• Be sure that you have brought your claim against the proper party and know the party's correct address
• Be sure that you are starting your case in the correct District Court (venue)
• Prepare a carbon pack "Summons and Complaint" - 2 part form Summons and Complaint - page one - MC 01 and Summons and Complaint - page two - MC 01a or 4 copies of each form - forms can be obtained at any District Court or from the General Civil Forms section below. File case according to MiFILE procedure (see MiFILE/eFiling Information section).
• Pay a filing fee (the filing fee can be paid by check, money order, cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover on MiFILE). Checks should be made payable to the 52-4 District Court.
• Decide how you would like the defendant served (sheriff, deputy sheriff, bailiff, appointed court officer, attorney for a party, legally competent adult who is not a party or an officer of a corporate party or by certified mail). For electronic service options, please got to www.gouranger.com.

Below is a list of the commonly used General Civil Forms by the 52nd District Court, 4th Division - Civil Division:

Note: When printing documents, be sure to print all pages in the PDF, every page is needed. Please bring five (5) copies of each form with you when filing.

• 52-4 Contact Information - MC505
• Answer, Civil - MC 03
• Summons and Complaint - MC 01
• Summons and Complaint - second page - MC 01a
• Motion for Second Summons - MC 01b
• Default Request, Affidavit and Entry - MC 07
• Default Request, Affidavit, Entry and Judgment (Sum Certain) - MC 07a
• Voluntary Dismissal - MC 09
• Judgment, Civil - MC 10
• Subpoena, Order to Appear and/or Produce - MC 11
• Motion and Order for Installment Payments/To Amend Order for Installment Payments - MC 15
• Motion to Set Aside Order for Installment Payments - MC 16
• Order on Motion to Set Aside Order for Installment Payments - MC 16a
• Certificate of Satisfied Judgment - MC 17
• Request and Order to Seize Property - MC 19
• Order for Administrative Closing Due to Bankruptcy - MC 300
• Motion and Verification for Alternate Service - MC 303
• Order Regarding Alternate Service - MC 304
• Order for Adjournment - MC 309
• Order - MC 327
• Affidavit and Notice of Entry of Foreign Judgment - MC 62
• Notice of Judgment Lien - MC 94

Additional General Civil Forms can be found at the Michigan Courts website.

All fees must be paid by check, money order, or cash.

• $35.00: Claim is $600.00 and under
• $55.00: Claim is $600.01 - $1,750.00
• $75.00: Claim is $1,750.01 - $10,000.00
• $160.00: Claim is $10,000.01 - $25,000.00
• $75.00: Claim and Delivery (no Money Judgment)
• $75.00 + Civil Fee above: Supplement Fee for Money Judgment on Claim and Delivery

Checks made payable to our Ct. Officer, Tim Sutherland

• If the Defendant lives in Troy or Clawson: $34 per Defendant
• If the Defendant lives anywhere else in Oakland, Macomb, or Wayne counties: $50 per Defendant. For electronic service options, please got to www.gouranger.com. 

It is notification that you are being sued.

You have 21 days after receiving the summons to file an answer with the court and serve a copy on the other party or to take other lawful action (28 days if you were served by mail or you were served outside this state).

If you do not answer or take other action within the time allowed, a judgment may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

If you don't dispute the claim, you could possibly work with the plaintiff's attorney to enter a Consent Judgment.  A Consent Judgment is one that is agreeable to both parties.

If a Consent Judgment is not possible, an answer should be filed at the court and a pretrial conference will be scheduled.