Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Oakland County
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
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Document Format Requirements2 rules
Documents and images should be scanned documents to a PDF file format whenever possible. They should be scanned at an 8.5” x 11” page size and about 200 dpi.
- File type
- Paper size
- Letter
Formatting
- •Scan at about 200 dpi
Documents must be legible, scanned at 8.5-by-11-inch size and right-side up, and each file may not exceed 25 MB; black-and-white scanning at 200 dpi is recommended.
- Preferred paper size
- Letter
Formatting
- •Documents must be legible and facing the right direction
Court's wording
Review your documents before submitting them. Make sure that your document is legible, that it is scanned at 8.5” x 11” page size, and it is facing the right direction. We recommend that you do not submit your documents in color. Please scan your documents in black and white and at 200 dpi. The maximum file size for each document is 25mb.
Document Filing Requirements12 rules
Combine pages into a document and combine any attachments with the main pleading or document before submitting.
Court's wording
Combine documents – do not submit individual pages separately. You must combine them prior to uploading or “merge” them after you have uploaded each page. Any attachments to a pleading/document need to be combined with the main document before submitting through MiFILE.
first page of each document must include the case number, case names and title of document.
- Document
- Document
- Placement
- First page
Must include
- •Case number
A Record of Divorce or Annulment form must be filed prior to, or along with, your Judgment of Divorce. If filing both documents at the same time, they may be submitted in the same bundle but as separate documents. The Record of Divorce or Annulment form cannot be attached to the judgment.
Pleadings and documents must have an ink or electronic signature; an electronic signature must use the “/s/” format before the name.
- Document
- Pleading or document
- Placement
- Signature block
Court's wording
All pleadings/documents are required to be signed with either an ink (wet/scanned) signature or an electronic signature. The electronic signature must include “/s/” prior to your name and be typed as follows: /s/ John Doe.
Each first page of a pleading/document must include a case caption (both parties names), case title (name of the document), and a case number.
- Document
- Pleading or document
- Placement
- First page
Must include
- •Caption
- •Case number
For documents larger than 25mb, separate them prior to uploading. Ensure each beginning page has a case caption, case title, and case number on it. You may want to number them to stay organized. i.e. Part 1 of 3, Part 2 of 3, etc. You may upload them all in the same bundle as long as each document is less than 25mb.
May include
- •Caption
- •Case number
Confidential Case Inventory form may be filed and will remain confidential but MUST NOT be attached to the summons.
Verified Statement - This form is required at case initiation for all domestic cases (divorce, custody, paternity, etc.).
Record of Divorce or Annulment Form - This form must be submitted along with your judgment of divorce.
If you do not submit a verified statement when starting your case, you must provide a copy to FOC prior to your first assigned hearing date.
Notice of Filiation - This form must be submitted along with your judgment or final order of paternity.
DO NOT submit instruction pages with your documents.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Separate each pleading or document into its own file before uploading; do not combine distinct documents into one PDF.
Documents need to be separated – do not submit all your different pleadings/documents as one PDF. You MUST separate and save each pleading/document to your PC prior to uploading into MiFILE. Note: If you have obtained your documents through Michigan Legal Help, or as a full PDF packet, be sure to separate each document (not each page), prior to uploading into MiFILE.
Page 1 | B. Rejection reasons (most common)
E-filing is mandatory for civil cases when starting a new case and when filing in an existing case.
Civil cases remain mandatory and are required for both starting a new case and filing in an existing case.
Page 1 | A. What can be eFiled through MiFILE
Submit each pleading or document as its own document, not as separate individual pages.
Submit each pleading/document as its own document. Do not submit each “page” separately.
Page 2 | D. Requirements for filing documents
A verified statement must be e-filed with a new case filing for DC, DM, DS, and DP case types, and for DO cases requesting spousal support.
A verified statement MUST be eFiled with your new case filing – required on all DC, DM, DS, DP case types and required on DO if requesting spousal support.
Page 3 | E. Domestic new case filings
A Praecipe must be submitted through the e-praecipe system for a motion to be heard and a court date scheduled.
Motions – a Praecipe must be submitted through the e-praecipe system in order for your motion to be heard and a court date to be scheduled.
Page 4 | F. Miscellaneous
Every filer must register with MiFILE.
Every filer must register with MiFILE.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Praecipes must be submitted through the Oakland County ePraecipe application.
