Rule 7.210 - Record on Appeal(A) Content of Record. Appeals to the Court of Appeals are heard on the original record. (1) Appeal From Court. In an appeal from a lower court, the record consists of the original documents filed in that court or a certified copy, the transcript of any testimony or other proceedings in the case appealed, and the exhibits introduced. In an appeal from probate court in an estate or trust proceeding, an adult or minor guardianship proceeding under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code, or a proceeding under the Mental Health Code, only the order appealed from and those petitions, opinions, and other documents pertaining to it need be included.(2) Appeal From Tribunal or Agency. In an appeal from an administrative tribunal or agency, the record includes all documents, files, pleadings, testimony, and opinions and orders of the tribunal, agency, or officer (or a certified copy), except those summarized or omitted in whole or in part by stipulation of the parties. Testimony not transcribed when the certified record is sent for consideration of an application for leave to appeal, and not omitted by stipulation of the parties, must be filed and sent to the court as promptly as possible.(3) Excluded Evidence. The substance or transcript of excluded evidence offered at a trial and the proceedings at the trial in relation to it must be included as part of the record on appeal.(4) Stipulations. The parties in any appeal to the Court of Appeals may stipulate in writing regarding any matters relevant to the lower court or tribunal or agency record if the stipulation is made a part of the record on appeal and sent to the Court of Appeals.(B) Transcript.(1) Appellant's Duties; Orders; Stipulations.(a) The appellant is responsible for securing the filing of the transcript as provided in this rule. Except in cases governed by MCR 3.993(E) or MCR 6.425(G), or as otherwise provided by Court of Appeals order or the remainder of this subrule, the appellant must order from the court reporter or recorder the full transcript of testimony and other proceedings in the trial court or tribunal. Once an appeal is filed in the Court of Appeals, a party must serve a copy of any request for transcript preparation on opposing counsel and file a copy with the Court of Appeals.(b) In an appeal from probate court in an estate or trust proceeding, an adult or minor guardianship proceeding under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code, or a proceeding under the Mental Health Code, only that portion of the transcript concerning the order appealed from need be filed. The appellee may file additional portions of the transcript.(c) On the appellant's motion, with notice to the appellee, the trial court or tribunal may order that some portion less than the full transcript (or no transcript at all) be included in the record on appeal. The motion must be filed within the time required for filing an appeal, and, if the motion is granted, the appellee may file any portions of the transcript omitted by the appellant. The filing of the motion extends the time for filing the court reporter's or recorder's certificate until seven days after entry of the trial court's or tribunal's order on the motion.(d) The parties may stipulate that some portion less than the full transcript (or none) be filed.(e) The parties may agree on a statement of facts without procuring the transcript and the statement signed by the parties may be filed with the trial court or tribunal clerk and sent as the record of testimony in the action.(2) Transcript Unavailable. When a transcript of the proceedings in the trial court or tribunal cannot be obtained from the court reporter or recorder, the appellant must take the following steps to settle the record and to cause the filing of a certified settled statement of facts to serve as a substitute for the transcript. (a) No later than 56 days after the filing of the available transcripts, or 28 days after the filing of the available transcripts in a child custody case or interlocutory criminal appeal, or, if no transcripts are available, within 14 days after filing the claim of appeal, the appellant must file with the trial court or tribunal clerk, and serve on each appellee, a motion to settle the record and, where reasonably possible, a proposed statement of facts. A proposed statement of facts must concisely set forth the substance of the testimony, or the oral proceedings before the trial court or tribunal if no testimony was taken, in sufficient detail to provide for appellate review.(b) Except as otherwise provided, the appellant must notice the motion to settle the record for hearing before the trial court or tribunal to be held within 21 days of the filing of the motion. If it is not the typical practice of a tribunal to conduct hearings, the motion to settle the record must be filed with the tribunal for consideration by the tribunal within 21 days of the filing of the motion. The motion must be filed and served at least 14 days before the date noticed for hearing or consideration to settle the record. If appellant filed a proposed statement of facts with the motion, appellee must file and serve on the appellant and other appellees an amendment or objection to the proposed statement of facts in the trial court or tribunal at least seven days before the time set for the settlement hearing or consideration. The trial court may adopt and file the appellant's proposed statement of facts as the certified settled statement of facts.(c) The trial court or tribunal must settle any controversy and certify a settled statement of facts as an accurate, fair, and complete statement of the proceedings before it. The certified settled statement of facts must concisely set forth the substance of the testimony, or the oral proceedings before the trial court or tribunal if no testimony was taken, in sufficient detail to provide for appellate review.(d) The appellant must file the settled statement of facts and the certifying order with the trial court or tribunal clerk and Court of Appeals.(3) Duties of Court Reporter or Recorder.(a) Certificate. Within seven days after a transcript is ordered by a party or the court, the court reporter or recorder must file a certificate stating:(i) that the transcript has been ordered, that payment for the transcript has been made or secured, that it will be filed as soon as possible or has already been filed, and the estimated number of pages for each of the proceedings requested;(ii) as to each proceeding requested, whether the court reporter or recorder filing the certificate recorded the proceeding; and if not,(iii) the name and certification number of the court reporter or recorder responsible for the transcript of that proceeding.(b) Time for Filing. The court reporter or recorder must give precedence to transcripts necessary for interlocutory criminal appeals and custody cases. The court reporter or recorder must file the transcript with the trial court or tribunal clerk within(i) 14 days after it is ordered for an application for leave to appeal from an order granting or denying a motion to suppress evidence in a criminal case;(ii) 28 days after it is ordered in an appeal of a criminal conviction based on a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill, or nolo contendere;(iii) 42 days after it is ordered in any other interlocutory criminal appeal or custody case;(iv) 91 days after it is ordered in other cases. The Court of Appeals may extend or shorten these time limits in an appeal pending in the court on motion filed by the court reporter or recorder or a party.
