--- name: mi-quality-check description: > Use to QC, review, or validate a Michigan court document before filing. Triggers include "quality check Michigan filing", "is my Michigan motion ready to file", "MCR 1.109 compliance", "pre-filing review Michigan", "QC this Michigan document", "validate this Michigan affidavit". Runs two-pass check: (1) format pass — MCR 1.109 document format and signature, MCR 2.113 caption and pleading form, MCR 2.107 proof of service, line numbering + footer + "Page X of Y", redaction of protected personal info (MCR 1.109(D)); (2) content pass — citations resolvability, affirmative defenses separately stated (MCR 2.111(F)), required-component completeness, attachments, packet consistency. Lighter than `mi-fact-check`; defers evidentiary citations to that skill. version: 0.2.0 --- # Michigan Pre-Filing Quality Check > **NOT LEGAL ADVICE.** This skill detects errors in form and > structural completeness. It does not assess substantive legal > sufficiency. Verify against current Michigan Court Rules and the > filing court's local administrative orders before filing. Use this skill as the **last step** before filing any Michigan court document. Two passes, plus a packet-consistency sweep. ## A note on Michigan format authority Form of pleadings and motions in Michigan is governed statewide by: - **MCR 1.109** — document format (paper size, margins, legibility), signature requirement (MCR 1.109(E)), and protected-personal- identifying-information rules (MCR 1.109(D)) - **MCR 2.113** — form of pleadings, including the caption (MCR 2.113(C)), paragraph and count structure, and adoption by reference - **MCR 2.107** — manner and proof of service Page limits and chambers-copy practice are largely set by **local administrative orders** of the filing circuit/district court. This skill checks the statewide MCR components and **flags page-limit and local-practice items as WARN — confirm with the venue.** ## Pass 1 — Format For a generated filing, run `scripts/format-check.py` first: ``` python3 plugins/mi-court-docs/scripts/format-check.py path/to/filing.docx ``` The format-check script validates the marketplace common-practice defaults (US Letter, conventional margins, 12-point body, double or 1.5x spacing, footer with **document title + "Page X of Y"** pagination) against the MCR 1.109 / MCR 2.113 baseline. Where a value is a local-administrative-order matter, the script emits **WARN** (not FAIL) — resolve those by checking the venue's local rules. Resolve any **FAIL** from the format check before continuing. ### Format pass — non-`.docx` (markdown / text drafts) Verify manually: - **Caption (MCR 2.113(C))** — court and county (e.g., "STATE OF MICHIGAN / IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF WAYNE"), party names with designations, **case number** and assigned judge, and the document title - **Title** — identifying the document (e.g., "MOTION FOR SUMMARY DISPOSITION") - **Numbered paragraphs (MCR 2.113(C)(2))** — sequential, each averment limited to a single set of circumstances; separate counts where required - **Signature block (MCR 1.109(E))** — name, address, telephone, email, and **P-number (State Bar of Michigan attorney number)** if an attorney, or the **"In Pro Per" / "Self-Represented"** designation if not; the MCR 1.109(E) signature certifies the filing - **Proof of Service (MCR 2.107)** — date, manner of service, and each recipient - **Line numbering + footer present** with **"Page X of Y"** (WARN — line numbering is a marketplace convention, not an MCR requirement; confirm the venue does not prohibit it) - **Protected personal identifying information** restricted/redacted per **MCR 1.109(D)** (full SSNs, financial-account numbers, minors' identifying data) — use the separate protected-data form where the rule requires it ## Pass 2 — Content The content check applies the pro-se drafting framework. Citation resolution is delegated to **mi-fact-check**; this pass confirms the component is structurally complete. ### For a motion / brief: - [ ] **Relief stated clearly** in the opening paragraph - [ ] **Rule or statute citation** that grants the relief (e.g., MCR 2.116(C) summary disposition; MCR 2.119 motion practice; MCL § ___) - [ ] **Numbered factual paragraphs** with record cites (affidavit ¶, complaint ¶, exhibit, admission) - [ ] **Application of controlling authority** — case law applied to the facts, not merely strung together (citations verified by `mi-fact-check`) - [ ] **Counter-arguments addressed** - [ ] **Specific conclusion** — what exactly should the court do? - [ ] **Proposed order attached / referenced** per the MCR 2.602 seven-day rule practice - [ ] **Notice of Hearing** prepared and timely served under