Michigan Legal Help

Rules and Procedures in Civil Court Cases

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Learn about procedures in civil court cases.

Articles

An Overview of a Civil Case

This article gives an overview of the process of suing or being sued. There are very specific rules under Michigan law that guide this process, and not following a rule exactly can affect the outcome of your case. Read this article to learn more.
What to Do if You Are Sued
Being sued can be upsetting and intimidating. But, ignoring a court case isn’t going to help you deal with the problem. It will make the problem worse.
What to Expect When You Go to Court

Going to court can be intimidating. This article will help you understand what happens when you go to court.

It's a good idea to talk to a lawyer if you can. A lawyer can help you understand your options and how to prepare for court. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a lawyer or legal services in your area. If you need to handle your legal matter yourself, you can get information about legal issues here on the Michigan Legal Help website. If you're going to represent yourself in court, you need to know several things. 
How to Find a Case-Type Code

A case-type code is a set of two letters at the end of a court case number. Each code stands for a type of case. A case is started when a complaint or petition is filed in a Michigan court. The court clerk assigns a case number, and at the end of the case number is the case-type code.
Remote Hearings

Many courts are using remote (virtual) hearings for some kinds of court dates. Read this article to learn about how to attend remote court and what to do if you have a remote court date but need to ask for an in-person hearing instead.
How to Fill Out, Serve, and File Court Forms

Michigan Legal Help has tools to fill many kinds of forms but we do not cover all areas. You may have a blank form that you need to fill out on your own. Read this article to learn more about how to fill out a blank court form.

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