Honorable Miriam Cavanaugh
Livingston County, MichiganCourtsHonorable Miriam Cavanaugh

Honorable Miriam Cavanaugh

Judge’s Elected Position:Probate Court Judge
Judge’s Role(s) Within The Court: Judge Cavanaugh serves as the Chief Judge of the Livingston County Probate Court
Case Types Assigned To The Judge:

Judge Cavanaugh presides over 100% of the probate cases and the following portions of the Livingston County Circuit Court docket: 28% of all domestic relations cases involving children and the related personal protection orders; 50% of the Friend of the Court contempt proceedings; 100% of adoption matters; and 100% of the child protection cases and the related criminal matters.

​Judge’s History On The Livingston County Bench:
​Elected to the bench in 2012 and re-elected in 2018 to a second 6 year term as Probate Court Judge
2018-2019: Chief Judge of the 44th Circuit, 53rd Circuit and Livingston County Probate Courts

2020-Present: Chief Judge of the Livingston County Probate Court

Judge’s Educational Background:1993 Honors Graduate, Brighton High School
1997 Summa Cum Laude Graduate, U of D Mercy

2000 Magna Cum Laude Graduate, U of D Mercy Law School

Judge’s Prior Work History:2000-2003 Michigan Court of Appeals
2003-2012 Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office
Trial / Evidentiary Hearings:

Mondays / Tuesdays / Wednesday Mornings

​Motion Days:
​Wednesdays – Probate Matters

Thursdays – Adoptions; Child Protection; Criminal and Domestic Matters

​Pretrial / Final Settlement Conferences:
​Fridays
Motion Practice: 
All motions must be filed in the corresponding Court Cerk's Office (Circuit, Juvenile, or Probate.) Judge's copies must be delivered or emailed to Judge Cavanaugh's Research Attorney at bpendleton@livgov.com.
Evidentiary hearings will be conducted in-person unless otherwise approved by the Court. Requests to appear by Zoom shall be directed to court staff per the Michigan Court Rules. Zoom instructions, if applicable, shall be provided to parties in advance of the hearing. 
Adjournments and/or dismissal of motions must be made by the moving party. Any other adjournments must come through a motion or stipulation and order, and must be approved by the Judge.