Michigan Circuit Courts: Jurisdiction and Case Types

Michigan circuit courts occupy the top tier of the state's trial court system, holding general jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil disputes exceeding $25,000, domestic relations matters, and a range of equity proceedings. These courts operate under the Michigan Court Rules and the Michigan Compiled Laws, with 57 circuit courts distributed across Michigan's 83 counties — some counties sharing a circuit. Understanding how circuit court jurisdiction is structured, what case types fall within it, and where its authority ends is essential for attorneys, litigants, researchers, and legal aid professionals navigating the Michigan court system.

Definition and scope

Michigan circuit courts derive their authority from Article VI of the 1963 Michigan Constitution (Michigan Constitution, Article VI), which establishes a unified court system and vests general trial jurisdiction in circuit courts. The Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL Chapter 600), specifically MCL 600.601 et seq., define the circuit court's subject matter jurisdiction in statutory terms.

Circuit courts hold general jurisdiction, meaning they can hear any case that is not assigned exclusively to another tribunal by statute or rule. This contrasts with district courts, which are limited to civil claims at or below $25,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases, and with probate courts, which handle estates, guardianships, and mental health commitments under separate statutory authority.

The Michigan Court System Structure establishes four primary trial court levels: circuit, probate, district, and municipal. Circuit courts sit above the other three for purposes of appeals from district and probate courts in certain matters and serve as the courts of record for all major felony prosecutions and high-value civil litigation.

Family divisions of the circuit court — addressed separately at Michigan Family Court — handle divorce, child custody, support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and child protective proceedings under MCL 600.1001 et seq.

Geographic scope and limitations: Circuit court jurisdiction is bounded by Michigan state law and applies exclusively to proceedings arising under Michigan statutes, the Michigan Constitution, and Michigan common law. Federal claims, matters invoking federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §1331, or diversity cases exceeding $75,000 between citizens of different states fall within the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction of the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. Tribal court proceedings operating under federally recognized tribal sovereignty are not covered by state circuit court authority. This page does not address Michigan Federal Courts or Michigan Tribal Law and Sovereignty.

How it works

Circuit court proceedings follow the Michigan Court Rules (MCR), promulgated by the Michigan Supreme Court under its constitutional rule-making authority. The Michigan Court Rules govern pleading, discovery, motions, trial procedure, and post-judgment practice uniformly across all 57 circuit courts.

Civil proceedings in circuit court are initiated by filing a complaint with the court clerk, paying the required filing fee (fee schedules are published by each circuit under MCL 600.2529 and detailed at Michigan Court Fees and Costs), and serving process on defendants under MCR 2.105. The case then proceeds through:

1. Pleading phase — complaint, answer, and affirmative defenses filed under MCR 2.110–2.116
2. Motion practice — dispositive motions including summary disposition under MCR 2.116
3. Discovery — governed by MCR 2.301–2.316, covering depositions, interrogatories, document requests, and expert disclosure
4. Case management conference — scheduling order issued under MCR 2.401
5. Trial — bench or jury, governed by MCR 2.508–2.516
6. Judgment and post-judgment remedies — including garnishment and judgment lien under MCR 3.101 and MCL 600.6001 et seq.

Felony criminal proceedings follow Michigan criminal procedure under MCL 764–771 and the Michigan Rules of Evidence (Michigan Rules of Evidence). Arraignment, preliminary examination (held at district court level), bind-over to circuit court, pretrial conference, and jury or bench trial constitute the standard sequence. Michigan Criminal Procedure covers this framework in full.

Circuit court judges in Michigan are elected to 6-year terms under Article VI, §12 of the Michigan Constitution. The Michigan Judicial Selection Process details the election and appointment mechanisms that govern judicial vacancies.

Common scenarios

Circuit courts handle a defined set of recurring case categories:

• Felony criminal prosecution — all offenses punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, including crimes under the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.1 et seq.)
• Major civil litigation — contract disputes, tort claims, personal injury cases, and property disputes where the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000
• Domestic relations — divorce (MCL 552), child custody and support, parental rights termination, and domestic violence protective orders
• Equity proceedings — injunctions, declaratory judgments, specific performance, and other equitable relief not available in limited jurisdiction courts
• Appeals from district and probate courts — circuit courts serve as the first appellate forum for decisions from Michigan district courts and probate courts on matters outside the Michigan Court of Appeals' direct jurisdiction
• Business disputes — including business formation and dissolution and contract law disputes above the district court threshold
• Expungement petitions — applications to set aside convictions under MCL 780.621, addressed in detail at Michigan Expungement Law

The regulatory context for Michigan's legal system provides the broader statutory and constitutional framework within which these case types are adjudicated.

Decision boundaries

Determining whether a case belongs in circuit court requires analysis along three axes:

Subject matter jurisdiction:
- Civil claims at or below $25,000 belong in district court unless equitable relief is sought
- Probate matters (estates, guardianships, conservatorships) belong in probate court under MCL 700 (the Estates and Protected Individuals Code)
- Small claims (up to $7,000) are handled in district court's small claims division — see Michigan Small Claims Court

Circuit court vs. Court of Appeals:
The Michigan Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court; it does not conduct original trials. Appeals from circuit court final judgments go to the Court of Appeals as of right in criminal cases and by leave or right in civil matters under MCR 7.203.

Circuit court vs. federal court:
State circuit courts lack authority over claims arising exclusively under federal law (e.g., federal civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. §1983 are cognizable in both state and federal court, but federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §1331 allows removal to federal court). The National Center for State Courts' State Court Structure Charts provides comparative jurisdiction maps for all 50 states.

Practitioners managing Michigan civil procedure questions or researching Michigan sentencing guidelines will encounter circuit court authority as the foundational operational level for both civil and criminal adjudication in Michigan. The full directory of court-level resources begins at michiganlegalservicesauthority.com.

References

• Michigan Constitution, Article VI — Judicial Branch
• Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 600 — Revised Judicature Act
• Michigan Court Rules (MCR) — Michigan Supreme Court
• Michigan Legislature — MCL 600.601 (Circuit Court Jurisdiction)
• Michigan Legislature — MCL 552 (Divorce and Domestic Relations)
• Michigan Legislature — MCL 780.621 (Expungement)
• 28 U.S.C. §1331 — Federal Question Jurisdiction
• 28 U.S.C. §1332 — Diversity Jurisdiction
• National Center for State Courts — State Court Structure Charts
• Michigan Courts — Official Court Website
• Michigan Supreme Court — Administrative Orders and Rules