Family Court

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Press Release: Wexford-Missaukee Court System

Click on the following link to see the press release dated March 13, 2020 for information regarding the operations of the Wexford Missaukee Court System: Press Release. 

The Family Division of the Circuit Courts in Michigan was created by legislation enacted in 1998. The purpose of this legislation was to bring all legal matters which deal with families into one Court in the hope that a single presiding judge would have more knowledge about the family in litigation and more consistent and comprehensive results would be realized in cases dealing with family disputes. The Family Division of the Circuit Court is therefore often referred to as the “Family Court”. Under the approved plan in the 28th Circuit, all of the following types of cases are assigned to the Presiding Judge of the Family Division

Family Division:

• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Paternity
• Child Support and Parenting Time
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Child Neglect and Abuse
• Adoption
• Emancipation of Minors
• Change of Name
• Personal Protection Orders in Families with Children

The Family Division of the Circuit Court in Wexford County has regular office hours from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily. The Court is closed on holidays designated by the Michigan Supreme Court, which are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and Good Friday from noon to 5pm.

Court Staff

Hon. Jason J. Elmore

 Circuit Court Judge

Hon. Edward D. Van Alst

Presiding Judge, Family Division

Katherine R. Gurumurthy

Juvenile Court Administrator (Juvenile matters)

Nicole Hagstrom 

Circuit Court Administrator (Divorce, related matters)

Sandra Watson

Wexford County Juvenile Officer

Eric Eller

Deputy Juvenile Officer / Probation Officer

Amber Simonton

Bookkeeper / Financial Officer*

Valerie Slater

Deputy Clerk*

*Shared duties with the Probate Court