The Washtenaw County Court System

If you’ve been sued or are thinking about starting a lawsuit, you may be curious about how the local court system is organized. Here is some basic information relating to civil (non-criminal) cases.

• District Court. This Court has jurisdiction in civil cases in which the amount claimed is $25,000 or less. It also has jurisdiction in small claims cases for matters of $5,000 or less, and it decides landlord-tenant and land-contract forfeiture cases. There are three District Courts in Washtenaw County: The 15th District Court handles cases arising in the City of Ann Arbor. The 14B District Court handles cases arising in Ypsilanti Township. The 14A District Court handles cases arising elsewhere in the County.

• Trial Court. This Court has jurisdiction throughout Washtenaw. The Civil Division of the Trial Court handles civil cases in which the amount claimed is over $25,000. The Family Division handles divorce matters, name changes, adoptions, appointment of conservators and guardians, and the estates of deceased people. The Probate Court is part of the Family Division of the Trial Court.

The attorneys at the Ann Arbor firm of Hamilton, London, & Davis have practiced extensively in all of these courts.