Starting January 1, 2024, indigent individuals will no longer have to pay the cost for any ordered newspaper publication in Michigan name change matters.

Thanks to today’s amendment of MCR 3.613 by the Michigan Supreme Court, the local court will have to pay any newspaper publication cost if the court has otherwise waived fees under MCR 2.002.

I especially appreciated seeing the Court’s order incorporate the suggestion from my earlier written comment (to clarify whether the companion affidavit fee that Michigan publishers can charge is included).

The Supreme Court’s important clarification will prevent future confusion at the local level about whether a litigant could still be responsible for the affidavit fee related to publication (they won’t).

Even though it’s impossible to measure, contributing in ways that prevent future process problems or litigant frustration is one of the most meaningful parts of court administration work.

Today’s order is a reminder of how that can be. Good stuff.