Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Macomb County Document Format Requirements
46 rules from official source documents
34 of 46 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.
Font, margin, spacing, and file format requirements for court filings. This page is scoped to Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Macomb County; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
When a referee's recommended order is given interim effect by administrative order, the recommended order must include a notice to the parties under a separate heading.
If the court issues an administrative order that gives interim effect to a referee’s recommended order, the court must notify the parties of its interim effect by including a notice, under separate heading, within the referee’s recommended order.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Electronic signatures must use the form “/s/” followed by the signer’s name.
i. Signatures submitted electronically shall use the following form: /s/ John L. Smith.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Exhibits and attachments included in an e-filing must be clearly designated and identified.
c. Any exhibit or attachment that is part of an e-filing must be clearly designated and identified as an exhibit or attachment.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
E-filings may not contain full Social Security numbers; when a number must be referenced, only the last four digits may appear in the format XXX-XX-1234.
Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 2006-2, full social security numbers shall not be included in e-filings. If an individual’s social security number must be referenced in an e-filing, only the last four digits of that number may be used and the number specified in the following format: XXX-XX-1234.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
Each jury instruction must be placed on a separate sheet.
Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Each proposed jury instruction must appear on a separate sheet.
Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Counsel must label and exchange the proposed exhibits.
Label and exchange proposed exhibits.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
All blank spaces in jury instructions must be completed, one alternative must be selected when applicable, unused alternatives must be deleted, and each instruction must appear on a separate sheet.
All blank spaces must be completed and if there are any alternatives in the instructions, one must be selected, and the unused option(s) deleted. Each instruction must be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
The parties must provide a joint succinct statement explaining what the case is about, limited to one paragraph.
Joint succinct statement as to what the case is about, not to exceed one paragraph.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
Proposed exhibits must be marked before trial.
Have proposed exhibits marked prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
A joint succinct statement explaining what the case is about must not exceed one paragraph.
Joint succinct statement as-to what the case is about, not to exceed one paragraph.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
Have proposed exhibits marked by the court reporter.
Have proposed exhibits marked by the court reporter.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL
For jury trials, counsel should provide completed, typed instructions and a proposed verdict form, with all blanks completed, one alternative selected, unused alternatives deleted, and each instruction on a separate sheet.
For jury trials, to the extent possible, have completed, typed jury instructions, including a proposed jury verdict form for the Court and all counsel (not just by jury instruction number). All blank spaces must be completed and if there are any alternatives in the instructions, one must be selected and the unused option(s) deleted. Each instruction must be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
The interim-effect notice must appear within the referee’s recommended order under a separate heading.
the court must notify the parties of its interim effect by including a notice, under separate heading, within the referee’s recommended order.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
The interim-effect notice should be printed in boldface type at 12 points or larger.
The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Photocopies of completed SJIs may be accepted at the trial judge's discretion if all blanks are completed and alternatives selected, and each instruction must be on a separate sheet.
At the discretion of the trial Judge, photocopies of completed SJI's are acceptable provided that blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen. Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
At the trial judge’s discretion, photocopies of completed standard jury instructions are acceptable if all blanks are completed and alternatives are selected.
At the discretion of the trial Judge, photocopies of completed SJI’s are acceptable provided that the blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Proposed trial exhibits should be pre-stickered and remain unmarked.
As this is a video courtroom, please have the proposed exhibits pre-stickered and unmarked.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Proposed exhibits must be marked with exhibit stickers and must not be numbered.
Mark proposed exhibits with exhibit stickers (do not number the exhibits).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Each proposed jury instruction must be placed on a separate sheet.
Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Electronically filed motions in limine must be numbered.
E-filed motions in limine must be numbered.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Electronically filed exhibits must be appropriately tabbed.
E-filed exhibits must be appropriately tabbed.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
At the trial judge's discretion, photocopies of completed SJIs are acceptable if all blanks are completed and alternatives selected, and each instruction must appear on a separate sheet.
At the discretion of the trial Judge, photocopies of completed SJI's are acceptable provided that blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen. Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
The parties must provide a joint statement succinctly describing the case and limiting it to no more than one paragraph.
Joint succinct statement as to what the case is about, not to exceed one paragraph.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Photocopied M Civ JI and CJ12d instructions are acceptable only if all blanks are completed and alternatives are selected.
Photocopies of completed M Civ JI’s and CJ12d’s are acceptable provided that blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Each jury instruction must appear on a separate sheet.
Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Proposed trial exhibits should be pre-stickered and remain unmarked for use in the video courtroom.
As this is a video courtroom, please have the proposed exhibits pre-stickered and unmarked.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
The joint statement describing what the case is about must not exceed one paragraph.
a joint succinct statement as to what the case is about, not to exceed one paragraph
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Proposed exhibits must be marked with exhibit stickers and must not be numbered.
Mark proposed exhibits with exhibit stickers (do not number the exhibits).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Each jury instruction must be placed on a separate sheet.
Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Jury instructions
Each jury instruction must be placed on a separate sheet.
Each instruction shall be on separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Exhibits
Proposed exhibits must be pre-stickered and remain unmarked for the video courtroom.
As this is a video courtroom, please have the proposed exhibits pre-stickered and unmarked.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
At the trial judge's discretion, photocopies of completed standard jury instructions are acceptable if blanks are completed and alternatives selected; each instruction must be on a separate sheet.
At the discretion of the trial Judge, photocopies of completed SJI's are acceptable provided that blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen. Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO
Civil cases
At the trial judge’s discretion, photocopied Standard Jury Instructions are acceptable if all blanks are completed and the applicable alternatives are selected.
At the discretion of the trial judge, photocopies of SJI's are acceptable provided that blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
If the court issues an administrative order that gives interim effect to a referee’s recommended order, the court must notify the parties of its interim effect by including a notice, under separate heading, within the referee’s recommended order. The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: When an administrative order gives interim effect to a referee’s recommended order, the recommended order must include a notice under a separate heading, printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
If the court issues an administrative order that gives interim effect to a referee's recommended order, the court must notify the parties of its interim effect by including a notice, under separate heading, within the referee's recommended order. The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: A referee's recommended order must include notice of the interim effect under a separate heading, and the notice should be printed in boldface type at 12 points or larger.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
If the court issues an administrative order that gives interim effect to a referee's recommended order, the court must notify the parties of its interim effect by including a notice, under separate heading, within the referee's recommended order. The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: When an administrative order gives interim effect to a referee's recommended order, the court must include notice to the parties under a separate heading in the recommended order, printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Have proposed exhibits marked.
Summary: Proposed exhibits must be marked before trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
If a jury trial, to the extent possible, have completed, typed jury instructions, including a proposed jury verdict form for the Court and all counsel (not just by jury instruction number). Simply providing jury instruction numbers is not permitted. Photocopies of completed M Civ JI’s and CJ12d’s are acceptable provided that blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen. Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Summary: For a jury trial, counsel should provide completed typed instructions and a proposed verdict form, with each instruction on a separate sheet and no blank spaces or unresolved alternatives.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: The notice notifying the parties of interim effect should be printed in boldface type at 12 points or larger.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: The interim-effect notice should use boldface type sized at least 12 points.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: The notice of interim effect must be printed in boldface type at 12 points or larger.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: The notice of interim effect should be printed in boldface type at 12 points or larger.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.
Summary: The interim-effect notice should be printed in boldface type at 12 points or larger.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
Whenever practicable, copies shall be furnished to the Court and opposing counsel and for jurors for use during the trial.
Summary: When practicable, copies of proposed exhibits should be furnished to the court, opposing counsel, and jurors for use during trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
Provide a joint succinct statement as to what the case is about, not to exceed one paragraph and a joint list of witnesses to be called at trial.
Summary: Counsel must provide a joint case summary no longer than one paragraph and a joint list of trial witnesses.
What formatting rules apply to filings in Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Macomb County?
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Macomb County's formatting rule includes full social security numbers must not be included in e-filings. if a social security number must be referenced, only the last four digits may be used, in the format xxx-xx-1234.. E-filings may not contain full Social Security numbers; when a number must be referenced, only the last four digits may appear in the format XXX-XX-1234.
Judge Matthew P. Sabaugh's formatting rule includes exhibits must be appropriately tabbed.. Electronically filed exhibits must be appropriately tabbed.
Judge Joseph Toia's formatting rule includes single spacing, instructions must be completed and typed., the submission must include the full text of the instructions rather than only jury-instruction numbers., photocopies are acceptable only if all blank spaces are completed and all alternatives are selected., and each instruction must appear on a separate sheet.. Machine summary, not yet verified; check the linked order.
6 more rules answer this question in the list above.
Related categories
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Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge.
Courtesy Copy Requirements
When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting.
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.