Skip to main content

Policies 

Photo of the Michigan State Capitol Dome.
Coat of Arms Logo

Policies 

  • The Michigan.gov website is provided as a public service and is owned and operated by the State of Michigan (the State).  This website is not, nor is it intended to be, an open public forum.

    By visiting or using Michigan.gov you are agreeing to these terms and policies.

    You agree not to access, or attempt to access, or allow any employee, agent, or contractor to access or attempt to access any portion of the website, using any means other than through the interface that is provided by the State of Michigan, unless you have been specifically allowed to do so in a separate, written agreement with the State of Michigan. You specifically agree not to access, or attempt to access, or allow any employee, agent, or contractor to access or attempt to access any of the website through any automated means (including, but not limited to, use of scripts, web crawlers or screen scrapers) and shall ensure that you and your agents, employees, and contractors comply with the instructions these terms and any instructions of the State of Michigan, including without limitation any instructions located in any robots.txt file present on the site.

    You agree not to use for commercial purposes, or resell, or allow your employees, agents, or contractors to use for commercial purposes or resell any of the data derived from this website unless you have been specifically allowed to do so in a separate, written agreement with the State of Michigan, or other State of Michigan agency or department-specific terms provided with such data allow you to do. The State of Michigan reserves the right to discontinue your access by whatever means it chooses, and without notice, if it detects a violation of these terms. 

    All content on Michigan.gov is the property of the State or its content suppliers and may be protected by intellectual property or other laws. You may not modify, copy, distribute, display, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, sell, or transfer information, products, services, images, designs, or logos obtained from Michigan.gov unless the law otherwise provides or the State gives you prior written permission.

    You may not use Michigan.gov or any of its content for any purpose that is unlawful or to solicit the performance of any illegal activity or other activity that infringes upon the rights of the State or others.  Duplication or use of any content from this web site for commercial purposes or in any manner likely to give the impression of official approval by the State Michigan is prohibited.

    You agree that the State of Michigan may take any action necessary, whether at law or in equity, to protect its rights, and the rights of others, as set forth hereunder.

    These terms are subject to change without notice.

    Note that each department or agency within the State may have additional policies based on that department's or agency's legal mandate and regulatory requirements. Be sure to review the policies for each department and agency site you visit within the State and any external site that you visit through a link appearing at Michigan.gov.

    Updated: December 2021

     

  • The Michigan.gov website and all content is provided "AS IS" and on an "AS AVAILABLE" basis. The State of Michigan, including without limitation its agencies, departments, officers, and employees, disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this website and its content, including but not limited to (1) the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of this website and any of the information provided via this website; (2) warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose; (3) that the functioning of this website will be uninterrupted and error-free; (4) that any defects or other errors on this web site will be corrected; (5) that this website is or will be free of viruses or other harmful components; or (6) that the website and content or use will not violate or infringe the rights of others.

    Updated: December 2021

  • In no event will the State of Michigan be liable under any legal theory for any damages in any amounts, whether in an action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of, or in connection with the provision of, access to, use of, or the inability to access or use, the Michigan.gov website or any the information it contains.

    Updated: December 2021

  • For security purposes, all network traffic is monitored in order to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise conduct criminal activity. In connection with authorized law enforcement investigations and pursuant to required legal process, navigational information may be used to assist in obtaining personal identifying information.

    Furthermore, to protect this website, as well as its associated computer systems, from unauthorized use and to ensure that the website and computer systems are functioning properly, individuals accessing this website and any associated computer systems are subject to having all of their activities monitored and recorded by personnel authorized to do so by the State of Michigan. Anyone using this website and its associated computer systems expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, the State of Michigan may provide the results of such monitoring to appropriate officials. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change the content of the website, or otherwise cause damage to this website or its computer systems are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under applicable law.

    Updated: December 2021

  • Use of the Great Seal and the Coat-of-Arms of the State of Michigan are restricted by law.

