Find Warrant Records in Branch County
Branch County warrant records are held at the sheriff's office and courts in Coldwater. This southern Michigan county sits near the Indiana border and has about 45,000 residents. The 15th District Court and 4th Circuit Court handle criminal cases and issue warrants here. You can search for warrant records by calling the sheriff, visiting the courthouse on Division Street, or using the state MiCOURT portal online. This page explains each option and walks through what to expect when looking for Branch County warrant records.
Branch County Quick Facts
Branch County Sheriff and Warrants
The Branch County Sheriff's Office is at 580 Marshall Rd. in Coldwater. Call (517) 278-2325. The sheriff handles warrant service and arrests for the whole county. You can call or visit during business hours to check on active warrants. Give the person's full name and date of birth when you ask. Walk-in requests are processed at the front desk. The office also runs the county jail and books people brought in on warrants.
Arrest warrants in Branch County are issued by judges under MCL 764.1a. The judge reviews a sworn complaint and must find probable cause. The warrant names the person, states the charge, and commands the arrest. MCL 764.1b lays out what the warrant must include. Felony warrants do not expire in Michigan. Misdemeanor warrants last six years. Any peace officer in the state can serve a Branch County warrant per MCL 764.15.
Branch County sits close to the Indiana state line. This matters because Michigan warrants are only valid in Michigan. If someone with a Branch County felony warrant is found in Indiana, the county has to request extradition. Misdemeanor warrants are not usually extradited across state lines, though each case is different.
Branch County Court Records
The 15th District Court is at 31 Division St. in Coldwater. Phone is (517) 279-4308. This court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil claims under $25,000. Arraignments on misdemeanor warrants happen here. The court clerk can pull up cases and tell you if a bench warrant is active on a case file.
The 4th Circuit Court is at the same address. Call (517) 279-4308. Circuit court covers felonies, family law, and appeals from the district court. Felony arrest warrants go through the circuit court system. When police arrest someone on a felony, the first appearance takes place at district level, then the case moves to circuit court for trial.
Bench warrants are common in both courts. They come out when someone skips a hearing or breaks a court order. MCL 764.3 requires the court to explain why a bench warrant was chosen over a summons. These warrants stay active until the judge recalls them or the person is picked up. The register of actions for any public case shows all docket entries from filing through the most recent activity.
Note: Both the 15th District Court and 4th Circuit Court sit at 31 Division St. in Coldwater. You can check records at both courts in one visit.
Online Searches for Branch County Warrants
The MiCOURT Case Search includes both Branch County courts. It is free. No account needed. Search by name or case number for case history, hearing dates, and status updates. The system does not flag active warrants directly. But you can sometimes spot a likely warrant by finding a case where someone missed a hearing and nothing happened after that. Data goes back to about 2000.
The screenshot below shows the Michigan Courts homepage, which connects to the MiCOURT search tool used for Branch County court records.
From this page, you can get to case search tools for the 15th District Court and 4th Circuit Court.
The Michigan ICHAT system costs $10 per search. It shows felony arrests and serious misdemeanor convictions from all over Michigan. You need the person's full name, date of birth, race, and gender. ICHAT does not include active warrants or local misdemeanor records. The MDOC OTIS system is free and tracks offenders under state corrections control. If someone from Branch County violated parole or probation, OTIS may show a related warrant or list them as an absconder.
FOIA Requests for Branch County Records
Under MCL 15.231, you can request records from any government office in Branch County. Put your request in writing and send it to the county clerk or the sheriff's office. Describe the records you want. No special form is needed. You do not have to say why you want them.
The agency has five business days to respond. A 10-day extension is allowed for big requests. Copies cost about $0.10 per page. Labor fees may apply when searches take a lot of staff time. Active warrant records can be withheld under MCL 15.243 if release would interfere with law enforcement. Records from closed cases are more likely to be provided. If a request is denied, the response must cite the specific exemption and explain your right to appeal.
Public Access to Branch County Warrants
Most court records in Branch County are open to the public. MCR 8.119 says anyone can view court records. You do not need to be a party to the case. Case files, docket entries, and most warrant documents are available at the clerk's office in Coldwater.
Some records have limits. Juvenile cases are sealed. Personal Protection Orders have restricted access. Judges can seal specific files by order. Active warrant details might be held back when releasing them could hurt an investigation. Once a warrant is served and the case goes through court, those records generally open up. The Michigan Courts website has more info on access rules across the state.
Note: Juvenile records and cases sealed by court order are not available through public access.
Search Warrants in Branch County
Search warrants in Branch County follow MCL 780.651. A judge issues them on probable cause backed by a sworn affidavit. The warrant has to describe the place to be searched and the items to be seized. Officers get 10 days to carry it out under MCL 780.654. After that, the warrant is no longer valid. The return of service goes to the court after the search is done. Anyone whose property was searched gets a copy of the warrant and a list of items taken. You can get copies of executed search warrants through the court clerk or by filing a FOIA request.
Nearby County Warrant Records
Branch County borders several other counties in southern Michigan. If your search extends past Branch County, these neighbors keep their own warrant records.