Macomb Township Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Macomb Township are handled by the 41A District Court, Shelby Division, which covers Shelby Township, Macomb Township, and the City of Utica. If you need to check for an active bench warrant or look up case records tied to Macomb Township, this court is where to start. The 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Mount Clemens handles felony bench warrants for all of Macomb County. You can search court records through several tools, call the court clerk, or visit in person. This page breaks down the steps, contacts, and resources you need to find bench warrant records in Macomb Township.
Macomb Township Warrant Overview
Where to Search Macomb Township Bench Warrants
The 41A District Court, Shelby Division is the main court that issues bench warrants for Macomb Township residents. It sits at 51660 Van Dyke Avenue in Shelby Township. Judge Douglas P. Shepherd presides over this division, and Jim Verploeg serves as Court Administrator and Magistrate. If you miss a court date or break a court order at this court, a bench warrant can be issued right from the bench. Walk-in arraignments are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings with check-in from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM in front of Magistrate Alayan. That is the fastest way to deal with a warrant if you know one is out there.
Felony cases from Macomb Township go through the Macomb County 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Mount Clemens. That court is at 40 North Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. You can reach them at (586) 469-7171. The Clerk's Office handles record requests at (586) 469-5120. If a bench warrant came from a felony case, you will need to check with the Circuit Court rather than the District Court.
The Macomb County Sheriff's Office also keeps records of active warrants. Call (586) 469-5151 and ask for the warrant division. They can tell you if a warrant is active for a specific person. You will need to give them a full legal name and date of birth.
Online Search Tools for Macomb Township Warrants
The MiCOURT Case Search is the main online tool for looking up court records in Macomb Township. It is free. You can search by name, case number, or date. Pick Macomb County from the list and select the court type. The system shows case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. Look for notes like "bench warrant issued" or "failure to appear" in the register of actions. This tool does not show live warrant status, but it can tell you a lot about a case.
The Macomb County Circuit Court runs its own search tool called CourtView. This covers felony cases, divorce cases, child support matters, and civil cases over $25,000. You can search by name or case number. It shows the register of actions, scheduled hearings, and case status. If a bench warrant was part of a felony or family court case, CourtView is the place to check.
For the 41A District Court specifically, online case access is more limited. Phone calls work best. Call (586) 739-7325 for the Shelby Division and ask the clerk about a specific case. Have the case number ready if you can. You can also email the court at 41Ainfo@shelbywp.org with your question.
Note: Bench warrants in Macomb Township do not expire and stay active until the person appears before the court or a judge recalls the warrant.
Macomb Township Bench Warrant Details
A bench warrant issued in Macomb Township follows Michigan law under MCL 780.654. Each warrant lists the full legal name of the person, their date of birth, the case number, the court that issued it, and the judge or magistrate who signed it. It also states the reason for the warrant. That could be failure to appear, a probation violation, or failure to pay fines. The bond amount shows up on the warrant too. Law enforcement gets a command to arrest the person and bring them to court. These warrants go into the LEIN database, which all Michigan police can access during traffic stops and other contacts.
The types of bench warrants you see in Macomb Township cases are the same as the rest of Macomb County. Failure to appear warrants are the most common. A person misses a hearing and the judge signs the warrant. Probation violation warrants come next. The probation officer reports a broken rule, and the court acts. Child support warrants come from the Family Division when someone skips a show cause hearing or falls behind on payments. The Friend of the Court office at (586) 469-5160 handles those cases. Their 24-hour case info line is (586) 469-7618.
Resolving a Bench Warrant in Macomb Township
If you have a bench warrant from the 41A District Court Shelby Division, the best way to handle it is on your own terms. Walk-in arraignments happen Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Show up at the court by 8:00 AM and check in before 10:00 AM. Bring a valid photo ID. You will go before the magistrate, and the court will set a new hearing date. This is better than getting picked up on a traffic stop or at a routine police contact.
You can also hire a lawyer to help. An attorney can file a motion to quash the warrant. That asks the judge to recall it and set a new court date without an arrest. This works well for older warrants or cases where there was a good reason for missing court. The Michigan Legal Aid website has resources for people who cannot afford a private attorney. The court must provide a public defender if you get arrested and cannot pay for a lawyer.
Posting bond is another option. The bond amount is listed on the warrant. You can post bond at the court during business hours or at local police departments after hours and on weekends. Cash bonds need to be in $20 bills or larger. Cashier's checks and certified checks are also accepted.
Important: A bench warrant stays active until you appear in court, get arrested, or the judge recalls it. Ignoring it can lead to arrest at any time.
Macomb Township Court Record Fees
Getting copies of court records from Macomb County courts has set fees. Standard copies of court papers cost $2 per page. Certified copies cost $10 on top of the copy fees. A name search through the Clerk's Office is $2 per name. You can request records in person at the Circuit Court Section of the Macomb County Clerk's Office, at 40 North Main Street in Mount Clemens. Mail requests need a cover letter with case details, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Checking if a warrant is active is usually free. Call the sheriff at (586) 469-5151 or the court clerk. They will tell you if there is an active warrant. Written requests and certified copies are where the costs come in. The Michigan State Police ICHAT system charges a fee per search for criminal history, but it does not show active warrants.
Nearby Cities
Macomb Township sits in the northern part of Macomb County. Several other qualifying cities are close by and share county or regional court resources.