    MCL 2.45 states, "[n]o facsimile or reproduction of the great seal shall be used in a manner unconnected with official functions of the state."  And pursuant to MCL 2.46, "[a]ny person who violates any provision of this [the Great Seal Act, 1963 PA 19, MCL 2.41 et seq.] shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.  Further, pursuant to MCL 750.245, any person who shall exhibit or display the Coat-of-Arms in any manner in violation of such section will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

    Updated: December 2021

  • Linking to Michigan.gov from External Websites.

    Entities and individuals linking to Michigan.gov must not (1) capture Michigan.gov pages within frames; (2) misinform users about the origin or ownership of Michigan.gov content; (3) in any way modify the content and present it as the content of Michigan.gov; (4) portray any person, entity, or subject in a false or misleading light; (5) imply that the State endorses your products or services; or (5) violate any protected intellectual property rights to content on Michigan.gov.

    You are not permitted to use the State's Great Seal, Coat-of-Arms or any State department or agency logo for linking purposes.

    Be aware that Michigan.gov and its subpages may change or be deleted at any time without notice. You are solely responsible for the accuracy of your links.

    Links from Michigan.gov to External Web Sites and Pages

    The State of Michigan, at its sole discretion, may include links to external sites and pages containing information created and maintained by individuals or entities other than the State of Michigan. The inclusion of a hypertext link to an external site is not intended as an endorsement of any product or service offered or referenced on the linked site, the individual or entity sponsoring such site, or any views which might be expressed or referenced in the site.  The State of Michigan does not assume any responsibility or liability for any linked site or its content. The State of Michigan makes no effort to independently verify, and does not exert control over, information on external sites.  Links to external sites and pages may be removed or replaced in the sole discretion of the State of Michigan at any time without notice.

    Upon leaving Michigan.gov and linking to an external site, the policies governing Michigan.gov no longer apply and users are subject to the external site's policies. Questions and concerns regarding the information or services provided by a linked site must be directed to the entity or individual responsible for that site, rather than to Michigan.gov.

    Updated: December 2021

  • Any reference in this website to any specific products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation by the State of Michigan.

    Updated: December 2021

  • Any person choosing to use this website or accessing information or materials on this website is subject to Michigan jurisdiction. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these terms, or access and use of this website shall be decided under the laws of and in the state courts of the State of Michigan, and you hereby consent to and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of adjudicating such dispute.

    Updated: December 2021

  • If any provision in these terms is determined to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that provision will be deemed severable from the remaining terms and will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

    Updated: December 2021


  • Michigan.gov automatically collects certain information about the users of this website to perform site analysis, such as analyzing trends, administering the site, preventing fraud, tracking website navigation in the aggregate, and gathering broad demographic information for aggregate use.  Information collected automatically includes but is not limited to:

    • the name of the domain from which the website was accessed,
    • the date and time the website was accessed,
    • the site address (also called the URL) of the link clicked to access the site,
    • Internet protocol (IP) addresses,
    • browser type and operating system,
    • Internet service provider (ISP),
    • referring/exit pages,
    • platform type, and
    • number of clicks.

      Michigan.gov will not collect personal identifying information (as defined in MCL 445.63(q)) about you when you visit its website unless you voluntarily choose to provide that information by performing certain activities, which may include without limitation, entering information in an online form, sending an e-mail, registering for a Michigan.gov subscription, or by performing an online service transaction.

    Updated: December 2021

  • Michigan.gov will not use these technologies to automatically collect personal identifying information about you.

    Michigan.gov uses Google Analytics to collect and process some of your information. This information is aggregated and is used to improve the website. For more information, please visit Google's website to learn how Google uses data when you use our websites or applications.  Click here to opt-out of Google Analytics.

    Michigan.gov also uses the following Google Analytics Advertising Features: Demographics and Interests.  Google Analytics cookies and Google advertising cookies are used to improve the website, agencies' services, and to generate statistics.  Click here to opt-out of Google Analytics Advertising Features.