MCR 2.119(C) (motion and supporting brief served at least 9 days before hearing if served by mail, 7 days if served other than by mail — verify the current rule) ### For an affidavit: - [ ] **Personal-knowledge foundation** in the opening paragraph - [ ] **Numbered factual paragraphs** — facts only, no argument - [ ] **Exhibit references** match the attached exhibits - [ ] **Jurat** — sworn before a notary (a verified statement or declaration is permitted only where the rule or statute allows one — verify) - [ ] **Date and place** of execution - [ ] For a **business-records** affidavit, the custodian / qualified-witness foundation under MRE 803(6) ### For a proposed order: - [ ] **Caption identical** to the underlying motion (MCR 2.113(C)) - [ ] **Findings (if any) separate from the ordering clause** - [ ] **Ordering clause mirrors** the motion's prayer for relief - [ ] **Specific dates / amounts** filled in or bracketed for the judge - [ ] **Judge signature line** at the foot; entry consistent with the MCR 2.602(B) procedure (see `mi-submit-order`) ### For an answer: - [ ] **Each allegation of the complaint addressed** (admit / deny / lack of knowledge — no skipping) per MCR 2.111(C)/(D) - [ ] **Affirmative defenses separately stated** under **MCR 2.111(F)** (statute of limitations, payment, lack of standing, etc.) — defenses not stated may be waived - [ ] **Compulsory counterclaims** stated (MCR 2.203) - [ ] **Timeliness** — answer due **21 days** after personal service (28 days if served by mail or outside Michigan) under MCR 2.108(A) — verify against the proof of service ## Pass 3 — Packet consistency If filing a packet (motion + affidavit + proposed order + proof of service): - [ ] **Same caption** across all documents — court (Circuit / District), county, party names, case number, assigned judge - [ ] **Same document title** referenced in the proof of service and the proposed order - [ ] **Dates align** — proof-of-service date matches the signature date on the motion; affidavit jurat date is consistent - [ ] **Relief sought matches** between motion prayer and proposed order ordering clause (item by item) - [ ] **All referenced exhibits** attached ## Pre-flight checklist | Check | Done | |-------|------| | `scripts/format-check.py` run; no FAIL (WARN items confirmed against local rules) | ☐ | | Caption shows correct court, county, party names, case number, judge (MCR 2.113(C)) | ☐ | | Numbered paragraphs sequential (MCR 2.113(C)(2)) | ☐ | | Signature block has P-number (attorney) or "In Pro Per" designation (MCR 1.109(E)) | ☐ | | Proof of Service shows manner, date, recipients (MCR 2.107) | ☐ | | Protected personal identifying information restricted/redacted (MCR 1.109(D)) | ☐ | | Footer carries document title + "Page X of Y" | ☐ | | Affirmative defenses separately stated (MCR 2.111(F)) | ☐ | | Proposed Order drafted as a separate document | ☐ | | Notice of Hearing prepared; MCR 2.119(C) service window met | ☐ | | Local-rule page limit / chambers-copy practice confirmed for the venue | ☐ | | `mi-fact-check` deep audit run (if high-stakes filing) | ☐ | ## Common Michigan pre-filing failures 1. **Missing P-number or in-pro-per designation** in the MCR 1.109(E) signature block. 2. **Affirmative defenses not separately stated** — MCR 2.111(F) requires defenses be set forth; omitted defenses can be waived. 3. **Motion served too late.** MCR 2.119(C) sets the service window ahead of the hearing; a short notice gets the hearing adjourned. 4. **Protected personal identifying information left in the body** rather than restricted per MCR 1.109(D). 5. **Caption missing the case number or assigned judge** required by MCR 2.113(C). 6. **Affidavit not actually sworn** — an un-notarized "affidavit" carries no evidentiary weight unless a verified/declared form is permitted. ## Composition - For the deep evidentiary-citation and sworn-vs-argued review: `mi-fact-check` - For format generation and the MCR 1.109 / 2.113 / 2.107 baseline: `mi-statewide-format` - For drafting each component: `mi-draft-motion`, `mi-draft-declaration`, `mi-draft-order`, `mi-draft-note` - For deadline arithmetic (MCR 1.108 computation; MCR 2.108 response windows): `mi-deadlines` - For court-specific local-rule overlay: `mi-wayne`, `mi-oakland`, `mi-circuit-courts`, `mi-district-courts`, `mi-36th-district` - For the final filing step: `mi-file-packet` ## References - `mi-statewide-format` for the MCR 1.109 / MCR 2.113 / MCR 2.107 baseline and the local-administrative-order page-limit caveat - `mi-law-references` for canonical MCR and MRE text - Always confirm the current local administrative orders of the filing court — this skill checks statewide components and flags local-practice items as WARN.