.gov for statewide court information and directories.
  3. Search by party name or case number where the court's system offers it, and note the case number.
  4. Review the case information for status, parties, and scheduled dates.
  5. Contact the court or County Clerk through the county's official website to request documents that are not online.
Case TypeWhere to SearchWhat You'll FindLimits
Criminalcourts.michigan.gov (statewide); County Clerk for recordsCase information and statusFull documents may require the clerk
Trafficcourts.michigan.gov (statewide); District Court clerkCase information and statusPayment is handled separately from record search
Civilcourts.michigan.gov (statewide); Circuit Court through the County ClerkCase information and partiesRestricted filings are not shown
Small claimsDistrict Court clerkCase information and partiesDocuments may require the clerk
Family lawFamily Division through the County ClerkCase information for domestic relations casesConfidential details are restricted
ProbateProbate CourtEstate and guardianship filesNot part of the Circuit Court records; contact the Probate Court
JuvenileContact the court through the county's official websiteLimited case information through the courtJuvenile proceedings are confidential and not in public search

How to Pay Fines & Citations in Iron County

Contact the court clerk for Iron County traffic and criminal fines through the county's official website to confirm the payment options for your case.

  1. By phone: Call the District Court or County Clerk listed on the county's official website to ask which payment methods apply to your ticket or case. Confirm accepted card types and any fees before you pay.
  2. In person: Visit the court clerk at the courthouse in the county seat, and confirm the office hours on the county's official website before you go.

Parking tickets are handled by the city or agency that issued them, not by the District Court Traffic Division.

Iron County Court Records FAQ

How do I search Iron County court records?

Use courts.michigan.gov for statewide court information, or contact the County Clerk, who keeps the Circuit Court records.

Are Iron County court records public?

Most are public under Michigan Court Rules MCR 8.119, but juvenile, sealed, and other confidential records are restricted.

How do I find a criminal case?

Search by party name or case number on courts.michigan.gov, or ask the County Clerk for the case through the county's official website.

How do I find a court date?

Check your ticket or notice first, then contact the court clerk through the county's official website to confirm the date.

How do I pay a traffic ticket?

Contact the District Court clerk through the county's official website to confirm the payment options for your ticket.

What is the population of Iron County?

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 11,757 residents in 2025, a change of -0.1% from 11,773 in 2024.

What share of Michigan's population lives in Iron County?

0.12% of Michigan's 10,127,884 residents lived in Iron County in 2025.

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.

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