HOME Commissioners Departments Committees Services Documents Forms Projects Openings About Us Links			CIRCUIT COURT for BENZIE COUNTY 19th JUDICIAL COURT Contact Information Court Administrator:  FAX: Email Us 231-723-6664 231-723-1645 Friend of the Court: FAX: 231-882-0023 231-882-0040 Dir. of Youth Services:   FAX: 231-882-0007 231-882-5987 Personnel Chief Judge - Hon. James M. Batzer Court Administrator - Kris A. Randall Friend of the Court - Dennis M. Swain Director of Youth Services - Michael Rice Location / Address Upper Level Government Center 448 Court Place Beulah, MI 49617 Office Hours   Monday — Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jurisdiction Over lawsuits involving state law, and as well as certain lawsuits involving federal law civil cases involving more than $25,000 all felony and certain serious misdemeanors criminal cases all domestic relations cases family division matters juvenile delinquency matters adoptions emancipation of minors name changes personal protection orders equity cases cases for extraordinary writs cases appealed from lower courts (District and Probate) and cases from administrative agencies of state government See the Description section below for more details. Description The 19th Judicial Circuit is comprised of two counties, Manistee and Benzie. The Circuit Court is created by the Michigan Constitution as the state trial court of general jurisdiction. The Circuit Court exercises the judicial Power of the State of Michigan. The Circuit Court is funded by the counties within the circuit with substantial partial reimbursement from the state. It has original jurisdiction over all actions except those given by state law to another court. Such actions include not only lawsuits arising under or presenting issues of state law, but can and do involve issues of federal law as well, except in cases where the Congress has given exclusive jurisdiction to the federal courts. Generally speaking, the Circuit Court has original jurisdiction in all civil cases involving more than $25,000; in all criminal cases where the offense involves a felony or certain serious misdemeanors sometimes called high court or circuit court misdemeanors; and in all domestic relations cases, including divorce (with and without children), paternity, URESA and support actions. Additionally, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over family division matters which include but are not limited to neglect/abuse matters, juvenile delinquency matters and adoptions, emancipation of minors, and name changes and all cases where a personal protection order is sought or a violation of a personal protection order is alleged. The Probate Judge is also assigned to hear many family division matters as also are circuit court referees. The Circuit Court also has exclusive jurisdiction in equity cases, where injunctions or other equitable remedies are sought such as specific performance of contracts or judgments quieting title and establishing real estate boundaries. The Circuit Court further hears cases for extraordinary writs such as habeas corpus, mandamus and quo warranto. The Circuit Court also hears cases appealed from lower courts (District and Probate) and from administrative agencies of state government, except in those instances where the legislature has directed that the appeal go directly to the Court of Appeals. The Circuit Court has superintending control over the other courts within the circuit, subject to final superintending powers of the Supreme Court. Fees: Circuit Court fees are paid at the County Clerk / Clerk of the Court. Please see the County Clerk page for a fee schedule. Documents Pertinent documents are available at the Michigan Supreme Court Web site. Forms Pertinent forms are available at the Michigan Supreme Court Web site. Related Web Links Michigan Courts -- One Court of Justice [ Top Of Page ] Note: To view the PDF documents on this page, Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed. If you do not already have it, you can get it free from Adobe. Once installed, simply clicking on the link will bring up the document. Note however that the document will first be transferred to your computer, which can take a while for large documents and/or if you have a slow connection.
Last Revised: 4-03-2008 Four outdoor photos in header© Copyright Captured Moments Photography © Copyright 2005-2007 by Benzie County Government and ATI Consulting. All Rights Reserved.