Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.1651 (2026)

Improper venue; transfer of action to proper county.

✓ current as of July 2026

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REVISED JUDICATURE ACT OF 1961

Act 236 of 1961

600.1651 Improper venue; transfer of action to proper county.

Sec. 1651.

An action brought in a county not designated as a proper county may nevertheless be tried therein, unless a defendant moves for a change of venue within the time and in the manner provided by court rule, in which case the court shall transfer the action to a proper county on such conditions relative to expense and costs as provided by court rule and section 1653. The court for the county to which the transfer is made shall have full jurisdiction of the action as though the action had been originally commenced therein.

History: 1961, Act 236, Eff. Jan. 1, 1963 ;-- Am. 1986, Act 178, Eff. Oct. 1, 1986

Compiler's Notes:

Section 3 of Act 178 of 1986 provides:

“(1) Sections 2925b, 5805, 5838, and 5851 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as amended by this amendatory act, shall not apply to causes of action arising before October 1, 1986.

“(2) Sections 1483, 5838a, and 6304 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as added by this amendatory act, shall apply to causes of action arising on or after October 1, 1986.

“(3) Sections 1629, 1653, 2169, 2591, 2912c, 2912d, 2912e, 6098, 6301, 6303, 6305, 6306, 6307, 6309, and 6311 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as added by this amendatory act, shall apply to cases filed on or after October 1, 1986.

“(4) Sections 1651 and 6013 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as amended by this amendatory act, shall not apply to cases filed before October 1, 1986.

“(5) Chapter 49 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as added by this amendatory act, shall apply to cases filed on or after January 1, 1987.

“(6) Chapter 49a of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as added by this amendatory act, shall apply to cases filed in judicial circuits which are comprised of more than 1 county on or after July 1, 1990 and shall apply to cases filed in judicial circuits which are comprised of 1 county on or after October 1, 1988.”

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 17 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1970–2024 · leading case: Omne Fin., Inc v. Shacks, Inc, 596 N.W.2d 591 (Mich. 1999).

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Omne Fin., Inc v. Shacks, Inc, 596 N.W.2d 591 (Mich. 1999). · cites it 12× “§ 600.1651; MSA 27A.1651, precludes enforcement of a venue selection clause where, as in this case, the defendant timely moves for a change of venue in accordance with the court rules.”

Gross v. Gen. Motors Corp., 528 N.W.2d 707 (Mich. 1995). · cites it 4× “Pursuant to MCL 600.1651; MSA 27A.1651 and MCR 2.223, defendant moved for a change of venue for venue improperly laid.”

Frankfurth v. Detroit Med. Ctr., 825 N.W.2d 353 (Mich. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 9× “This Court relied in part on MCL 600.1651, which, as it was then written, 2 provided: An action brought in a county not designated as a proper county may nevertheless be tried therein, unless a defendant moves for a change of venue within the time and in the manner provided by…”

In re Forfeiture of a Quantity of Marijuana, 805 N.W.2d 217 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011). “”) and MCL 600.1651 (“An action brought in a county not designated as a proper county may nevertheless be tried therein, unless a defendant moves for a change of venue within the time and in the manner provided by court rule .”

Saba v. Gray, 314 N.W.2d 597 (Mich. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 2× “See MCL 600.1651; MSA 27A.1651, Sugar, Schwartz, Silver, Schwartz & Tyler v Thomas, 25 Mich App 41 ; 181 NW2d 59 (1970).”

Omne Fin., Inc v. Shacks, Inc, 573 N.W.2d 641 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 4× “223 provides, in part: If the venue of a civil action is improper, the court (1) shall order a change of venue on timely motion of a defendant, or (2) may order a change of venue on its own initiative with notice to the parties and opportunity for them to be heard on the venue…”

Gross v. Gen. Motors Corp., 502 N.W.2d 365 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “MCL 600.1651; MSA 27A.1651. The court has no discretion to retain the action for the convenience of all, and the action may be transferred only to a county in which venue is proper.”

Brown v. LTV Aerospace Corp., 232 N.W.2d 656 (Mich. 1975). · cites it 2× “Plaintiffs suggest that MCLA 600.1651; MSA 27A. 1651 was designed to change the result in Peplinski and that dismissal of the appeal is no longer necessary when an action is filed in the wrong circuit court.”

Miller v. Allied Signal, Inc, 599 N.W.2d 110 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999). “MCL 600.1651; MSA 27A.1651 provides: An action brought in a county not designated as a proper county may nevertheless be tried therein, unless a defendant moves for a change of venue within the time and in the manner provided by court rule, in which case the court shall transfer…”

Tempco Heating & Cooling, Inc v. a Rea Constr., Inc, 443 N.W.2d 486 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 2× “” Where, as here, a particular statute does not contain language of jurisdiction, we believe that the statute is not one of jurisdiction but of venue, governed by the Revised Judicature Act, MCL 600.1651; MSA 27A.1651, 3 which was intended to allow the circuit Court to act upon…”

People of Michigan v. Kevin White Jr (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 9× “IMPROPER VENUE IN CRIMINAL CASES The prosecution relies on MCL 600.1651 for the contention that, if venue was improper in Livingston County, the case should be transferred to Macomb County rather than dismissed.”

Perez v. Chrysler Corp., 193 N.W.2d 390 (Mich. Ct. App. 1971). · cites it 2× “Claimant next argues that § 1651 of the Revised Judicature Act (MCLA § 600.1651 [Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 27A.”

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