Praecipes must be submitted through the Oakland County ePraecipe application.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Cases coded AP, EM, NC, UD, UE, UF, UI, UM, or UN cannot be e-filed and must be filed in person or by mail with the Clerk's Office.
Excluded eFiling case types are: AP, EM, NC, UD, UE, UF, UI, UM, UN. Filings on these cases must be filed in person or mailed to the Clerk's Office.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Additional PPO motions and filings should be e-filed through MiFile.
Additional PPO motions and filings should be efiled using MiFile.
Page 1 | Personal Protection Orders
eFiling is available for most case types for case initiation and later filings in civil, domestic, and criminal cases.
eFiling is available for most case types for case initiation and subsequent filings on civil, domestic, and criminal cases.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing deadlines extend to midnight; documents submitted after midnight on Friday or the day before a holiday are accepted at 8:00 a.m. the next business day.
Filing deadlines are extended to midnight. Documents submitted after midnight on Friday or the day before a holiday will be accepted as of 8:00 a.m. the following business day.
Page 4 | F. Miscellaneous
Filings submitted by 11:59 pm are accepted as of that business day.
Filings that are submitted up to 11:59 pm will be accepted as of that business day.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Filings submitted after 11:59 pm on Friday, on a weekend, or on a holiday are accepted the following business day.
Filings submitted after 11:59 pm on a Friday, or a weekend, or if submitted on a holiday, will be accepted the following business day.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
A request for film or electronic media coverage must be filed three days before the proceeding using the specified form.
Film or Electronic Media Coverage of Court Proceedings request must be filed three (3) days prior to the proceeding in accordance with MSC AO 1989-1(2)(a)(i) by using the following form:
Court notice
Page 1 | Media Advisory
Service and Proof of Service Rules
When service is selected during submission, selected parties are served at checkout and MiFILE generates a proof of service for filing in the court file.
If service is selected during file submission, service on the selected parties is made at the time of Checkout (at the time you submit your filings). The MiFILE system will generate a Proof of Service document that will be filed into the court file.
Page 2 | C. Registration, service and notifications
After the case starts, the Clerk’s Office will e-file the OIE and serve the petitioner; the plaintiff must serve the OIE on the defendant with the summons and complaint.
The Clerk’s Office will create and eFile an Order for Information (OIE) and serve the petitioner with a copy after the new case has been started. Plaintiff is responsible for serving a copy of the OIE Order with the Summons and Complaint onto the defendant.
Page 3 | E. Domestic new case filings
When Service is selected during submission, the selected parties are served at submission.
If Service is selected during file submission, service on the selected parties is made at the time of submission.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
The system generates a Proof of Service and files it into the court file when service is selected during submission.
The system will generate a Proof of Service document that will be filed into the court file.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Register with MiFILE and add yourself as a case contact to receive service; e-filing automatically adds the filer as a service contact.
It is important that you register with MiFILE and that you add yourself as a “case contact” to your case to receive service. If you are not listed as a service recipient, you will not receive copies of documents that are issued by the court. This will result in a fee to purchase a copy of the document afterwards. Note: by eFiling a document, you are automatically added as a service contact.
Page 2 | C. Registration, service and notifications
Filing Fees and Waivers
Select the statutory filing fee type on the complaint.
Make sure the statutory filing fee type is selected on the complaint.
Page 3 | E. Domestic new case filings
Filing payment is charged to the filer's credit card at submission.
Payment is applied to the filer's credit card at the time of submission.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
MiFILE e-filing has no fee except for documents requiring statutory filing fees, which are paid through MiFILE and subject to a credit-card transaction fee of up to 3%.
There are no fees required to eFile through MiFILE, except for when filing certain documents that require statutory filing fees (such as complaints, motions, garnishments, etc.). Statutory filing fees are paid through MiFILE and subject to a credit card transaction fee up to 3%.
Page 2 | C. Registration, service and notifications
Payment is charged to the filer’s credit card at checkout when the filing is submitted, and refunded if the document is rejected.
Payment is applied to the filer’s credit card when you Checkout (at the time you submit your filing); if a document is rejected, the payment will be refunded.
Page 2 | C. Registration, service and notifications
Statutory document filing fees incur a 3% credit card transaction fee.
Statutory document filing fees are subject to a credit card transaction fee of 3%.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Payment is refunded if the document is rejected.
If a document is rejected, the payment will be refunded.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information
Approved forms cost $1.00 per form.
