(A) Each separate subject in a judgment or order must be set forth in a separate paragraph that is prefaced by an appropriate heading. (B) A judgment of divorce, separate maintenance, or annulment must include
(1) the insurance provisions required by MCL 552.101; (2) a determination of the rights of the parties in pension, annuity, and retirement benefits, as required by MCL 552.101(3); (3) a determination of the property rights of the parties; and(4) a provision reserving or denying spousal support, if spousal support is not granted; a judgment silent with regard to spousal support reserves it. (C) A judgment or order awarding custody of a minor must provide that
(1) the domicile or residence of the minor may not be moved from Michigan without the approval of the judge who awarded custody or the judge’s successor, (2) the person awarded custody must promptly notify the friend of the court in writing when the minor is moved to another address, and(3) a parent whose custody or parenting time of a child is governed by the order shall not change the legal residence of the child except in compliance with section 11 of the Child Custody Act, MCL 722.31. (D) Uniform Support Orders.
(1) Any provisions regarding child support or spousal support must be prepared on the latest version of the Uniform Support Order approved by the state court administrative office. This order must accompany any judgment or order affecting child support or spousal support, and both documents must be signed by the judge. If only child support or spousal support is ordered, then only the Uniform Support Order must be submitted to the court for entry. The Uniform Support Order shall govern if the terms of the judgment or order conflict with the Uniform Support Order. (2) No judgment or order concerning a minor or a spouse shall be entered unless either:
(a) the final judgment or order incorporates by reference a Uniform Support Order, or (b) the final judgment or order states that no Uniform Support Order is required because support is reserved or spousal support is not ordered. (E) Unless otherwise ordered, all support arrearages owing to the state are preserved upon entry of a final order or judgment. Upon a showing of good cause and notice to the friend of the court, the prosecuting attorney, and other interested parties, the court may waive or reduce such arrearages. (F) Entry of Judgment or Order.
(1) Within 21 days after the court renders an opinion or the settlement agreement is placed on the record, the moving party must submit a judgment, order, or a motion to settle the judgment or order, unless the court has granted an extension. (2) The party submitting the first temporary order awarding child custody, parenting time, or support and the party submitting any final proposed judgment awarding child custody, parenting time, or support must:
(a) serve the friend of the court office and, unless the court orders otherwise, all other parties, with a completed copy of the latest version of the state court administrative office’s Domestic Relations Judgment Information form, and(b) file a proof of service with the court certifying that the Domestic Relations Judgment Information form has been provided to the friend of the court office and, unless the court orders otherwise, to all other parties.(3) If the court modifies the proposed judgment or order before signing it, the party submitting the judgment or order must, within 7 days, submit a new Domestic Relations Judgment Information form to the friend of the court if any of the information previously submitted changes as a result of the modification.(4) Before it signs a judgment or order awarding child support or spousal support, the court must determine that:
(a) the party submitting the judgment or order has certified that the Domestic Relations Judgment Information form in subrule (F)(2) has been submitted to the friend of the court, and(b) pursuant to subrule (D)(2) any judgment or order concerning a minor or a spouse is accompanied by a Uniform Support Order or explains why a Uniform Support Order is unnecessary.(5) Except as otherwise provided in MCR 3.206(C), the Domestic Relations Judgment Information form must be submitted to the friend of the court in addition to the verified statement that is required by MCR 1.3.206(C). (G) Friend of the Court Review.The court may require that the judgment or order be submitted to the friend of the court for review to determine that it contains the provisions required by subrules (C), (D), (E), and (F).(H) Service of Judgment or Order.
(1) When a judgment or order is obtained for temporary or permanent spousal support, child support, or separate maintenance, the prevailing party must immediately deliver one copy to the court clerk. The court clerk must file it with the friend of the court.(2) The party securing entry of a judgment or order that provides for child support or spousal support must serve a copy on the party ordered to pay the support, as provided in MCR 2.602(E)(1), even if that party is in default. (3) The record of divorce and annulment required by MCL 333.2864 must be filed at the time of the filing of the judgment.
Mich. Ct. R. 3.211
Amended effective March 21, 2018; amended August 30, 2018, effective September 1, 2018; amended September 20, 2018, effective April 1, 2019; amended September 18, 2019, effective January 1, 2020; amended March 25, 2021, effective March 24, 2021.
