INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REQUEST ACCESS TO
FRIEND OF THE COURT RECORDS
You may obtain a copy of any court order in a file by paying a copy fee. As noted on the
previous page, If the case is a DM, DC, DX, DZ or DO, you must obtain your copies from the
Wayne County Clerk, located in Room B- 61 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2
Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. Request forms and payments submitted to the
Friend of the Court for these types of cases will be returned.
For all other cases, you may obtain copies from the Friend of the Court by providing a
completed form and payment.
The Request for Copies of Circuit Court Orders form (FD/FOC4022-O) should be
used when requesting a copy of a specific order. The cost is $4.00 per order. The cost
to have an order certified is an additional $10.00 (or $14.00 total per certified order).
The Request to Access Friend of the Court Records form (FD/FOC4022-R) should
be used when requesting a copy of the entire case file. The cost is $20.00 for the entire
file.
The request form and payment may be submitted (1) in person at the Friend of the Court
cashier’s window on the 2
nd
floor of the Penobscot Building, or (2) by mail to the Wayne County
Friend of the Court, P.O. Box 31-1443, Detroit, MI 48231-1405. Please make sure that you
read the form carefully, and fill it out legibly, to ensure efficient processing of your request.
Payment may be made by cash or money order made payable to the Wayne County Treasurer.
Personal checks are not accepted. Attorney checks are accepted. Payment is required before
the copies will be made. The copy fee is non-refundable.
The Friend of the Court will make every effort to respond to your request in a timely manner.
You can anticipate your copies being mailed to you within two weeks of the date the request
form and payment is received by the Friend of the Court.
If you would like to view your file in person, you must have your case number available, and
nd
report to the 2
floor of the Penobscot Building. In the event your file is not available at the time
of your request, accommodations will be made for you to view it as soon as possible.
Michigan Court Rule 3.218 outlines what Friend of the Court records may be released, and who
they may be released to. If you are not granted access to a Friend of the Court record, you may
file a motion before the judge assigned to your case, or if none, the chief judge, requesting an
Order of Access.