General Civil Case Cover Sheet - Michigan

GENERAL CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET

State of Michigan — Circuit and District Courts

(SCAO Case Type Code Classification — Administrative Filing Requirement)

FILING REQUIREMENT NOTICE: Michigan trial courts require identification of the proper SCAO Case Type Code when initiating a civil action. The case type code is a two-letter designation appended to the end of the case number assigned by the clerk. This cover sheet is designed to facilitate proper case classification under State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) guidelines. Practitioners should verify whether the specific court requires the official SCAO Case Cover Sheet, a Case Inventory Addendum, or another locally mandated form. Some courts use the TrueFiling or other e-filing portals that collect this information electronically during the filing process.

I. COURT AND CASE CAPTION

STATE OF MICHIGAN

CASE CAPTION

II. FILER IDENTITY AND CAPACITY

☐ Attorney for Plaintiff(s)
☐ Attorney for Defendant(s) (filing counterclaim or cross-claim)
☐ Self-Represented Plaintiff
☐ Self-Represented Defendant
☐ Other (Describe): [________________________________]

III. PARTY INFORMATION

A. Plaintiff(s)

B. Defendant(s)

(Attach supplemental pages for additional parties using the same format)

IV. ATTORNEY INFORMATION

A. Filing Attorney

B. Opposing Attorney (if known)

Self-Represented Litigants: Enter "Pro Se" in the Attorney Name field and provide your personal contact information. You may also need to complete SCAO Form MC 20 (Fee Waiver Request) if you are unable to pay the filing fee.

V. SCAO CASE TYPE CODES — SELECT ONE PRIMARY CODE

Choose the code for the court and principal claim. Check the current SCAO chart and the clerk's filing instructions before submitting this cover sheet.

A. CIRCUIT COURT — CIVIL DAMAGE SUITS

☐ ND — Auto Negligence, Property Damage Only — Motor-vehicle property damage without personal injury
☐ NF — No-Fault Automobile Insurance — First-party protection benefits
☐ NH — Medical Malpractice — Claims involving health-care provider malpractice
☐ NI — Auto Negligence, Personal Injury — Motor-vehicle personal injury, with or without property damage
☐ NM — Other Professional Malpractice — Professional malpractice other than health-care provider malpractice
☐ NO — Other Personal Injury — Personal-injury claims not assigned a more specific code
☐ NP — Products Liability — Claims involving products liability
☐ NZ — Other Damage Suits — Damage claims not assigned a more specific code

B. CIRCUIT COURT — OTHER CIVIL MATTERS AND APPEALS

☐ CB — Business Claims — Business or commercial disputes under MCL 600.8035
☐ CC — Condemnation
☐ CH — Housing and Real Estate — Property proceedings other than landlord-tenant and land-contract summary proceedings
☐ CK — Contracts — Contractual obligations not otherwise coded
☐ CP — Antitrust, Franchising, and Trade Regulation — Includes consumer-protection claims
☐ CZ — General Civil — Other civil actions not otherwise coded
☐ PD — Claim and Delivery — A new action to recover personal property
☐ AA — Agency Appeal — Administrative agency matters other than the categories assigned separate codes
☐ AV — Civil Appeal — Civil appeal from a lower court

C. CIRCUIT COURT — FAMILY DIVISION

☐ DC — Custody — Custody proceedings when no divorce action has been filed
☐ DM — Divorce, Minor Children
☐ DO — Divorce, No Children
☐ DP — Paternity
☐ DS — Other Support — Family Support Act and summary-support matters
☐ PH — Personal Protection Against Stalking — Non-domestic relationship; adult respondent
☐ PP — Personal Protection in Domestic Relationships — Adult respondent

D. DISTRICT COURT

☐ GC — General Civil — Money-damages cases other than small claims, landlord-tenant, and land contract
☐ GZ — Miscellaneous Civil — Nonmonetary claims not otherwise coded
☐ LT — Landlord-Tenant Summary Proceedings
☐ SP — Land Contract Summary Proceedings

