Process Serving in Michigan

Michigan civil cases are heard in trial courts that include the circuit, district, and probate courts. The circuit court is the trial court with the broadest powers; district courts handle civil matters within their jurisdiction. The Michigan Court Rules set the procedures for serving process, including who may serve and how different defendants are served.

Court Runner USA connects you with process servers who serve papers across Michigan.

General information, not legal advice. Last checked October 2026.

Sources:

• Michigan Courts — Trial courts
• Michigan Court Rules (updated September 2, 2026)

Michigan’s general rule allows process to be served by any legally competent adult who is not a party to the case and is not an officer of a corporate party (MCR 2.103(A); MCL 600.1908). The statute describes the person as one of suitable age and discretion.

A sheriff or deputy sheriff may serve process, and a court officer serving process must be appointed as the court rules require. Some situations have added requirements: for example, service on a person in a governmental institution, hospital, or home covered by the statute must be made by the person in charge or a staff member.

MCL 600.1908 was amended by 2023 PA 35, effective February 13, 2024.

Sources:

• Michigan Court Rules, MCR 2.103

For an individual, the summons and complaint may generally be delivered personally, or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with delivery restricted to the addressee (MCR 2.105(A)).

The rule has separate procedures for businesses: a corporation may be served through specified officers or its resident agent, and an LLC through its managing member, non-member manager, or resident agent, among other prescribed methods (MCR 2.105(D), (H)). A resident agent is the person a company appoints to receive documents, notices, or demands served on it.

When service cannot reasonably be made by the ordinary methods, a court may authorize another method; posting or publication is available when ordered under the rules (MCR 2.105(J), 2.106). Subpoenas are governed by separate court rules, including MCR 2.305 and 2.506.

Sources:

• Michigan Court Rules, MCR 2.105–2.106

A Michigan summons generally expires 91 days after it is issued. On a showing of due diligence, the court may order a second summons for a set period of up to one year; a defendant not served before the summons expires may be dismissed without prejudice (MCR 2.102(D)-(E)).

For a complaint served personally in Michigan, the ordinary response period is 21 days. For a complaint served outside Michigan or by registered mail, it is 28 days; court-ordered posting or publication must allow at least 28 days after service is complete (MCR 2.108(A)).

The Michigan summons form tells the process server to file proof of service with the court clerk before the summons expires. Failure to file proof does not by itself affect the validity of service (MCR 2.104(B)).

Sources:

• Michigan Court Rules, MCR 2.102, 2.104 and 2.108

Michigan law bars serving civil process on an eligible voter on election day, unless a judge authorizes it for sufficient cause shown by affidavit. It also bars service on a person attending a worship meeting of a qualifying tax-exempt religious organization on the organization’s property, or going to or coming from the meeting within 500 feet; a judge may authorize service for sufficient cause shown by affidavit (MCL 600.1831).

The Michigan Judicial Institute also identifies privileges from civil process for people attending or returning from court proceedings when their attendance is needed, people returned to Michigan by extradition in certain related civil actions, and legislators on a scheduled meeting day, subject to the statute’s terms (MCL 600.1835).

A process server must also meet the eligibility limits: the server cannot be a party or an officer of a corporate party (MCR 2.103(A); MCL 600.1908).

Sources:

• Michigan Court Rules, MCR 2.103

Proof may be a dated, signed written acknowledgment from the person served or an authorized recipient. For in-state service by a sheriff, deputy sheriff, bailiff, appointed court officer, or an attorney for a party, the rules allow a certificate stating the facts of service. For any other server, the proof is a written statement verified under the rules; it must state the manner, time, date, and place of service and describe the location (MCR 2.104(A)). The statute likewise calls for an acknowledgment, an officer’s certificate in specified cases, or a signed and dated statement verified under penalty of perjury (MCL 600.1910).

The standard Michigan summons form asks for the name of the person served, the date and time, the place or address, and attachments, and directs the server to file proof with the court clerk before the summons expires. A failure to file proof does not itself invalidate service, though the rules address proof when a party asks to set aside a dismissal (MCR 2.102(F), 2.104(B)).

Sources:

• Michigan Court Rules, MCR 2.102 and 2.104