TrueFiling Training Videos
Numerous instructional videos on different aspects of TrueFiling are available for viewing. Click on the icon below to access the videos on the TrueFiling YouTube page:
E-Filing System Enhancements and New Fees
Beginning on March 1, 2016, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals will collect the $25 electronic filing system fee required by MCL 600.1986, in addition to the $375 filing fee, for civil actions that are commenced in those Courts. This fee does not apply to civil appeals, only original actions, and is charged regardless whether the case is initiated electronically through TrueFiling or through the filing of paper copies. Governmental entities and those parties entitled to a fee waiver are exempt from paying the fee.
Starting July 1, 2016, filers who pay fees by credit card when submitting their documents electronically through TrueFiling are charged a non-refundable automated payment service (APS) fee, as authorized by MCL 600.1986. The APS fee is 3% of the total amount of the filing fees.
The assessment of the e-filing system fee and the automated payment service fee (when implemented) will be clearly identified on the payment screen before you submit your bundle to TrueFiling so you will know the total amount being charged for the transaction.
In addition, the Courts are pleased to announce the following technical enhancements to TrueFiling that will be implemented on or soon after March 1, 2016:
- The allowable file size for individual documents uploaded to TrueFiling will increase from 10 MB to 25 MB.
- Electronic documents will be time-stamped upon their receipt by TrueFiling which will allow the email notifications of the filing to include links to the time-stamped version of the document. Similarly, documents accessed through TrueFiling's My Recent Activity and History pages will be time-stamped versions.
- When either Court accepts an e-filed document, the resulting email notification will reflect that the Court “has accepted your document filed into Case
No. xxxxxx.” Further, the status in TrueFiling will indicate that it has been "Filed," as opposed to "Tentatively Filed." Note, however, that "Filed" status in TrueFiling after acceptance by the Court does not necessarily mean the filing satisfies jurisdictional requirements or complies with the court rules. If there are problems with the filing, a staff person from the Court will contact the filer directly.
These enhancements to TrueFiling are being made in response to feedback from filers who completed the e-filing survey last summer. Additional enhancements will be implemented in the near future to make TrueFiling more streamlined and easier to use.
E-Filing & E-Service with TrueFiling
Under the authority of Administrative Order 2014-23, the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are pleased to offer TrueFiling, an electronic filing and service system developed by ImageSoft, Inc., of Southfield, Michigan, for initiating new cases or filing into existing cases in both courts. TrueFiling is a web-based system that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for e-filing in all case types. Use of TrueFiling is voluntary but we believe that it will greatly benefit all filers (attorneys, law firm staff, and self-represented litigants) because it is convenient, simple to use, and cost efficient. Filings received by TrueFiling by 11:59:59 p.m. ET on a business day are docketed by the courts as being filed on that day.
Through TrueFiling, users can:
- initiate an appeal or original action
- file motions, briefs, and other materials in existing cases
- electronically serve filings on opposing attorneys who are registered TrueFiling users
- make fee payments or request fee waivers
To become a registered
user, a firm administrator must visit the TrueFiling site and click "Sign Up" in the upper right corner. After creating a TrueFiling firm site, the administrator may then add attorneys and contacts as log-in users of the firm. Those attorneys and contacts must complete the registration process by responding to an auto-generated email message.
To initiate a new case or file
into an existing case, users create a “bundle” (an electronic envelope), upload
the necessary filings and supporting materials to the bundle, select the manner
of service, choose the appropriate payment method or fee waiver option, and
submit the bundle to TrueFiling. TrueFiling
applies a time stamp to the filings, generates a proof of service, and
transmits the electronic documents to the courts where they are reviewed,
accepted or rejected, and docketed in the courts’ case management systems. TrueFiling also sends various e-mail
notifications about the filing(s) to the filer and e-service recipients.
To help users understand how
to register, log on, and navigate TrueFiling, the courts and ImageSoft
have prepared several QuickStart Guides and User Manuals. The QuickStart Guides are succinct,
step-by-step instructions for quickly navigating the registration and e-filing processes. The User Manuals provide more detailed
instructions, with relevant screen shots, for users who might need fuller explanations of various aspects of TrueFiling.
"How To" Guides
Click on an icon below to open the corresponding "How To" Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Courts have prepared a list of TrueFiling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that address many common questions related to the basic use of the system, e-filing documents, e-service, fees, and firm administration.
Quick
Start Guide
Click the icon below to open a QuickStart Guide created by ImageSoft that outlines the entire e-filing process, from registration to e-filing. The QuickStart Guide can be printed on both sides of a single sheet of paper and folded into a convenient trifold pamphlet.
User Manuals
Click on an icon below to open the corresponding User Manual.