    Michigan.gov uses "cookies" to customize your browsing experience. A cookie is a small text file that is saved on your computer when you visit a website.  Cookies allow your browser to be identified as unique and may involve the transmission of information. If you choose to do so, you can configure your browser to notify you when a new cookie is received. You can also view and delete existing cookies, prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, and disable cookies altogether. If you disable cookies, you can still use Michigan.gov, but your ability to use some areas or functions of the website may be limited.

    Updated: December 2021

  • To conduct some transactions online it may be necessary for users to provide personal identifying information to the State. Any personal identifying information voluntarily provided by you will be used for the purpose of which the information was provided and may be shared with staff and other state agencies in order to process your request, respond to your e-mail, or otherwise ensure a proper response to your request. Each agency makes reasonable efforts to maintain accurate, complete, timely, and relevant personal identifying information as necessary to assure fairness when using that information to make any determination regarding the individual. 

    Your personal identifying information will not be disclosed or used for purposes other than those specified, without your consent, except as authorized by law. Please note that the fact that information provided by you is personally identifiable does not mean that it will remain private in all circumstances. Personal identifying information maintained by the government may be a "public record" as defined in the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231 et seq.  In addition, there may be other laws that require public access to personal identifying information.

    Each agency may have their own policies and procedures with respect to the handling of personal identifying information, based on that agency's legal mandate and regulatory requirements.  Be sure to review agency-specific policies and procedures before providing personal identifying information to ensure you know how your information may be used. 

    Measures to guard against loss, misuse, alteration, or unauthorized access to personal identifying information have been instituted by the State.

    Children Under the Age of 13

    Michigan.gov is not directed to children under the age of 13, is not intended to solicit information from children under the age of 13, and does not knowingly contact or collect information from children under the age of 13, unless otherwise stated in an agency-specific policy or permitted by law.  Individuals under the age of 13 are not eligible to use services that require submission of personal identifying information.  This includes submitting personal identifying information to Michigan.gov as part of a user profile or personalization profile.  If you are an individual under the age of 13, you may use Michigan.gov only if used with your parent or legal guardian.  Seek guidance from your parent or guardian if you are under the age of 13.

    Updated: December 2021

  • The State of Michigan is committed to providing a web presence that is inclusive and available to the largest possible audience.

    This website has been designed to be compatible with assistive technologies and a wide variety of browsers and has been tested for compliance with screen magnification software, screen-reading software, and text-only browsers.  The State of Michigan remains committed to improving its accessibility and serving the widest possible audience, and, pursuant to the State of Michigan Digital Standards for Websites and Applications, will continue to test future releases of this website against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, as published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium, at a minimum Level AA success criteria.

    If you cannot fully access the information on any page of this website, please complete the State of Michigan ADA Complaint Form and let us know the accessibility issue you are having.  Please indicate the nature of your accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to receive the requested information, the web address of the requested information, and your contact information so that we may best serve you. We will try to provide the information to you in your preferred or another accessible format or make the necessary improvements to make the information accessible.

    Note that individual state agencies or departments may have their own accessibility policy; please refer to each individual agency's or department's policies for more information about its compliance with accessibility standards.

    The State of Michigan accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of any external websites or external documents linked to on this website.

    Updated: May 2024

  • Thank you for downloading State of Michigan's (State) mobile application (Application). Access and use of the Application is subject to these terms and conditions (Agreement), as well as all applicable laws and other Michigan.gov policies.

    This Agreement covers modification and distribution of the Application, use of third-party application programs based on the Application, and development of software that uses the Application.

    Terms and Conditions

    1. You agree to access and use the Application only for lawful purposes. You are solely responsible for the knowledge of and adherence to any and all laws, statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to your use of the Application.  Any use of this Application not specifically permitted under the Agreement is strictly prohibited.

