Michigan Court of Appeals E-Filing and Service

Project Summary

In partnership with Tyler Technologies, Inc. (Tyler), the Michigan Court of Appeals presently offers electronic case initiation, filing, and service of pleadings on a voluntary basis for all cases types.

Through the Odyssey File & Serve system, users can initiate an appeal, file all pleadings and forms with an electronic cover sheet that includes a proof of service, and electronically serve all filings on opposing parties. Fee payment may also be made through this system. If you represent a party and are interested in electronically filing in an existing case or initiating a new case, we encourage you to register for the Odyssey File & Serve system.

Court E-Filing & Service Guidelines

Court of Appeals E-Filing & Service Guidelines have been developed for use in electronic filing. The Guidelines are important because they provide guidance in how users can ensure that their filings meet the technical requirements of the system while also conforming to the requirements of the Michigan Court Rules. The Guidelines are subject to change as circumstances require.

Pursuant to an August 27, 2010 notice, participants of the Odyssey File & Serve system are required to provide approved e-mail addresses at which electronic filings can be electronically served. Participants may provide either (1) a central e-mail address for all attorneys in their office, or (2) individual e-mail addresses for each attorney. Use the Registration Confirmation form or the Update E-Service/Listserv form to provide this information. Regardless which method is used, the provision of an approved e-mail address indicates agreement that all electronic filings can be electronically served on the named attorney(s) at the stated addresses without their prior case-specific agreement. Provided e-mail addresses will be included on the List of Approved E-mail Addresses for E-Service that is accessible on the Court of Appeals website or through the Odyssey File & Serve site.

Beyond filing guidelines, filers may also benefit from periodically checking the E-Filing Best Practices page for information on creating more functional PDF documents, learning more about PDF use by the legal community, and the like.

The Process

• Attorneys will prepare required forms, pleadings, and other filings as detailed in the Court Rules. Attorneys’ existing document templates and forms may be used. Before filing, all documents must be converted by the filer to PDF format. While appendices and other non-original filings may be scanned and need not be searchable, the Court very strongly prefers to receive original appellate pleadings in searchable PDF.
• Existing printable Court forms have been reproduced in a specially designated e-filing format that permits typed signatures so that the forms can be saved in PDF (using either of the PDF creation tools mentioned above) and do not need to be printed, signed, and scanned.
• Once all filings are compiled in PDF format in the user’s personal work directory, the user should proceed to the Odyssey File & Serve site to submit a filing transaction.

Contacts

If you forget your Firm ID, Username or Password, please contact your Firm Administrator.

For technical support, contact Tyler at 800.297.5377 or efiling.support@tylertech.com.

For non-technical information or questions regarding the E-Filing project, contact the Lansing Clerk's Office at 517.373.0786 or COAEfileSupport@courts.mi.gov