Types of Matters the Courts Handle

There are two basic types of court cases: civil and criminal. The most common kinds of cases are:

Administrative Review, Superintending Control, and Extraordinary Writs

Ancillary Family Division Proceedings

Appeals

Civil Damage Suits

Criminal

Domestic Relations

Estates, Trusts, and Wills

Garnishment

Guardianships and Conservatorships

Housing and Real Estate Suits

Mental Illness Proceedings and Judicial Admission

Miscellaneous Family Proceedings

Miscellaneous Probate Proceedings

Nontraffic Civil Infraction and Parking

Other Civil Matters

Proceedings under the Adoption Code

Proceedings under the Juvenile Code

Traffic

The typical civil case arises from a disagreement between two or more people or businesses. Examples of a common civil case include disputes between a landlord and a tenant, divorce actions, small claims cases, or a case where one person is suing another for damages. See also general information about the overall civil and domestic relations case process >>.

Other proceedings that are "civil" in nature are noncriminal traffic cases, juvenile delinquency or child protection (neglect and abuse), adoptions, estates, trusts, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, mental commitment, and judicial admission. Each kind of case has its own set of rules and laws by which it is processed.

The criminal case involves a person who has been accused of committing either a misdemeanor or a felony offense, including certain traffic offenses.

To select specification information about different types of cases, see the drop-down list from TOPICS at the top of this page.

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Questions about this site should be sent to webinfo@courts.mi.gov.
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