Courts in Michigan

Michigan Court Structure & Judicial Jurisdiction

Michigan operates under a unified One Court of Justice judicial framework established by the Michigan Constitution and administered by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) under the direction of the Michigan Supreme Court, seated in the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing. The appellate bench consists of the Michigan Supreme Court, the state's highest judicial authority, and the Michigan Court of Appeals, which reviews judgments across four designated districts based in Detroit, Troy, Grand Rapids, and Lansing.

Trial-level jurisdiction is distributed across Circuit Courts, District Courts, Probate Courts, and the statewide Michigan Court of Claims. Michigan's 57 Circuit Courts serve as the primary courts of general jurisdiction, hearing civil actions where claims exceed $25,000, felony criminal cases, and domestic relations matters within the specialized Family Division. In contrast, Michigan District Courts possess limited jurisdiction over civil matters up to $25,000, landlord-tenant proceedings, traffic citations, misdemeanor trials, and preliminary examinations for felony offenses. Probate Courts in each county maintain exclusive authority over wills, trusts, decedent estates, mental health proceedings, and adult and minor guardianships.

For civil actions against the State of Michigan or any of its executive departments, the Michigan Court of Claims exercises exclusive statutory authority under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.6419, with cases assigned to designated Court of Appeals judges. Across Michigan's trial courts, civil and domestic cases increasingly route through MiFILE, the state's official electronic filing portal, enabling standardized document management and automated docketing statewide.

Key Michigan Court Filings, Requirements & Timelines

Critical Legal Deadlines & Statutes in Michigan

Parties participating in Michigan judicial proceedings must carefully monitor strict procedural time frames established by statute and the Michigan Court Rules (MCR):

• Small Claims Statutory Ceiling: District Court Small Claims Division monetary authority is capped at $7,000 under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8401. Claims exceeding this limit must be initiated in the District Court general civil division or Circuit Court.
• Claims Against State Entities: Under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.6431, a written notice of claim or notice of intention to file a claim against the State of Michigan or its agencies must be filed in the Court of Claims within 6 months after the event for personal injury or property damage, and within 1 year for all other causes of action.
• Defective Highway Notice: Any claim against a governmental agency for personal injury resulting from a defective road or public sidewalk must be formally served within 120 days of injury under Mich. Comp. Laws § 691.1404.
• General Civil Limitations: Civil claims founded on written or verbal contracts must be filed within 6 years under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807. Personal injury actions must be commenced within 3 years under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805. Medical malpractice actions carry a 2-year limitation period under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(8), accompanied by a mandatory 182-day notice of intent to sue under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2912b.
• Appeals by Right: A claim of appeal by right to the Michigan Court of Appeals must be filed within 21 days after entry of the final order or judgment appealed from, pursuant to Michigan Court Rule 7.204.

Direct Agency Access vs. Legal Counsel

Self-represented litigants (in pro per) can effectively handle certain matters independently through standardized Michigan court forms provided by the State Court Administrative Office. In the Small Claims Division of Michigan District Courts, attorneys are explicitly prohibited by law under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8408 from appearing or representing claimants, unless the dispute is removed to the general civil division. Small claims procedures are intentionally streamlined, allowing parties to present evidence and testimony directly before a district judge or attorney magistrate without formal discovery or complex rules of evidence. Routine name change petitions and uncontested informal probate filings can likewise be filed directly with local court clerks.

However, once litigation enters the general civil division of the District Court, the Circuit Court, or the Michigan Court of Claims, legal counsel becomes indispensable. Michigan court procedure requires strict compliance with the Michigan Rules of Evidence and the Michigan Court Rules, including motion practice under MCR 2.116 for summary disposition, formal deposition practice, and mandatory witness disclosure timelines. Furthermore, corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies cannot represent themselves in Michigan Circuit Courts and must appear through a licensed attorney. When disputing contested divorce matters, felony indictments, or commercial contract claims exceeding $25,000, retaining experienced legal counsel protects procedural rights and prevents forfeiture through technical default.

Common Red Flags & Regulatory Pitfalls

• Missing the Court of Claims Notice Deadline: Failing to serve a verified notice of intent with the Clerk of the Court of Claims within 6 months under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.6431, which permanently extinguishes the right to sue the State of Michigan.
• Misfiling Across Court Divisions: Filing a complaint in Circuit Court when the claimed damages are $25,000 or less, resulting in automatic administrative transfer to District Court and liability for transfer fees.
• Uncorrected MiFILE Rejections: Ignoring electronic filing rejection notices sent through MiFILE; failure to cure formatting or fee defects promptly can cause documents to miss critical statutory limitation periods.
• Unintentional Small Claims Waiver: Choosing to proceed in Small Claims Division without recognizing that doing so waives the right to an attorney, a jury trial, and traditional appellate review under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8412.

Frequently Asked Questions