VI. MANNER OF FILING

☐ Initial Complaint / Petition
☐ Counterclaim
☐ Cross-Claim
☐ Third-Party Complaint (MCR 2.204)
☐ Amended Complaint
☐ Transfer from Another Court
☐ Other (Describe): [________________________________]

VII. AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY

☐ $0 – $3,000
☐ $3,001 – $10,000
☐ $10,001 – $25,000
☐ $25,001 – $75,000
☐ Over $75,000
☐ Non-monetary relief only
☐ Amount not determinable at this time

Exact amount claimed (if liquidated): $ [________________________________]

Jurisdictional Note: Circuit courts have general jurisdiction over civil matters exceeding $25,000 and equitable claims. District courts handle civil matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000 (MCL 600.8301).

VIII. JURY DEMAND

☐ Separate jury demand filed pursuant to MCR 2.508(B)(1) — Fee tendered
☐ Separate jury demand not filed

Practice Note: This cover sheet is not the jury demand. MCR 2.508(B)(1) requires a separate written demand within 28 days after filing the answer or a timely reply, with the jury fee paid when the demand is filed. Confirm the current statutory fee before filing.

IX. SERVICE OF PROCESS INFORMATION

A. Method of Service Requested

☐ Personal Service by Court Officer / Process Server (MCR 2.103)
☐ Individual defendant: registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, delivery restricted to the addressee (MCR 2.105(A)(2)). Attach the defendant-signed return receipt to the proof of service.
☐ Service by Publication (MCR 2.106)
☐ Corporation without a resident agent: registered mail to the corporation or appropriate officer and to the Michigan Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, Corporation Division, if MCR 2.105(D)(4) applies
☐ Defendant's signed acknowledgment of receipt of summons and complaint (MCR 2.104(A)(1))
☐ Other (Describe): [________________________________]

B. Summons Requested

☐ Yes — Number of summonses to be issued: [____]
☐ No

Summons Forms: The current SCAO Form MC 01 is the summons form for Michigan civil filings in both the circuit and district courts. Prepare a separate summons for each defendant and use the current revision from the Michigan Courts website.

X. RELATED CASES

1. Are there any related, companion, or previously filed cases involving the same parties or substantially the same subject matter in any Michigan court?

☐ Yes ☐ No

2. If "Yes," provide the following:

3. Has any judge been previously assigned to a related matter?

☐ Yes ☐ No

If "Yes," identify: [________________________________]

XI. FILING FEE CALCULATION

(Per MCL 600.2529 (Circuit Court) and MCL 600.8371 (District Court))

Method of Payment:
☐ Cash ☐ Check ☐ Money Order ☐ Credit/Debit Card ☐ E-Payment ☐ Fee Waiver Granted (SCAO Form MC 20)

Note: Select one applicable district court base filing fee. Filing fees are subject to legislative adjustment; verify current amounts with the clerk before filing. If unable to pay, submit SCAO Form MC 20 (Fee Waiver Request) with the filing. MCR 2.002(B) governs the request and limits when additional documentation may be required.

XII. E-FILING COMPLIANCE

(Many Michigan courts require or strongly encourage electronic filing through TrueFiling or the MiFILE system.)

☐ This filing is submitted electronically through the court's approved e-filing system
☐ This filing is submitted in person (paper filing)
☐ This filing is submitted by mail

E-Filing Confirmation / Transaction Number: [________________________________]

Important: When e-filing, the system may require direct entry of the SCAO Case Type Code. Verify that the code selected in this cover sheet matches the code entered in the e-filing portal. Discrepancies may cause rejection or delay in case initiation.

