Farmington Hills Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Farmington Hills are processed through the 47th District Court, which handles misdemeanor cases, traffic matters, and civil disputes for the city. Farmington Hills sits in Oakland County, so felony bench warrants go to the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. If you need to check for an active bench warrant or search case records tied to Farmington Hills, there are several paths to take. You can call the court, use online case search tools, or contact the Oakland County Sheriff's Records Division. This page walks through the main search methods, court details, and steps to clear a Farmington Hills bench warrant.
Farmington Hills Warrant Overview
47th District Court in Farmington Hills
The 47th District Court is at 31605 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336. The main phone number is (248) 871-2900 and the fax is (248) 871-2901. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This court handles all misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims, and traffic violations for Farmington Hills. When someone fails to appear for a scheduled hearing, the judge can issue a bench warrant on the spot.
The Farmington Hills Police Department is right next door at 31655 W. Eleven Mile Road. Their non-emergency line is (248) 871-2600. You can contact them to verify warrants related to city-issued matters. For county-level warrant checks, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Records Division at (248) 858-5517 is the place to call. They maintain a database of active warrants from all 15 district courts and the Circuit Court in Oakland County.
Felony cases from Farmington Hills are handled by the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. The phone there is (248) 858-0344. If a bench warrant came out of a felony case, check with the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at (248) 858-0561.
Search Farmington Hills Warrant Records
The MiCOURT Case Search portal covers courts across Michigan, including the 47th District Court. Go to the site, pick Oakland County, and search by name or case number. The system shows case records with docket entries that may note when a bench warrant was issued. Look for entries like "bench warrant issued" or "FTA" (failure to appear). The tool is free and available any time. Keep in mind that it does not show live warrant status. Courts update the data within a day or two in most cases.
Oakland County runs Court Explorer for the 6th Circuit Court and Probate Court. This is helpful for felony cases that started in Farmington Hills and moved to Circuit Court. You can search by case number or party name. The system shows the register of actions, parties, and attorneys. It goes back to the early 1990s. Personal Protection Orders, juvenile records, and mental health records are not available on this system.
For the most up-to-date information, a phone call works best. Call the 47th District Court at (248) 871-2900 with the person's full name and date of birth. The clerk can check if a warrant is active on a specific case.
Note: Bench warrants in Michigan have no expiration date. They stay active until the person appears in court or the warrant gets recalled by a judge.
What a Farmington Hills Bench Warrant Shows
A bench warrant from the 47th District Court contains the same elements required by Michigan law under MCL 780.654. It lists the defendant's full name, date of birth, and last known address. The case number, court name, and issuing judge appear on it. The warrant states the reason it was issued, whether that is failure to appear, a probation violation, or failure to pay fines. It includes the bond amount if one was set. There is a command to law enforcement to arrest the person and bring them before the court. Once signed, the warrant goes into the LEIN database. Any officer in Michigan can see it.
The most common type is the failure to appear warrant. Someone skips a hearing and the judge acts. Probation violation warrants come next. If a person breaks the terms of their probation, the probation officer reports it, and the court issues a bench warrant. Child support bench warrants come from the Family Division of the Circuit Court when someone skips a show cause hearing or falls behind on payments. Those cases go through the Friend of the Court.
How to Resolve Farmington Hills Warrants
Go to the 47th District Court during business hours. Bring your ID. You will be arraigned and a new court date will be set. You may need to post bond. Turning yourself in gives you more control over the process than waiting to get arrested during a routine traffic stop.
A lawyer can help too. An attorney can file a motion to quash the warrant. That is a formal request asking the judge to recall the warrant and set a new hearing. The Oakland County Bar Association at (248) 334-3400 offers referrals to local attorneys. Michigan Legal Aid provides free legal services for those who qualify. The State Bar of Michigan lawyer referral line is (800) 968-0738. If you cannot afford a private attorney and get arrested, the court will appoint one for you.
Record copies from Oakland County courts cost $1 to $5 per page for non-certified copies and $5 to $10 for certified copies. The Clerk's Office at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac handles requests. Checking for active warrants is typically free when you call the sheriff or court clerk.
- Visit the 47th District Court at 31605 W. Eleven Mile Road
- Call (248) 871-2900 to ask about your case
- Contact the Oakland County Sheriff at (248) 858-5517
- Hire a lawyer to file a motion to quash
- Post the bond amount set on the warrant
Nearby Cities
Farmington Hills is in western Oakland County. Several other qualifying cities are close by with their own courts and bench warrant resources.