New family justice center opens in Ottawa County

Construction

May 21

Ottawa County officials will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new Ottawa County Family Justice Center on May 30 at 2 p.m. Located at 12240 Fillmore St. in West Olive, the new Family Justice Center will begin services and hearings on July 23.

Supporting the legislatively mandated concept of “one judge-one family,” the new 56,196-square-foot facility brings the Family Division of the 20th Judicial Circuit Court together, including judges, attorney referees, and court staff who handle domestic relations cases, juvenile cases, and child welfare cases.

Space limitations had previously required these services to be divided between courthouses in Grand Haven and West Olive. The new courthouse will also move frequently used court services closer to the population centers within Ottawa County. Three judges, three attorney-referees, Juvenile Court Services, Friend of the Court, the Legal Self-Help Center and the Ottawa County Clerk Circuit Court Records will operate in the new building.

Visitors will be greeted by a 36-foot-tall mural by local artist Joel Schoon-Tanis showcasing some of the wildlife and unique features of the Ottawa County landscape.

For more information, visit https://www.miottawa.org/Courts/20thCircuit/family-justice-center.htm.