Find Oakland County Bench Warrants
Oakland County bench warrants come from the 6th Circuit Court and more than a dozen district courts spread across the county. Pontiac serves as the county seat, and many court offices sit along North Telegraph Road. Searching for bench warrant records here means checking the right court or contacting the Oakland County Sheriff's Warrants Unit. The county offers some online tools, including Court Explorer for circuit court cases. This guide covers every method for finding bench warrant records in Oakland County and explains how the system works.
Oakland County Warrant Facts
Oakland County Bench Warrant Courts
The 6th Circuit Court is where felony bench warrants originate in Oakland County. The court sits at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. Phone is 248-858-0344. It handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and domestic relations. The Criminal Division tracks all warrant documentation after a warrant is executed. The Oakland County Clerk's Office at the same address maintains records for both active and closed cases. You can reach them at 248-858-0561.
Oakland County has more than 15 district courts. The 50th District Court in Pontiac is one of the busier ones. It sits at 70 North Saginaw Street, Pontiac, MI 48342. Call (248) 758-3800. Since 2019, this court has resolved 879 bench warrants and dismissed 1,695 cases through outreach programs. Walk-in hours for bench warrant matters run from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The court participates in Michigan Indigent Defense Commission programs to provide legal help.
The 52nd District Court covers four divisions. Division 1 in Novi is at 48150 Grand River Avenue, phone 248-305-6080. Division 3 in Rochester Hills is at 700 Barclay Circle, phone 248-853-5553. Division 4 in Troy sits at 520 W. Big Beaver Road, phone 248-524-3500. Walk-in hours for bench warrants at Division 4 are 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. If you skip a traffic ticket here, you can end up with a bench warrant, extra fines, and a suspended license.
Search Oakland County Bench Warrants Online
Court Explorer is Oakland County's main online tool for circuit court case searches. It lets you search by case number, party name, business name, or date range. You can view the register of actions and party information for free. Document ordering costs $1 to $5 per page. Records go back to the early 1990s. Court Explorer covers both Circuit Court and Probate Court cases.
There are some things Court Explorer will not show you. Personal protection orders are excluded. Juvenile records are off limits. Probate mental health records are restricted. The data you find is not the official record of the court. It should not be used for criminal background checks. Bulk downloads and commercial use of the data are not allowed. For official records, you need to go through the Oakland County Clerk at 1200 N. Telegraph, Dept. 413, Pontiac, MI 48341.
The Court Explorer portal provides Oakland County residents with online access to circuit court case records.
This is the Court Explorer system used by Oakland County's 6th Circuit Court for public case lookups including bench warrant records.
The MiCOURT Case Search system also covers Oakland County. You can search district court and circuit court cases there. Pick Oakland County from the list and enter a name or case number. The results show case status, docket entries, and hearing dates. Look for warrant notes in the register of actions.
Note: Court Explorer is for personal use only and the data is not the official court record.
Oakland County Sheriff Warrant Unit
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office has a dedicated Warrants Unit within the Investigative and Forensic Services Division. Captain Sam Marzban commands this division. The unit enters and confirms warrants from all 15 district courts and the 6th Circuit Court. Deputies make arrests across the entire state of Michigan on Oakland County bench warrants.
The Records Division handles warrant inquiries. Call 248-858-5517 or email ocsorecords@oakgov.com. The office is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 38E, Pontiac, MI 48341. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For in-person visits, bring a government-issued photo ID. The service is typically free if you are checking your own records. A third-party background check letter costs $5 and requires a driver's license or state ID.
The Sheriff's tipline is 1-888-TURN-1-IN. General information goes to 248-858-5000. The non-emergency dispatch number is 248-858-4950. Active warrant info may not be posted online for safety and security reasons. Juvenile warrants are confidential. Some warrant details may need a FOIA request to access.
Oakland County Bench Warrant Details
Under Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure section 780.654, bench warrants in Oakland County must include the court of issuance, case number, date of issuance, and the judge or magistrate who signed it. The subject's full legal name, date of birth, physical description, and last known address appear on the document. A statement of probable cause references the attached complaint. The specific criminal statutes that were allegedly violated are listed.
The warrant also spells out the reason it was issued. That could be failure to appear at a scheduled hearing, a probation violation, failure to comply with a court order, failure to pay fines, or contempt of court. Instructions tell law enforcement to arrest the person and bring them before the court without unnecessary delay. Bond amount and conditions are set. The issuing judge signs the document and the court seal goes on it. These bench warrants do not expire. They stay on the books until the person appears, gets arrested, or the judge recalls the warrant.
Oakland County bench warrants break into several types. Failure to appear warrants are the most common. Probation violation warrants come out when someone breaks probation terms, like a positive drug test or missed appointment. Child support contempt warrants go through the Friend of the Court. Show cause warrants cover situations where someone skips a show cause hearing.
Note: An attorney can file a motion to quash an Oakland County bench warrant, which may avoid arrest and jail time.
Record Fees in Oakland County
Looking at case records online through Court Explorer is free. Certified copies cost $5 to $10 per document. Non-certified copies run $1 to $5 per page. The Oakland County Clerk accepts cash, check, money order, or credit card for in-person payments. Mail requests go to Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Department 480, Pontiac, MI 48341. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment with your request. Bring a government-issued photo ID for any in-person visit. The eFiling support line is 248-858-0582.
Cities in Oakland County
Oakland County has several cities with their own district courts handling bench warrants. The following cities have dedicated pages with local court and warrant information:
Nearby Counties
These counties border Oakland County. Check them for bench warrant records from those areas: