Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 56 rules apply across Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Oakland County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

E-Filing

All 11

  • MiFILE permits electronic filing for all Circuit Court case types except NC and EM, and strongly encourages e-filing.

  • An FY or FX case must be changed by court order to a valid FC, FH, or FJ case code before using the stated e-filing process.

  • Electronic filing is mandatory for civil cases, both for initiating a new case and filing in an existing case.

Filing Requirements

All 10
  • Applies to
    Document
    Must include
    caption, case number

    The first page must identify the case number, parties, and document title, and any instructions appearing on that page must be removed before MiFILE submission.

  • Applies to
    Judgment of divorce

    The Record of Divorce or Annulment form must be filed before or together with the Judgment of Divorce.

  • Applies to
    Pleading document

    Every pleading or document must bear a wet or scanned ink signature or an electronic signature formatted as “/s/” followed by the filer’s name.

Bundling

All 9

  • Each distinct pleading or document must be saved and uploaded separately rather than combined into one PDF.

  • Distinct documents cannot be combined and filed in a single electronic file.

  • Pages belonging to one document and any attachments to that document must be combined before MiFILE submission rather than uploaded separately.

Formatting

All 7
  • Format
    PDF

    Documents and images should be converted to PDF, scanned at 8.5 by 11 inches, and scanned at about 200 dpi whenever possible.

  • Format
    PDF

    Do not upload smartphone images directly to MiFILE; convert or scan them into a properly sized PDF first.

  • To merge documents, upload all pages, then drag the document to be merged onto the lead document; the combined document will be submitted to the court as one document.

More categories

View all Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Oakland County rules
About Judge Maureen H. Kinsella

Appointed to the Circuit Court on April 27, 2022, by Governor Gretchen Whitmer; Elected November 2024Former private practice attorney 1999 – 2022 Vice President and a member of the Management Committee at Miller & Tischler, PC in Farmington HillsFormer Litigator representing medical service providers and catastrophically injured persons and their families in no-fault insurance mattersFormer Discovery Mediator for the Oakland County Bar AssociationFormer Case Evaluator for the Oakland County Case Evaluation TribunalFormer Executive Committee Member of the Michigan Association of JusticeFormer Board Member of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider CouncilFrequent past lecturer for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and other organizations that focused on updates in law and skill development for litigatorsGraduate of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, 1999Graduate of State University of New York at Buffalo, 1996Judge Kinsella has been a longtime resident of Oakland County where she lives with her husband and their children.Memberships:

Circuit Court Judge, Family Div In person courtroom: 3A Courtroom 3A, Third Floor 248-858-0363 Chambers: 248-858-0363 KinsellaChambers@oaklandcountymi.gov Virtual hearing: Judge Kinsella Zoom (https://miscao-6c.zoom.us/my/maureenkinsella)

Common questions about Judge Maureen H. Kinsella's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Maureen H. Kinsella?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for exhibits. Details: by email. The moving party must email a copy of proposed confidential exhibits to chambers and the staff attorney.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

Does Judge Maureen H. Kinsella require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Maureen H. Kinsella's rules set a pre-motion procedure for custody, parenting time, and support. Custody, parenting-time, and support motions must be referred to the Friend of the Court for a pre-motion conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Maureen H. Kinsella?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. When confidential exhibits exist, the motion must state that they will not be placed in the public court file and will be provided directly to chambers and the responding party.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

What must be included with default judgment filings before Judge Maureen H. Kinsella?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A request for default judgment must comply with MCR 2.603 and MCR 3.210, including filing a separate non-military affidavit.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

How may parties contact Judge Maureen H. Kinsella's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Maureen H. Kinsella's chambers. The rule lists email mcintyrel@oakgov.com. When proposed exhibits are kept out of the public court file, the moving party must email them to chambers and copy the staff attorney.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Non-Emergency Motions on Domestic Cases

How does Judge Maureen H. Kinsella handle sealed or redacted filings?

Judge Maureen H. Kinsella's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Process: file unredacted to chambers. Confidential exhibits are kept out of the public court file and instead provided directly to chambers and the responding party.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Maureen H. Kinsella?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The request must include reason for request. Stipulations and proposed orders requesting an adjournment of scheduling-order dates must state good cause.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

Is electronic filing required before Judge Maureen H. Kinsella?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Trial briefs and exhibits must be submitted electronically in accordance with the scheduling orders.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Maureen H. Kinsella?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. A request for a 21-day return-of-judgment order requires a signed settlement agreement or mediation recording at least 48 hours before the statutory-proof proceeding.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol

What rule applies to service for motion before Judge Maureen H. Kinsella?

Proof of service is required for the covered service rule. When a party lacks e-filing access, a timely separate proof of service must be filed or the motion may be dismissed for improper service.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Protocol
Complete rules summary for Judge Maureen H. Kinsella

A request for a 21-day return-of-judgment order requires a signed settlement agreement or mediation recording at least 48 hours before the statutory-proof proceeding.

After entry of a 21-day ROJOD order, parties must submit signed final documents by noon on the preceding day or appear at the hearing and return-of-judgment date.

Trial briefs and exhibits must be submitted electronically in accordance with the scheduling orders.

A response not received by noon on Monday will not be considered by the Court.

When Monday is a court holiday, a response must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

When confidential exhibits exist, the motion must state that they will not be placed in the public court file and will be provided directly to chambers and the responding party.

Confidential exhibits are kept out of the public court file and instead provided directly to chambers and the responding party.

The moving party must email a copy of proposed confidential exhibits to chambers and the staff attorney.

Custody, parenting-time, and support motions must be referred to the Friend of the Court for a pre-motion conference.

Failure of the moving party to attend the required Friend of the Court pre-motion conference may result in dismissal of the motion.

Stipulations and proposed orders in juvenile matters must be emailed to juvenile legal.

The Court will electronically file the Zoom hearing notice, and recipients must review it upon receipt through the e-filing system.

The required divorce judgment and ancillary documents must be provided at least 48 hours before Zoom statutory proofs.

Stipulations and proposed orders in domestic matters must be filed electronically.

Parties should consult the Zoom notice or order and may contact chambers with questions about their hearing time.

Stipulations and proposed orders requesting an adjournment of scheduling-order dates must state good cause.

A request for default judgment must comply with MCR 2.603 and MCR 3.210, including filing a separate non-military affidavit.

If the Court dismisses an emergency motion filed with a notice of hearing or praecipe, it may dismiss those papers and require the motion to be refiled for a Wednesday motion-call date.

Parties must email chambers a copy of each motion and proposed order and copy the staff attorney to support timely judicial review.

A praecipe is required when a motion is to be addressed by the Court.

Before filing any motion, attorneys must comply with Local Rule 2.119(B) and make reasonable, diligent attempts to obtain opposing counsel's concurrence.

When an opposing party lacks e-filing access, the motion caption must provide an email address for that party.

If the matter remains unresolved and the moving party wants Judge Kinsella to hear it, the party must submit a re-praeceipe and file a re-notice identifying the desired Wednesday.

When a party lacks e-filing access, a timely separate proof of service must be filed or the motion may be dismissed for improper service.

A copy of each motion for reconsideration or summary disposition must also be emailed to the staff attorney.

Motions for reconsideration will ordinarily be decided without oral argument unless the Court directs otherwise.

A motion for summary disposition must include a Notice of Hearing stating that the date and time will be determined by the Court.

An attorney with an unresolved scheduling conflict should contact the Court or seek an adjournment before the scheduled hearing.

Parties needing an interpreter should contact chambers as soon as possible, recognizing that failure to provide at least seven days' notice may result in an adjournment.

Stipulations and proposed orders requesting an adjournment of a Scheduling Order date must state good cause and will be considered by the Court.

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