The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. All criminal cases are started in the District Court. No clerk is permitted to give legal advice.
The District Court hours are established to accommodate everyone who has business with the court and to provide sufficient time for the Judges and staff to properly handle the caseload.
Online Traffic Citation, District Court Fines and Probation Payments
Our Pay Location Code (PLC) is #1589.
A service fee will be charged for this payment method.
Note: if your license is suspended due to an unpaid citation; credit card payments are delayed between 5-7 business days and immediate clearances are not available. You cannot legally drive until you receive the clearance card in the mail from the court showing payment has been received and processed.
Divisions
The District Court is broken down into four main divisions:
Criminal Division
Cases handled in this division include major traffic and misdemeanor offenses, felony charges, liquor, conservation, watercraft, and animal violations. Most of these violations require a personal appearance before a judge or magistrate.
Traffic Division
Traffic civil infractions, and minor traffic misdemeanor offenses are handled by the Traffic Division. You may schedule an Informal Hearing with the Traffic Clerk or pay preset fines in this division daily.
Probation Division
Sentencing by the court may result in probation, which requires specified periods of time that an individual must report to a Probation Officer of this division.
Civil Division
The Civil Division processes Civil suits, Small Claims cases, Landlord-Tenant disputes and Land Contract cases. The Court handles civil suits up to $25,000 while Small Claims cases provide an inexpensive forum for resolving money disputes up to $3,000.
Filing Fees for Civil Cases
| Landlord/Tenant & Land Contract Forfeiture | ||
| Complaint Only | $45.00 | |
| Complaint with claim for money damages: | ||
| Does not exceed $600 | $70.00 | |
| Exceeds $600, but not $1,750 | $90.00 | |
| Exceeds $1,750 but not $10,000 | $110.00 | |
| Exceeds $10,000 | $195.00 | |
| Order of Eviction or Writ of Restitution | $15.00 | |
| Small Claims | ||
| Claim does not exceed $600 | $35.48 | |
| Exceeds $600, but not $1,750 | $55.48 | |
| Exceeds $1,750 | $75.48 | |
| Note: Add an additional $10.50 mailing fee for each defendant listed on the claim. | ||
| The maximum dollar amount you can file for in Small Claims is $3,000. | ||
| Civil Cases | ||
| Does not exceed $600 | $25.00 | |
| Exceeds $600, but not $1,750 | $45.00 | |
| Exceeds $1,750 but not $10,000 | $65.00 | |
| Exceeds $10,000 | $150.00 | |
| The maximum dollar amount you can file for in a Civil Case is $25,000. | ||
| Claim & Delivery | ||
| Claim & Delivery Fee | $65.00 | |
| Does not exceed $600 | $65.00 + $25.00 = $90.00 | |
| Exceeds $600, but not $1,750 | $65.00 + $45.00 = $110.00 | |
| Exceeds $1,750 but not $10,000 | $65.00 + $65.00 = $130.00 | |
| Exceeds $10,000 | $65.00 + $150.00 = $215.00 | |
| Fees shall be waived or suspended if the person is receiving public assistance or is determined by the court to be indigent. | ||
| Other Fees: MCR 2.119(6) | ||
| A motion fee of $20.00 shall be assessed for all motions filed in civil actions, regardless of the amount in controversy. (Issues going before the court such as in "Installment Payments Order") | ||
Payment Information
Payments of fines/costs must be tendered in cash, money order, certified check, or credit card.
Payments of Traffic Citations, Court Fines and Probation can be made with a credit card by calling 1-888-604-7888 or on the Internet (see notice on the top of this page). Government Payment Service will assess fees for this service. You must input the Pay Location Code (PLC) #1589.
