Mason County Michigan

Coming to Court

Accessing Court Services in the Historic Mason County Courthouse

East Side of Mason County Courthouse off Delia StreetThe three-story Mason County Courthouse was built in 1893 and is situated on a smoke-free campus that occupies the 300 block on the south side of East Ludington Avenue, between Delia and Rowe, in the City of Ludington. We are very proud of our 130‑year‑old courthouse, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 for its notable architecture.

A public parking lot that has two designated parking spaces on its east side reserved for handicapped accessibility is located directly south behind the building, with parallel parking adjacent to the lot on the one-way eastbound Loomis Street. On the east and west sides of the building, on-street perpendicular parking is permitted on the side of the street closest to the courthouse, with parallel parking on the opposite side of the street. Some days have a high volume of visitors, and parking is limited, so plan to arrive early to find a parking place, allow ample time for admittance into the building, and then locate where you need to go when you are inside.

Due to safety and health-related measures, public access to and egress from the courthouse is restricted to the ground-floor entrance on the east side of the building. This entrance is equipped with an operable handicapped-accessible doorway and has a ramp and easy access to the elevator, which is located on the left off the ramp, closer to the east end of the hallway. (Take note that the building’s three public restrooms are all located at the opposite end of this basement-level hallway.) Be sure to allow extra time to pass through a metal detector and have your parcels screened by security officers, who will also perform a brief health screening and log your name and the purpose of your visit.

Courtroom technology services are limited, including access to electrical outlets. If you have media to display or play, contact the court you are appearing in, well in advance of your hearing date, to review available accommodations and to make arrangements to use them or to allow yourself enough time to secure your own technology providers.

Location of Courtrooms and Court- or Law-Related Offices (Entry For the Building Is on the  Basement Level on the East Side, Proceed Through Security ):

  • Basement Level (Floor B) - Accessible during office hours through the basement door, enter the east side of the building and proceed through Security:
    • Friend of the Court (FOC) Referee Hearing Room
      Seating is limited due to its small size. It is disruptive to enter or exit while hearings are in progress. Check in at the FOC reception window when you arrive for instruction whether to enter at appointed time or to wait in hallway until called.
    • Indigent Defense Counsel Office
    • Friend of the Court Office and Reception Window
      The reception area is midway down the hall from either direction. Look for the sign in the window itself. If no receptionist is present, ring the doorbell (installed to your right when facing window) for service.
  • Main Level (Floor 1) - Accessible during office hours through the basement door, enter the east side of the building and proceed through Security and either enter the elevator or proceed up the stairs to the main floor:
    • Probate Court Office and Reception Window - Room 106
    • County Clerk’s Office - Room 103
    • For counter service to access or file circuit court records or to pay monetary assessments in circuit court criminal cases, enter through basement east entry and proceed to the main level. The Clerks office is the last door on the left on the west side of the building.
  • Top Level (Floor 2) - Accessible during office hours through the basement door, enter the east side of the building and proceed through Security and either enter the elevator or proceed up the stairs to the top level:
    • Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Reception Window
      Look for the sign. Reception area is just off main hallway. If no legal assistant is present, ring bell for service.
    • Main Courtroom - Room 204
    • Auxillary Courtroom (Commissioners’ Room) - Room 209
    • Circuit Court Office and Reception Window (Court Administrator/Scheduling Clerk)
      The large reception area at the far west end of the hallway, at the top of the stairs on Floor 2, is shared with the distrct court. If no receiving clerk is present, ring the bell for service. Show your paperwork or state the nature of your business so you can be served by the correct clerk.
    • District Court Office and Reception Window (Court Administrator/Magistrate)
      The large reception area at the far west end of the hallway, at the top of the stairs on Floor 2, is shared with the circuit court. If no receiving clerk is present, ring the bell for service. Show your paperwork or state the nature of your visit so you can be served by the correct clerk.
As shown above, reception windows for the various courts and court- or law-related services can be found on all three levels of the courthouse.

Where you need to go when you come to court depends on the reason for your attendance.

For more specific information, hover over the word in the sidebar at right that best describes your role and the purpose of your visit.

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Page last updated/reviewed for content August 13, 2023