XIII. CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

I, the undersigned attorney or self-represented litigant, certify that:

1. The information provided on this Civil Case Cover Sheet is true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry;

2. The selected SCAO Case Type Code accurately reflects the principal subject matter of the complaint or petition;

3. The required filing fee has been tendered or an appropriate fee-waiver request is contemporaneously submitted;

4. I understand that this cover sheet is submitted for administrative and statistical purposes and does not supplement or modify the substantive pleadings;

5. I understand that failure to comply with the above representations may result in sanctions under MCR 1.109(E) (formerly MCR 2.114, repealed effective September 1, 2018 and consolidated into MCR 1.109), including striking of pleadings, dismissal, or monetary penalties.

Electronic Signatures: Permitted pursuant to MCR 1.109(E)(4). Use the format "/s/ [Name]" when filing electronically.

XIV. CLERK'S OFFICE USE ONLY

(Do not write below this line)

XV. FILING CHECKLIST

☐ Complaint / Petition (original plus copies per local rule)
☐ This Civil Case Cover Sheet (or current SCAO Case Inventory Addendum)
☐ Summons — current SCAO Form MC 01 — one per defendant
☐ Filing Fee (per Section XI) or Fee-Waiver Application (SCAO Form MC 20)
☐ Affidavit of Merit — Medical Malpractice (if applicable — MCL 600.2912d)
☐ Notice of Intent — Medical Malpractice (if applicable — MCL 600.2912b)
☐ Verified Complaint (if required by statute or court rule)
☐ Additional Local Forms (if any — check with specific court)

XVI. PRACTICE TIPS FOR MICHIGAN CIVIL FILINGS

1. Case Type Code Verification: Always consult the full SCAO Case Type Code chart (available at courts.michigan.gov) before selecting a code. The abbreviated list in Section V is not exhaustive. If uncertain, contact the clerk's office.

2. Filing Deadlines: Michigan's general statute of limitations for personal injury is three years (MCL 600.5805(2)); for contracts, six years (MCL 600.5807(9)). Medical malpractice generally has a two-year period under MCL 600.5805(8), with a separate six-month discovery alternative under MCL 600.5838a(2), subject to its limits and exceptions. MCL 600.5856 addresses tolling, including during a timely notice-of-intent period; calculate the deadline for the specific claim.

3. Medical Malpractice Pre-Suit Requirements: Under MCL 600.2912b, a notice of intent to file a claim must be served at least 182 days before filing suit. An affidavit of merit (MCL 600.2912d) must accompany the complaint.

4. Case Evaluation: Under MCR 2.403, a court may select an eligible civil case for case evaluation. A separate fee may apply.

5. E-Filing: Check whether your court has adopted mandatory e-filing. Many Michigan courts use the TrueFiling or MiFILE platform. Paper filing may still be available for self-represented litigants.

6. Confidential Information: Under MCR 1.109(D)(9), do not include Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, or dates of birth in public filings unless required by statute.

7. Local Administrative Orders: Each circuit and district court may have local administrative orders that supplement statewide rules. Check the specific court's website for any additional requirements.

XVII. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Michigan Court Rules (MCR), Chapters 1–2 (General Provisions and Civil Procedure)
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 600.2529 (Circuit Court Filing Fees)
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 600.8371 (District Court Filing Fees)
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 600.8301 (District Court Jurisdiction)
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 600.2912a–d (Medical Malpractice Requirements)
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 600.5805–5807 (Statutes of Limitation)
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 570.1101 et seq. (Construction Lien Act)
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 445.901 et seq. (Consumer Protection Act)
• SCAO Case Type Code Chart — https://www.courts.michigan.gov/4ad757/siteassets/court-administration/standardsguidelines/casefile/cf_casetypecodes.pdf
• SCAO Forms Index — https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/
• SCAO Form MC 01, Summons (current official form) — https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/mc01.pdf
• Michigan Court Rules (updated September 2, 2026) — https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/michigan-court-rules.pdf
• Michigan Legal Help — https://michiganlegalhelp.org

End of Michigan General Civil Case Cover Sheet Template