Statewide Michigan coordination
Michigan serves process through sheriffs, appointed process servers and, where allowed, certified mail. The distinction between district and circuit court changes the paperwork.
Assignment basics
Nothing here guarantees a service outcome; results depend on the defendant, the address, and the court's requirements.
Jurisdiction
Michigan sets who may serve, how process is delivered, and what the return has to show. The venue named in the filing decides how that record is read.
Who may serve. MCR 2.105 authorizes service by a sheriff, a deputy, or a process server appointed by the court, and permits service by certified mail in defined circumstances. Appointment is verified for the court where the case is filed.
Method. Personal delivery, or delivery at the defendant’s dwelling to a resident of suitable age and discretion. Mailing or acknowledgment of service is used where the rule provides for it.
Proof. The server files proof of service describing the manner and the recipient. Michigan courts also examine whether a mailing completed the method chosen.
District and circuit differ
A district court small claims filing and a circuit court complaint do not carry the same service mechanics. The court is identified first.Execution
One protocol, adjusted for the court, the address type and the defendant.
Case details, defendant information, service address, and documents are captured in one request.
The assignment is matched to the venue, county, and precinct responsible for that address.
Each attempt is recorded: date, time, address description, access conditions, and contact outcome.
Where personal service fails, substitute service or a diligence record for alternative service is prepared.
When service is completed, a signed, sworn affidavit of service documents the applicable recipient, date, time, location and method of service. When service is unsuccessful, a signed, sworn affidavit of non-service or due diligence documents the attempts, circumstances, findings and unsuccessful outcome. Both are executed under penalty of perjury and prepared in accordance with the applicable jurisdiction's execution and filing requirements.
Coverage
Dedicated local pages exist for the largest Michigan markets. Every other county is coordinated through the statewide desk and confirmed at intake.
Counties and metros
Courts and documents
Local logistics
Geography, building access, and court practice decide how an attempt is planned.
Metro Detroit carries the state’s volume, with vacancy and address churn that reward verification before dispatch.
West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula run on longer travel legs and smaller court staffs.
Documents
Each category is handled with the method the governing rule allows.
Service options
Standard, rush, or emergency coordination — same documentation standard.
Documented multi-attempt service with a filing-ready affidavit.
Priority dispatch and accelerated attempt scheduling.
Immediate coordination for time-critical court deadlines.
Dispatch timing does not guarantee completion. Completion depends on defendant access, address conditions, and the requirements of the issuing court. How pricing is determined
Education
Nationwide
Michigan
Send the county, the service address and the documents. The venue and the permitted method are confirmed before the first attempt.
Intake is open 24/7. Requests are reviewed in the order received; urgent deadlines should be flagged by phone.