Ingham County Circuit Court, Michigan Filing Rules

A party or attorney of record may obtain a hearing date from the assigned judge’s judicial assistant.

Schedule hearings by calling the Judicial Assistant; motions without a hearing scheduled through the Assistant will not be heard.

Contact the Judicial Assistant by phone for general questions or scheduling needs.

If you cannot use video, call the Judicial Assistant before the hearing to determine whether audio-only participation is sufficient.

If a case settles before trial, a pro con hearing may be scheduled by calling the Judicial Assistant.

For Zoom trials, provide pre-marked exhibits and the exhibit list to the other attorneys or litigants and the court three business days before trial.

A party objecting to Zoom must notify all parties and the court, state the specific objection, and do so three business days before the hearing or trial.

The parties must exchange the names of all witnesses at least 14 days before the pre-trial or de novo hearing.

Proposed orders should be submitted separately and not attached as an exhibit.

Zoom hearing exhibits must include an exhibit list.

The moving party must file a motion to request spousal support in a case without minor children.

All exhibits, to include an exhibit list must be pre-marked and provided to the other attorneys or litigants and the court three business days prior to the trial.

A secured hearing time may be cancelled without notice if the motion is not filed and a copy is not sent to the assigned judge's office within the Michigan Rules of Court time limits.

A hearing may be canceled without further notice if the motion and judge’s copy are not provided within the time frames required by the Michigan Court Rules.

The Certificate of Completion is due before the pre-trial date.

The video feature must be used when testimony is being taken.

Zoom exhibits must be pre-marked, with plaintiffs using numbers and defendants using letters.

Jury instructions must be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

A copy of the motion must be sent to the assigned judge's office within the Michigan Rules of Court time limits to avoid possible cancellation of the secured hearing time without notice.

Judge’s copies should be printed double-sided.

Submit pleadings, including proposed orders and judge’s copies, as hard copies to Judge Jamo’s office; the office does not accept them by email.

A Referee hearing may not be adjourned by stipulation unless the specified judge-signed order is in place or a motion shows good cause.

Should the parties believe that this matter will require more time or special handling, the parties shall schedule and notice a scheduling conference within 28 days thereafter.