Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 600 / Act 236 of 1961
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.1430 (2026)

Appearance in court by attorney or in person; exception.

✓ current as of July 2026
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REVISED JUDICATURE ACT OF 1961


Act 236 of 1961


600.1430 Appearance in court by attorney or in person; exception.

Sec. 1430.

    Every person of full age and sound mind, may prosecute or defend civil actions in any court by an attorney, or may, at his election, prosecute or defend civil actions in person. No person shall be permitted to prosecute or defend any civil action in person, when he has an attorney in such case.

History: 1961, Act 236, Eff. Jan. 1, 1963

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Berryman v. K Mart Corp., 483 N.W.2d 642 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992).
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Berryman v. K Mart Corp., 483 N.W.2d 642 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992). “Because a party does not have to appear to prosecute or defend a civil action, MCL 600.1430; MSA 27A.1430, we conclude that there is similarly no requirement that a party testify to establish his right to recovery.”
People v. Arquette, 507 N.W.2d 824 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). “The fact that a third party provided funds to retain counsel does not change this indigent defendant’s status and, therefore, does not trigger the general policy denying transcripts at public expense.”
People v. Portillo, 616 N.W.2d 707 (Mich. Ct. App. 2000). “Const 1963, art 1, § 13; MCL 600.1430; MSA 27A.1430; People v Arquette, 202 Mich App 227, 231 ; 507 NW2d 824 (1993).”
Peoples v. Brown, 258 N.W.2d 66 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977). “Const 1963, art 1, § 13, MCLA 600.1430; MSA 27A.1430. Reversed and remanded.”
Elizabeth K Geivett v. David M Geivett (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “The Legislature codified this right as well in MCL 600.1430, which provides, “Every person of full age and sound mind, may prosecute or defend civil actions in any court by an attorney, or may, at his election, prosecute or defend civil actions in person.”
Elizabeth K Geivett v. David M Geivett (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “The Legislature codified this right as well in MCL 600.1430, which provides, “Every person of full age and sound mind, may prosecute or defend civil actions in any court by an attorney, or may, at his election, prosecute or defend civil actions in person.”
Richard Dumont v. Lisa Dumont (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). “See also MCL 600.1430 (“Every person of full age and sound mind, may prosecute or defend civil actions in any court by an attorney, or may, at his election, prosecute or defend civil actions in person.”
Patricia Lesko v. Supreme Felons Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2026). “Because plaintiff is prosecuting this case in her individual capacity, she can represent herself. See Const 1963 Art 1, § 13 (“A suitor in any court of this state has the right to prosecute or defend his suit, either in his own proper person or by an attorney.”
Winkley v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 793 F. Supp. 738 (E.D. Mich. 1992). “MCL 600.1430 provides that a suitor in any court of the state has a right to prosecute or defend his suit, either in person or by an attorney.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.