MICH-ELF has one main phone line (517) 636-6437 which trunks to a 12 line fax system. If all lines are busy, the call may ring and appear to not be answered. In these cases, try again, or wait a few minutes. If difficulties persist, call (517) 241-6470.


I faxed my document and want to determine if it has been received. What should I do?

Documents received thru MICH-ELF are not received at a freestanding fax machine but are received electronically and the image is converted to our database for viewing. Customers will hear back from us in two ways:

• The filed document will be returned by fax within the expedited service period requested or within 10 days for non-expedited documents.
• An examiner will call or fax notice within the expedited service period requested, or within 10 days for non-expedited documents, if the document cannot be filed.

You may contact (517) 241-6470 four hours after your transmission to check on the status of your filing.


We have several lawyers at our firm. Can we have more than one filer number?

You can have as many filer numbers as you want. It is usually easier to track credit card charges if each filer keeps their own records. When the filing is completed, a cover sheet is returned with each document with the filer's name and the fee charged. It is helpful to keep this information so that when the credit card statement comes, fees can be easily identified.


Is my corporation ID number the filer number which I insert on the MICH-ELF application?

No. A filer number is a separate number that is assigned by the Bureau to each MICH-ELF applicant. By using the filer number, you can submit documents without having to resubmit the credit card information or a MICH-ELF application. We notify you of your filer number within a few hours after submitting an application for a filer number. This number must be affixed to the MICH-ELF cover sheet with each transmission or included in a cover letter.


Is it necessary to obtain a filer number before I file through MICH-ELF?

First time MICH-ELF Users requesting expedited service must obtain a MICH-ELF Filer Number prior to submitting a document for expedited service. To use Michigan's electronic filing system, it is necessary to give us enough information to build a filer account. That can be accomplished by completing a BCS/CD-901 (MICH-ELF application) or by submitting the following information by fax to (517) 241-6445:

• Account name and address
• Credit card number and expiration date (at present only VISA and MasterCard are used)
• Cardholders' name and billing address
• Name of a contact person and phone number
• Fax number where documents will be returned once filed
• This information can be sent separately or when submitting your document (for non-expedited requests only)

Once you have been issued a filer number, the application can be discarded.

Do I need to mail my document after I fax it in?

No, we will process and review the facsimile transmission as the original. You may want to keep the paper copy until the fax filing has been returned to you with the endorsement of filing. Otherwise, it can be discarded.


I received my faxed document but there is no 'filed' stamp on it. My bank wants to see a filed date and ID number. What should I do?

For MICH-ELF filed documents, the customer receives a cover page, endorsement page and document. Since the MICH-ELF system is paperless, we do not have a paper document to place a 'filed' stamp on. Instead we created an endorsement page which contains the same information including the received date, file date and ID number. Statute provides that when filed by facsimile transmission the document "shall be considered an original for all purposes and is admissible in evidence in like manner as an original".

I have a charge which I can't identify. I think it is a MICH-ELF filing but I don't know what it is for. What can I do?

Fax your request to (517) 636-6437. Provide your filer number, date of transaction and amount of transaction. We will respond by phone or fax within 48 hours.


I have received my MICH-ELF document but the name is misspelled on the endorsement page or the number of pages in the document is incorrect. What should I do?

Call (517) 241-6470.


I have received my MICH-ELF document and notice that there is an error in the document. What should I do?

If the document is an inaccurate record of an action referred to in the document or was defectively or erroneously executed, a corporation or a limited liability company may file a certificate of correction; a limited partnership may file a certificate of amendment.


I have a MICH-ELF filer account, but I need to update the information (such as credit card, fax number, contact person, etc.). Do I need to file a new application?

Submit the MICH-ELF applicationand check the "update" box. Be sure to include your MICH-ELF filer number and complete the sections of the form that you would like updated on the account. Fax to (517) 241-6445.

Changes to information on your MICH-ELF user's account must be submitted before requesting expedited service.


I faxed my document and I have not received confirmation of my filing but I know it was filed. What should I do?

Call 517-241-6470.

My document has not been filed because my credit card company declined the payment. What should I do?
Contact your credit card company to determine if there are sufficient funds or restrictions that would prevent us from collecting the fee. Sometimes customers fail to advise us when information changes (such as an expiration date). This can delay the processing time of your filing, as it will need to be resubmitted with new credit card information.