5. In accordance with MCR 8.110(C)(8), the court shall provide litigants with forms approved by the state court administrator at the cost of $1.00 per form.
Page 1 | 5
The Circuit Court and Clerk may not charge for pro se personal-protection proceeding forms or criminal post-appeal-relief motion forms.
d. The Circuit Court or Clerk may not charge a fee for pro se forms for personal protection proceedings or motion forms for criminal post-appeal relief. MCL 600.2950, 600.2950a, MCR 6.502(C)(15).
Page 2 | 5(d)
A party may request no more than five copies of each type of form.
a. Parties will be limited to a maximum of five (5) copies for each type of form requested.
Page 2 | 5(a)
Costs to provide a newly created record are capped at the actual costs of labor, supplies, and system use to develop, generate, and validate it.
Costs to provide a new record may not exceed the actual cost of labor and supplies, and the actual use of the system to develop, generate, and validate the accuracy of the record.
Page 5 | New Record Creation
Access and inspection of case records are free unless restricted, while copies are subject to the stated regulations.
6. Any person may access and inspect, at no charge, any case record or information contained therein, regardless of means of access and record format, unless access is restricted by statute, court rule, or a court order entered pursuant to MCR 8.119(1), and may make photographic copies in accordance with MCR 8.115(C)(5)(a) or obtain copies subject to the following regulations established in accordance with MCR 8.119(J).
Page 2 | 6
Forms prepared or created by the court are free.
c. There will be no charge for forms prepared and/or created by the court.
Page 2 | 5(c)
No charge applies to forms requested by appointed counsel for their appointed cases or by indigent parties.
b. There will be no charge for forms requested by court-appointed attorneys on cases to which they have been appointed or for indigent parties.
Page 2 | 5(b)
Copies of official court transcripts may be obtained for a fee under MCL 600.2543.
Official court transcripts are those prepared in accordance with MCR 8.108. Copies of the official transcripts may be obtained for a fee pursuant to MCL 600.2543.
Page 5 | Copies
Filing Bundling Requirements
Each pleading or document must be separated from other documents in a PDF packet and uploaded as its own document.
Do not submit all your different pleadings/documents as one PDF. You MUST separate and save each pleading/document to your PC prior to uploading into MiFILE. Note: If you have obtained your documents through Michigan Legal Help, or as a full PDF packet, be sure to separate each document (not each page), prior to uploading into MiFILE.
Page 3 | D. Requirements for filing documents
For domestic new case filings, submit all required documents in the same bundle while uploading each as a separate document.
Submit all required documents into the same bundle – make sure each document is uploaded as a separate document.
Page 3 | E. Domestic new case filings
The summons may be included in the complaint’s bundle but must be a separate document.
The summons may be filed in the same bundle as the complaint but as a separate document.
Page 3 | E. Domestic new case filings
Multiple pleadings or documents may be submitted together in one submission as a bundle.
You may submit multiple pleadings/documents in one submission (called a bundle).
Page 2 | D. Requirements for filing documents
Parts of a document may be uploaded in the same bundle if each document is under 25 MB.
You may upload them all in the same bundle as long as each document is less than 25mb.
Page 3 | D. Requirements for filing documents
Chambers Communication Rules
If a case number cannot be found in MiFILE, email the listed address to have the case added.
If you can’t find your case number in MiFILE, email efiling@oakgov.com to have your case added.
Page 1 | A. What can be eFiled through MiFILE
MiFILE technical and customer care support is available by telephone or email.
MiFILE technical and customer care support – 855-959-8868 or mifile@imagesoft.com
Page 4 | G. Training, support and more information about eFiling and MiFILE
Questions about ePraecipe may be directed to Oakland County Case Management by telephone.
For ePraecipe questions, contact the Oakland County Case Management office at 248-858-5831.
Page 4 | F. Miscellaneous
E-filing questions may be directed to the Oakland County Clerk’s Office by telephone, using the appropriate menu option.
Oakland County Clerk’s Office efiling questions – 248-858-0582 (please listen carefully for the appropriate option)
Page 4 | G. Training, support and more information about eFiling and MiFILE
Contact the Clerk's Office by phone or email if you cannot locate your case in MiFile.
If you cannot locate your case in MiFile, contact the Clerk's Office at 248-858-0582 or efiling@oaklandcountymi.gov.
Page 1 | General eFiling Information