filing a lawsuit

Filing a lawsuit (often called a plaintiff’s petition or complaint) generally requires the plaintiff to file a document (often electronically) in the general form required by the rules of procedure in the applicable state or federal court system, and to pay a filing fee. The petition or complaint must give the defendant (person or entity being sued) reasonable notice of the legal claims asserted and the factual basis for those claims.

In Michigan, initiating a lawsuit involves the plaintiff filing a complaint with the appropriate court. The complaint must adhere to the Michigan Court Rules, which dictate the required format and content. The plaintiff must also pay a filing fee, which varies depending on the court and the type of case. The complaint must provide the defendant with sufficient notice of the claims and the factual basis for those claims, allowing the defendant to understand the nature of the lawsuit and to prepare a defense. The complaint is typically filed electronically through the Michigan State Court Administrative Office's MiFILE system. Once filed, the plaintiff is responsible for serving the complaint on the defendant, which must be done in accordance with the rules for service of process to ensure the defendant is properly notified of the legal action.

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Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Michigan State Code

Michigan State Code

Civil litigation

filing a lawsuit

Articles