Juvenile Court
Jurisdiction
The Juvenile Division of the Family Court handles various types of cases, including:
- Juvenile Delinquency - offenses committed by youth under 18 years of age.
- Status Offenses - offenses committed by youth under 18 years of age that are not illegal for an adult (incorrigibility, runaway, truancy)
- Neglect/Abuse - cases involving Child Protective Services and the neglect and/or abuse of children under 18 years of age
- Juvenile Guardianships - guardianship resulting from a neglect/abuse case
- Adoptions - step parent, adult, relative, direct placement, guardians
Resources & Help
- Mental Health Resources (PDF)
- Language Access Coordinator (PDF)
- Language Access Plan (PDF)
- Michigan Alliance for Families (information, support, and education)
- Van Buren Community Mental Health Links of Interest
- Van Buren County Domestic Violence Coalition
- Van Buren Great Start Parent Coalition - Early Childhood May Newsletter
- Van Buren Intermediate School Adult Education Program
- VBC-0439 Expungement Trifold Flyer (PDF)
- VBC-0451 School Truancy: Why Attendance Matters
- Van Buren Community Mental Health Intervention Program (PDF)
- Michigan Alliance for Families
- Michigan Alliance for Families Upcoming Events: Learning Opportunities
- Ask Yourself: A Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Resource Guide
- Movin' On: A Resource Guide for Young Adults (PDF)
- Your Child: A Guide to Your Child's Health and Safety (PDF)
- Michigan Prevention Network: network to support and expand community substance abuse prevention.
Adoption & Foster Care
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Foster Care Training
- Post Adoption Resource Center
Detention / Residential Centers
For Attorney Information
Forms for Your Use
- Michigan State Juvenile Court Forms
- VBC-0468 Request and Response to Access Juvenile Court Records
- VBC-0428 Community Service
Payment Methods
- Exact cash, money order, check (made out to Juvenile Court), and credit/debit card
- Pay credit/debit online (need case number and pay location code of 5250)
- Pay credit/debit by phone at 888-604-7888 (need case number and pay location code of 5250)
- Mail to:
36th Circuit Court Juvenile Division
212 Paw Paw Street
Suite 240
Paw Paw, MI 49079 - For information on payment options for all Van Buren County courts, please visit our Courts Payments page.