County Clerk - Clerk of the Court

The Clerk of the Court is the "keeper of the records" for all lawsuits filed in the Kent County Circuit Court. The Clerk of the Court's office is where you file for a divorce, other family matters (i.e., paternity, custody and support), civil actions where the amount of damages exceeds $25,000 or other civil matters over which the Circuit Court has jurisdiction. In addition, the Clerk of the Court maintains all of the records filed in felony cases, and collects payments for fines, costs and restitution ordered in criminal matters. Court files are public records, and may be inspected at the Clerk's office. Information about cases is also available over the phone.

While it is important to know what the Clerk of the Court does, it is also important to understand what the Clerk of the Court cannot do - provide legal advice. The law expressly prohibits the Clerk and deputy clerks from advising litigants (e.g., people involved in a lawsuit) on legal issues. This can be frustrating, especially for people who choose to represent themselves rather than be represented by an attorney.

Where Are We

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is located on the 2nd floor of the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2400, Grand Rapids MI 49503. For directions to the Courthouse, please refer to the 17th Circuit Court Map site.  For downtown parking information, please refer to the City of Grand Rapids Parking Map.

Court Holidays