(c) Copies. Additional copies of the transcripts required by the appellant may be ordered from the court reporter or recorder or photocopies may be made of the transcript furnished by the court reporter or recorder.(d) Form of Transcript. The transcript must be filed in one or more volumes stating the title of the action, and prefaced by a table of contents showing the subject matter of the transcript with page references to the significant parts of the trial or proceedings, including the testimony of each witness by name, the arguments of the attorneys, and the jury instructions. The pages of the transcript must be consecutively numbered on the bottom of each page. Transcripts filed with the court must contain only a single transcript page per document page, not multiple pages combined on a single document page.(e) Notice. Immediately after the transcript is filed, the court reporter or recorder must notify the Court of Appeals and all parties that it has been filed and file in the Court of Appeals an affidavit of mailing of notice to the parties.(f) Discipline. A court reporter or recorder failing to comply with the requirements of these rules is subject to disciplinary action by the courts, including punishment for contempt of court, on the court's own initiative or motion of a party.(C) Exhibits. Within 21 days after the claim of appeal is filed, a party possessing any exhibits offered in evidence, whether admitted or not, must file them with the trial court or tribunal clerk, unless by stipulation of the parties or order of the trial court or tribunal they are not to be sent, or copies, summaries, or excerpts are to be sent. Copies of exhibits may be filed in lieu of originals unless the trial court or tribunal orders otherwise. When the record is returned to the trial court or tribunal, the trial court or tribunal clerk must return the exhibits to the parties who filed them.(D) Reproduction of Records. Where facilities for the copying or reproduction of records are available to the clerk of the court or tribunal whose action is to be reviewed, the clerk, on a party's request and on deposit of the estimated cost or security for the cost, must procure for the party as promptly as possible and at the cost to the clerk the requested number of copies of documents, transcripts, and exhibits on file.(E) Record on Motion. If, before the time the complete record on appeal is sent to the Court of Appeals, a party files a motion that requires the Court of Appeals to have the record, the trial court or tribunal clerk must, on request of a party or the Court of Appeals, send the Court of Appeals the documents needed.(F) Service of Record. Within 21 days after the transcript is filed with the trial court clerk, the appellant must serve a copy of the entire record on appeal, including the transcript and exhibits, on each appellee. However, copies of documents the appellee already possesses need not be served. Proof that the record was served must be promptly filed with the Court of Appeals and the trial court or tribunal clerk. If the filing of a transcript has been excused as provided in subrule (B), the record is to be served within 21 days after the filing of the transcript substitute.(G) Transmission of Record. Within 21 days after the briefs have been filed or the time for filing the appellee's brief has expired, or when the court requests, the trial court or tribunal clerk must send to the Court of Appeals the record on appeal in the case pending on appeal, except for those things omitted by written stipulation of the parties. Weapons, drugs, or money are not to be sent unless the Court of Appeals requests. The trial court or tribunal clerk must append a certificate identifying the name of the case and the documents with reasonable definiteness and must include as part of the record:(1) a register of actions in the case;(2) all opinions, findings, and orders of the court or tribunal; and(3) the order or judgment appealed from. Transcripts and all other documents that are part of the record on appeal must be included in the record and, if filed in print, must be attached in one or more file folders or other suitable hard-surfaced binders showing the name of the trial court or tribunal, the title of the case, and the file number.
(H) Return of Record Filed in Printed Form. If the record was filed in printed form, after the Court of Appeals disposes of the appeal, the clerk must promptly send it to(1) the Clerk of the Supreme Court on request if an application for leave to appeal is filed in the Supreme Court, or(2) the clerk of the court or tribunal from which it was received when (a) the period for an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court has expired without the filing of an application, and(b) the period for filing a motion for reconsideration in the Court of Appeals has expired and any timely filed motion has been resolved, and(c) the period for initiation of a special panel under MCR 7.215(J) has expired and any proceedings under that subrule are concluded.(I) Disposition of Record Filed in Electronic Form. If the record is filed in electronic form, the Court of Appeals may dispose of the electronic record according to the standards established by the court.(J) Notice by Trial Court or Tribunal Clerk. In order that the parties may take the appropriate action in the trial court or tribunal under the Court of Appeals judgment, the trial court or tribunal clerk must promptly notify all parties of the return of the record, if filed in printed form, or of the expiration of the time under subrule (H)(2) if the record was filed in electronic form.Last amended effective 6/21/2017; amended August 30, 2018, effective 9/1/2018; amended August 14, 2019, effective 8/14/2019; amended March 25, 2021, effective 3/24/2021.