Gladwin County
80th District Court
District Court is the initial court for all criminal matters, all traffic, DNR, animal control and any City of Beaverton or Gladwin matters, including civil infractions, misdemeanors and felonies. Felonies proceed to Circuit Court after arraignment and preliminary hearing. All other matters remain in District Court for trial or other resolution. Trials are either by a jury of 6 or non-jury, heard by the Judge. Cases may be resolved by plea, trial or dismissal.
For civil matters, the District Court handles summary proceedings (landlord-tenant matters, land contract forfeitures), civil suits in which the amount sought is $25,000 or less, and Small Claims matters (suits for up to $5,500, no attorney allowed for either party, heard by the Magistrate). Cases may be resolved by settlements, hearings/trials or dismissals.
The court’s Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Coordinator is Steven Worpell. He can be reached at 989.427.9307 or in the District Court office.
Judges & Officers of The Court
Chief Judge, Joshua M. Farrell
401 West Cedar Avenue
Gladwin, MI 48624
Phone: 989.426.9207
Fax: 989.246.0894
Zoom Information
Judge Farrell
Magistrate Worpell
Court Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Staff
The Honorable Judge Joshua Farrell is the District Court judge for the 80th District, which covers Clare County and Gladwin County. Judge Farrell was elected to the bench in 2008.
The Gladwin County staff includes:
- Steven Worpell, Court Administrator and Attorney-Magistrate (For Clare and Gladwin)
- Linda Hawkins, Assignment Clerk/Court Reporter
- Stacey Gasiciel, Probation Officer P: 989.426.6913 F: 989.426.3233
- Four Deputy Clerks
Contacting 80th District
Quick Access Phone Extensions
Ext. 4 – Criminal Matters
Ext. 5 – Civil Matters
Ext. 6 – Juror Questions, DNR, Traffic, Animal Control Tickets
Ext. 7 – Small Claims, Landlord-Tenant Matters, Drunk Driving
Pay Court Fines / Costs
Payment may be made via phone at 888.604.7888 or online via www.GovPayNOW.com. When asked to provide a Payment Location Code use 5073. A notice of payment is faxed directly to the court specifying the time and date the payment was made. The service fee will also be charged to your credit card. Most major credit cards are accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where must I file a suit?
A lawsuit may generally be started in either the county where the defendant resides or where the activity upon which the suit is based took place. If your matter may have some special circumstances, you should talk with an attorney.
How much does it cost to file?
Filing fees are listed on the 80th District Court web page – click on that listing. Cost of service depends upon the manner of service.
How do I serve the defendant?
You may choose to serve the defendant by certified restricted mail, or by personal service via a process server or by someone who is an adult and not a party to the suit. “Service” means delivering a summons and copy of the complaint to the defendant personally. If you cannot get service on the defendant, you may wish to consult an attorney about alternative ways to accomplish that if you wish to continue the suit.
What if I want to drop the case?
At any time before the defendant is served, you may file a dismissal of the action. After the defendant is served, you may request the case be dismissed, but the decision rests with the court.
What happens if the defendant does not show up?
If there is proof of service filed showing that the Defendant has been served long enough before the hearing, you may be able to put in your proofs and receive a default judgment.
How do I collect my judgment?
After 21 days have passed from the date of your judgment, if the defendant hasn’t paid, you may begin to take action in the court to discover what assets they may have, and begin collection action such as garnishment. If you do not know what this involves, you may wish to consult an attorney to find out about the process, as court staff cannot give you legal advice about what procedure or which forms would apply to your case.
How can I get legal advice?
By law, the court staff cannot give legal advice. You may find the name of an attorney who practices in the area by looking in the yellow pages or checking with the State Bar of Michigan. The court has a listing of local attorneys that you may review, although the court staff may not recommend any particular attorney. Often attorneys will charge a minimal fee for consultation about your questions, which may assist you in deciding whether and how to proceed.
What if I can’t afford an attorney?
There are many sources to locate legal information, some with interpretation. Check the other links concerning self-help, small-claims and landlord-tenant matters, on the court website. There are other sources on-line for legal information. You may wish to “Google” for possible links.
