These instructions apply to all persons participating in the collaborative law process in Wayne County. All filings shall be made pursuant to the general instructions found on the Family Domestic/FOC Filing Instructions Page at the Third Circuit Court Website. Please note that Options 1-3 MUST be completed by a collaborative law attorney pursuant to MCR 3.222, while Option 4 may be completed by either a pro se litigant or an attorney under MCR 3.223.

Instructions

• File a Joint Motion and Order to Stay Proceedings [SCAO Form CCFD 22] into the existing case.
• When the parties have concluded the collaborative law process, the attorneys shall:
  • Complete and file Status Report/Notice (Collaborative Law Process) [SCAO Form CCFD 23] within 364 days of filing the Joint Motion and Order to Stay Proceedings, and check box that states “concluded”; AND
  • File a proposed final judgment/order to request for entry
    • If no proposed final judgment/order has been filed within 182 days of filing the Joint Motion and Order to Stay Proceedings, you MUST file a Status Report [SCAO Form CCFD 23]. IF THE STATUS REPORT IS NOT TIMELY FILED, YOUR CASE MAY BE DISMISSED.
    • If the Status Report is timely filed, but no proposed final judgment/order has been filed within 364 days of filing the Joint Motion and Order to Stay Proceedings, you MUST file a Motion to Extend the Stay or a consent judgment/order. IF THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE STAY IS NOT FILED, YOUR CASE MAY BE DISMISSED.

• Pay the necessary fees and file the following to submit to the Court’s jurisdiction:
  • A Petition for Collaborative Law Process Form [SCAO Form CCFD 24] using the proper domestic relations case type of DC (Custody), DO (Divorce without children), DP (Paternity), DS (Child Support), or DZ (Other);
    • Check box #8 on Petition to declare intent to file proposed final judgment or order
  • A Domestic Violence Screening Form [SCAO Form MC 282a] for each party;
  • A Verified Statement [FOC Form 23]
  • A Judgment Information Form [FOC Form 100]
  • Confidential Case Inventory Form [SCAO Form MC 21]; AND
  • A Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act Affidavit [SCAO Form MC 416].
• Once you have filed all the required forms and have paid the necessary fees, the Court will schedule a hearing date for the Petition and send you a Notice of Request to Enter Consent Judgment [SCAO Form CCFD 26]. You will be notified of the hearing date by mail.
• When the parties have concluded the collaborative law process, the parties or attorneys shall:
  • File a proposed final judgment/order to request for entry
    • If no proposed final judgment/order has been filed within 182 days of filing the Joint Motion and Order to Stay Proceedings, you MUST file a Status Report [SCAO Form CCFD 23]. IF THE STATUS REPORT IS NOT TIMELY FILED, YOUR CASE MAY BE DISMISSED.
    • If the Status Report is timely filed, but no proposed final judgment/order has been filed within 364 days of filing the Joint Motion and Order to Stay Proceedings, you MUST file a Motion to Extend the Stay or a consent judgment/order. IF THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE STAY IS NOT FILED, YOUR CASE MAY BE DISMISSED.

• Pay the necessary fees and file the following to submit to the Court’s jurisdiction:
  • A Petition for Collaborative Law Process Form [SCAO Form CCFD 24] using the proper domestic relations case type of DC (Custody), DO (Divorce without children), DP (Paternity), DS (Child Support), or DZ (Other);
    • Check box # 9 on Petition to request the Court to enter the proposed final judgment or order.
  • The Proposed Consent Judgment of Divorce;
  • A Domestic Violence Screening Form [SCAO Form MC 282a] for each party;
  • A Verified Statement [FOC Form 23];
  • A Judgment Information Form [FOC Form 100];
  • Confidential Case Inventory Form [SCAO Form MC 21]; AND
  • A Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act Affidavit [SCAO Form MC 416].
• Complete proper service by serving a copy of the proposed consent judgment of divorce, within 7 days after it has been signed, on all other parties, and file proof of service with the court clerk.
• Once you have filed all the required forms, paid the necessary fees, and properly served the proposed consent judgment of divorce, the Court will schedule a hearing date for the Petition and send you a Notice of Request to Enter Consent Judgment [SCAO Form CCFD 26]. You will be notified of the hearing date by mail.

• Pay the necessary fees and file the following:
  • A Petition for Consent Judgment [SCAO Form CCFD 25] using the proper domestic relations case type of DC (Custody), DO (Divorce without children), DP (Paternity), DS (Child Support), or DZ (Other);
  • The Proposed Consent Judgment/Order signed by both parties;
  • A Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act Affidavit [SCAO Form MC 416];
  • A Verified Statement [FOC Form 23];
  • A Judgment Information Form [FOC Form 100];
  • Confidential Case Inventory Form [SCAO Form MC 21]; AND
  • A Domestic Violence Screening Form for each party [SCAO Form MC 282a].
• Once the parties or attorneys have filed all the required forms and have paid the necessary fees, the Court will schedule a hearing date for the Petition and send a Notice of Request to Enter Consent Judgment [SCAO Form CCFD 26]. The parties and attorneys, if any, will be notified of the hearing date by mail. FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING MAY RESULT IN THE CASE BEING DISMISSED.

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