Rule 5.105 - Manner and Method of Service(A) Manner of Service.(1) Service on an interested person may be by personal service within or without the State of Michigan.(2) Unless another method of service is required by statute, court rule, or special order of a probate court, service may be made:(a) to the current address of an interested person by registered, certified, or ordinary first-class mail, or(b) by electronic service in accordance with MCR 1.109(G)(6)(a). Foreign consul and the Attorney General may be served by mail or by electronic service in accordance with MCR 1.109(G)(6)(a).
(3) An interested person whose address or whereabouts is not known may be served by publication if a declaration of intent to give notice by publication, verified under MCR 1.109(D)(3), is filed with the court. The declaration must set forth facts asserting that the address or whereabouts of the interested person could not be ascertained on diligent inquiry. Except in proceedings seeking a determination of a presumption of death based on absence pursuant to MCL 700.1208(2), after an interested person has once been served by publication, notice is only required on an interested person whose address is known or becomes known during the proceedings.(4) The court, for good cause on ex parte petition, may direct the manner of service if (a) no statute or court rule provides for the manner of service on an interested person, or(b) service cannot otherwise reasonably be made.(B) Method of Service.(1) Personal Service. (a) On an Attorney. Personal service of a document on an attorney must be made by(i) handing it to the attorney personally;(ii) leaving it at the attorney's office with a clerk or with some person in charge or, if no one is in charge or present, by leaving it in some conspicuous place there, or by electronically delivering a facsimile to the attorney's office;(iii) if the office is closed or the attorney has no office, by leaving it at the attorney's usual residence with some person of suitable age and discretion residing there; or(iv) sending the document by registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, and delivery restricted to the addressee; but service is not made for purpose of this subrule until the attorney receives the document.(b) On Other Individuals. Personal service of a document on an individual other than an attorney must be made by (i) handing it to the individual personally;(ii) leaving it at the person's usual residence with some person of suitable age and discretion residing there; or(iii) sending the document by registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, and delivery restricted to the addressee; but service is not made for purpose of this subrule until the individual receives the document.(c) On Persons Other Than Individuals. Service on an interested person other than an individual must be made in the manner provided in MCR 2.105(C)-(G).(2) Mailing. Mailing of a copy under this rule means enclosing it in a sealed envelope with first-class postage fully prepaid, addressed to the person to be served, and depositing the envelope and its contents in the United States mail. Service by mail is complete at the time of mailing.(3) Publication. Service by publication must be made in the manner provided in MCR 5.106.(4) E-mail. Unless otherwise limited or provided by this court rule or MCR 1.109(G)(6)(a)(ii), parties to a civil action or interested persons to a proceeding may agree to service by e-mail in the manner provided in and governed by MCR 2.107(C)(4).(5) Electronic Service. Electronic service of a document shall be made in accordance with MCR 1.109(G)(6)(a) when required.(C) Petitioner, Service Not Required. For service of notice of hearing on a petition, the petitioner, although otherwise an interested person, is presumed to have waived notice and consented to the petition, unless the petition expressly indicates that the petitioner does not waive notice and does not consent to the granting of the requested prayers without a hearing. Although a petitioner or a fiduciary may in fact be an interested person, the petitioner need not indicate, either by written waiver or proof of service, that the petitioner has received a copy of any document required by these rules to be served on interested persons.(D) Service on Persons Under Legal Disability or Otherwise Legally Represented. In a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding, a petition or notice of hearing asking for an order that affects the ward or protected individual must be served on that ward or protected individual if he or she is 14 years of age or older. In all other circumstances, service on an interested person under legal disability or otherwise legally represented must be made on the following: (1) The guardian of an adult, conservator, or guardian ad litem of a minor or other legally incapacitated individual, except with respect to:(a) a petition for commitment or(b) a petition, account, inventory, or report made as the guardian, conservator, or guardian ad litem.(2) The trustee of a trust with respect to a beneficiary of the trust, except that the trustee may not be served on behalf of the beneficiary on petitions, accounts, or reports made by the trustee as trustee or as personal representative of the settlor's estate.(3) The guardian ad litem of any person, including an unascertained or unborn person, except as otherwise provided in subrule (D)(1).(4) A parent of a minor with whom the minor resides, provided the interest of the parent in the outcome of the hearing is not in conflict with the interest of the minor and provided the parent has filed an appearance on behalf of the minor.(5) The attorney for an interested person who has filed a written appearance in the proceeding. If the appearance is in the name of the office of the United States attorney, the counsel for the Veterans' Administration, the Attorney General, the prosecuting attorney, or the county or municipal corporation counsel, by a specifically designated attorney, service must be directed to the attention of the designated attorney at the address stated in the written appearance.(6) The agent of an interested person under an unrevoked power of attorney filed with the court. A power of attorney is deemed unrevoked until written revocation is filed or it is revoked by operation of law. For purposes of service, an emancipated minor without a guardian or conservator is not deemed to be under legal disability.
(E) Service on Beneficiaries of Future Interests. A notice that must be served on unborn or unascertained interested persons not represented by a fiduciary or guardian ad litem is considered served on the unborn or unascertained interested persons if it is served as provided in this subrule.(1) If an interest is limited to persons in being and the same interest is further limited to the happening of a future event to unascertained or unborn persons, notice and documents must be served on the persons to whom the interest is first limited.(2) If an interest is limited to persons whose existence as a class is conditioned on some future event, notice and documents must be served on the persons in being who would comprise the class if the required event had taken place immediately before the time when the documents are served.(3) If a case is not covered by subrule (E)(1) or (2), notice and documents must be served on all known persons whose interests are substantially identical to those of the unascertained or unborn interested persons.Amended August 30, 2018, effective 9/1/2018; amended March 20, 2019, effective 5/1/2019.