E-Filing System For Michigan Courts Scheduled For Approval

LANSING (AP) - A statewide e-filing system for Michigan courts is close to being enacted into law.

The Legislature is scheduled to approve bills Tuesday designed to streamline and modernize court functions by ultimately moving away from filing court papers in person and instead encouraging filing online.

The legislation sets additional e-filing fees of up to $25 and deposits the revenue in a new state fund to help counties make upgrades needed to have an e-filing system. Filers will not be required to e-file under the bills.

Supporters say state courts' e-filing capabilities lag far behind the federal courts. Only a few Michigan counties have set up their own independent e-filing systems.

Judges could waive e-filing fees for the indigent. The public could see electronically-filed documents at a courthouse for free.

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