    2. You agree that you will not use this Application to:

    1. Post or transmit any discriminatory, libelous, harassing, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or otherwise unlawful content;

    2. Knowingly upload, disseminate or transmit any content that contains a software virus, "Trojan Horse" or any other computer code, files, or programs that may alter, damage, or interrupt the functionality of the State's information technology system or the Application itself;

    3. Upload, post, e-mail, or otherwise transmit any materials that you do not have a right to transmit under any law or under a contractual relationship;

    4. Alter, damage, or delete or attempt to alter, damage or delete any information posted on the Application or contained in the State's information technology system;

    5. Circumvent any technology used by the State or its licensors to protect content accessible via the Application;

    6. Disrupt the normal flow of communication in any way;

    7.Claim a relationship with or represent any business, association, or other organization with which you are not authorized to claim such a relationship or represent;

    8. Post or transmit any unsolicited advertising, promotional materials, or other forms of solicitation;

    9. Conduct or forward surveys, contests, pyramid schemes, or chain letters;

    10. Translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, modify, or create derivative works based on the Application;

    11. Post any material that infringes upon or violates the intellectual property rights of another; or

    12. Collect or store personal information about others.

    3. The State reserves the right to monitor, delete, move, or edit any information that you provide, but is not obligated to do so.  You agree that your use of any posted information is at your own risk, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of posted information.  If you provide information, you agree that the State may copy, distribute, display, publish, modify, or translate any information for any purpose and in any medium without any obligation to compensate you or any third party in any way.

    4. The State may from time to time make available to all users of the Application, updates at no cost or subject to additional fees at the State's sole discretion.  "Updates" means any updates, upgrades, or error corrections to the Application that the State makes available generally to users of the Application.  Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Agreement, the State will have no obligation to continue producing or releasing new versions or updates of the Application.

    5. The State will treat any information received through the Application under the terms of the posted Michigan.gov Privacy Policy. For additional information reference the complete Privacy Policy at: http://www.michigan.gov/privacy

    6. We are committed to providing access to all individuals, disabled or not, seeking information. For additional information reference the State's Accessibility Policy at: http://www.michigan.gov/accessibility

    7. The State has taken a number of steps to prevent unauthorized access to information. For additional information reference the complete Security Policy at: http://www.michigan.gov/security

    8. The State has links to other web sites outside of state government which are not controlled by this Agreement. For additional information reference the complete Link Policy at: http://www.michigan.gov/link

    9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
    NEITHER YOU, OTHER THIRD PARTIES RECEIVING THE APPLICATION, NOR THE STATE WILL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE, LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES, OR A FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER SOFTWARE), HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANYWAY OUT OF THE USE OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE SOFTWARE OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS GRANTED HEREUNDER, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

    10. NO WARRANTY
    BECAUSE THE APPLICATION IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE APPLICATION, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.  EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING, THE STATE AND OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE APPLICATION "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE APPLICATION IS WITH YOU.  SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

    11. The State of Michigan is not obligated in any fashion to provide technical assistance or other support with regard to your use of the Application.

    12. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, it will not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of the terms of this Agreement, and without further action by the parties, such provision will be reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make such provision valid and enforceable.

    13. The State may, in its sole discretion, terminate or suspend your access to and use of the Application without notice for any reason, including a violation of this Agreement or other conduct which the State, in its sole discretion, believes is unlawful or harmful to others. In the event of termination, you will no longer be authorized to access the Application, and the State may use any means possible to enforce this termination.

    14. Should the State fail to insist upon strict adherence to any term of the Agreement it is not to be considered a waiver or deprive the State of the right to insist upon strict adherence to that term, or any other term, of the Agreement.

    15. This Agreement is governed by and is to be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan.

    16. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the user and the State with respect to the Application and it supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether electronic, oral, or written, between the user and the State with respect to the Application.

    Effective Date: November 2013

  • The state of Michigan encourages the use of social media, social networking sites and emerging web tools to enhance transparency, communication, customer service, collaboration and information exchange among the state of Michigan and the public. To view current social media policies visit our social media policy page.
  • Application and site standards are set forth in the State of Michigan Digital Standards for Websites and Applications.