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March 16, 2020
20th Circuit Court Response to COVID-19
The Chief Judges of the 20th Circuit and Ottawa County Probate Courts, acting pursuant to Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2020-1, MCR 8.1 10(CX2)(c) and (3XC), and recognizing the states of emergency declared by the President and the Governor, hereby order the 20th Judicial Circuit of Michigan and Ottawa County Probate Court shall remain open to serve the public, but shall limit activities to essential operations, as follows:
20th Circuit Court – Trial Division
Felony criminal matters at the Ottawa County Courthouse, Grand Haven, including:
- arraignments on the information for incarcerated defendants
- emergency bond motions
- proceedings related to the arraignments on bench warrants and of probationers arrested on warrants for violations of probation
- trials for incarcerated defendants only
- scheduled sentencings for incarcerated defendants
- hearings on matters at the discretion of the assigned judge
Civil proceedings heard at the Ottawa County Courthouse, Grand Haven:
- requests for emergency show cause and injunctive orders
- Business Court emergencies
- infectious disease cases
- initiation of personal protection orders (PPOs)
- hearings on denied PPOs
- arraignments on alleged violations of PPOs
- hearings for PPO Respondents not able to make bail following an arraignment
- parental waivers
- motions to terminate PPOs
- approving and/or hearing emergency hearings at the discretion of the assigned Judge
- the signing or preparing of any emergency orders necessary for the safety and well-being of a litigant or child, at the discretion of the assigned Judge
20th Circuit Court – Family Division
Juvenile and Child Protective Proceedings heard at the Probate/Family Division Courthouse, West Olive:
- emergency proceedings for abuse/neglect cases
- preliminary hearings, scheduled trials and disposition hearings for detained youth
- waiver hearings for youth to be charged as or with the rights attributed to an adult
- hearings on matters at the discretion of the assigned judge
Domestic Relations Proceedings heard in Grand Haven and West Olive:
- the signing or preparing of any emergency orders necessary for the safety and well-being of a litigant or child, at the discretion of the assigned Judge
- hearings on matters at the discretion of the assigned judge
Ottawa County Probate Court
Probate Proceedings heard at the Probate/Family Division Courthouse, West Olive:
- Probate pleadings may be filed electronically, see mfile.courts.michigan.gov for instructions
- emergency proceedings for decedent estates, trusts and wills
- emergency proceedings for guardianships and conservatorships
- emergency proceedings for mental illness and judicial admission proceedings
- hearings on matters at the discretion of the assigned judge
- if you have Probate issue needing immediate attention, please contact the court to schedule a hearing a 616-768-4110
20th Circuit and Ottawa County Probate Courts
Those persons with hearings and trial previously scheduled on or before Monday, April 13, 2020 should contact the court to confirm the status of such hearings and trials. No further hearings or trials will be scheduled except as stated above.
At the discretion of the assigned Judge, hearings will be conducted using available telephone and video conferencing technology.
Pending motion hearings will be evaluated by the assigned Judge for application of MCR 2.119 (E)(3), allowing the Court to dispense with or limit oral arguments on motions.
Please be advised that County Clerk/Register and Probate Clerk operations will be staffed to handle essential services identified in the Courts’ of State of Emergency. Non-essential operations will be processed as staffing levels permit.
In the interest of public health, the public is encouraged not to attend court proceedings unless necessary.
View Attached Files
Michigan Supreme Administrative Order No. 2020-1
Signed 20th Circuit Court Response Statement
For up to date information about COVID-19, visit the Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) at miOttawa.org/miHealth. Click here to sign up for OCDPH alerts related to COVID-19.
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