Michigan Small Claims Court Online Filing: How to Use MiFILE

Michigan has been rolling out electronic filing through MiFILE, its statewide e-filing portal powered by TrueFiling. For small claims filers, MiFILE means you can submit Form DC 84 and pay your filing fee from a computer instead of driving to the courthouse. But there's a catch — not every district court accepts electronic small claims filings yet.

How MiFILE Works

MiFILE is Michigan's centralized electronic filing system. To use it for a small claims case:

1. Create an account at the MiFILE portal
2. Select the specific district court where your case belongs (venue rules still apply — you must file where the defendant resides, does business, or where the dispute arose)
3. Upload Form DC 84 as a completed PDF
4. Pay the filing fee electronically — total court fees are $30 for claims up to $600, $50 for claims from $600.01 to $1,750, or $70 for claims from $1,750.01 to $7,000, including the $5 electronic filing system fee

The system generates a confirmation when your filing is received. But here's the critical distinction: receiving a filing is not the same as accepting it. The court clerk reviews your submission and can reject it for missing signatures, incomplete forms, or an incorrect fee. If your filing is rejected, the effective date isn't when you uploaded — it's when you resubmit and the clerk accepts it. That matters if you're close to a statute of limitations deadline.

Which Courts Accept MiFILE for Small Claims?

MiFILE adoption varies across Michigan's 100-plus district courts. Urban courts, particularly high-volume ones like Detroit's 36th District Court, tend to have electronic processing in place. Smaller rural courts — the 65B in Gratiot County, for instance — may still handle small claims filings only on paper at the counter.

Before assuming you can file online, check your specific district court's page on the Michigan Courts website or call the clerk's office. Ask two questions:

1. Does this court accept MiFILE filings for Small Claims Division cases?
2. Are there any local administrative requirements beyond the standard SCAO forms?

Some courts that accept MiFILE for general civil cases haven't extended it to their small claims docket. Don't find out the hard way when a deadline is looming.

Requirements to Check Before Filing

Even if your court uses MiFILE, check these requirements before filing:

• Fee waiver requests (Form MC 20) — MCR 2.002 requires courts to provide an entirely electronic process for requesting a fee waiver. Check your court's online instructions for how to submit the form.
• Multiple copies — if filing on paper, submit the original plus copies for the court, each plaintiff, and each defendant.
• Notarization — Form DC 84 requires your signature under oath before a court clerk or notary public. If uploading it to MiFILE, have it notarized before scanning the signed form.

Courts without MiFILE accept filings in person at the clerk's office during business hours or by mail. If mailing, include the original signed form, all required copies, and a check or money order for the filing fee.

Tips for a Smooth Electronic Filing

• Complete and sign Form DC 84 before scanning it as a PDF — upload a clean, legible document
• Double-check that you've selected the correct district court in the MiFILE system
• Save your confirmation receipt — it's your proof of the submission date
• Monitor your MiFILE account for clerk rejection notices, especially if you're filing near a deadline
• Complete payment electronically through the payment options shown in MiFILE

For a complete walkthrough of every step from form completion through service of process and hearing preparation, the Michigan Small Claims Filing Guide covers both electronic and paper filing paths.

See more Michigan guides →