Yes! You can use AI to fill out Form MC 20a, Order Regarding Suspension of Prisoner Fees/Costs

Users often transpose digits, omit characters, or fail to include the judge's identifier in the 'CASE NO. and JUDGE' field. This typically happens due to manual data entry from other documents. An incorrect case number can lead to the order being misfiled, causing significant delays and preventing it from being linked to the correct legal action.

In section 1, incorrectly checking whether the prisoner is the 'plaintiff' or 'defendant' is a common oversight. This mistake can occur when a clerk is processing a large volume of forms and misreads the initial filing. The consequence is a legally confusing order that may need to be amended, delaying the process and potentially affecting how fees are assessed and collected.

Sections 4 and 5 require calculating the 'average monthly account deposit' and 'average monthly account balance' from a 12-month history. People often make arithmetic mistakes or confuse the two values, leading to an inaccurate financial assessment. An incorrect calculation can result in the court making an improper determination of indigency, either unfairly charging a fee or improperly waiving one.

A frequent error is selecting conflicting options, such as finding the prisoner is 'indigent' in section 3(c) but then ordering a 'partial filing fee' in section 6. This creates an ambiguous and unenforceable order that will be rejected or require clarification. To avoid this, ensure the finding in section 3 directly corresponds to the order in either section 6 (for payment) or section 7 (for waiver).

When ordering a 'full' or 'partial' filing fee in section 6, users sometimes check the box but forget to write in the specific dollar amount. This renders the order ineffective, as the prisoner and the Department of Corrections have no instruction on the amount to be paid or withdrawn. The form will be returned for completion, halting the progress of the prisoner's case.

When filling out the plaintiff or defendant information for the prisoner, it is crucial to include their full name and prisoner identification number along with the facility address. Omitting the prisoner ID number is a common mistake that makes it difficult for the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to locate the correct individual and their trust account. This can prevent or delay the withdrawal of funds as ordered by the court.

The form explicitly states that if item 6 is checked (ordering payment), a copy must be sent to the MDOC Court Order Unit via mail or email. Clerks can overlook this critical distribution step, especially when dealing with a high volume of paperwork. If MDOC is not notified, they will not withdraw funds from the prisoner's account, leading to non-payment and potential dismissal of the prisoner's action.

Forgetting to sign or date the 'CERTIFICATE OF MAILING' section is a critical procedural error. This certificate serves as legal proof that the order was sent to all relevant parties. An unsigned or undated certificate can invalidate the proof of service, creating grounds for appeal and undermining the enforceability of the order.

This form is often available as a non-fillable PDF, leading users to fill it out by hand. Illegible handwriting, especially for critical information like the case number, financial figures, and names, can cause significant processing errors. Data may be entered incorrectly into court or MDOC systems, leading to misdirected funds or filing delays. Using a tool like Instafill.ai can convert such forms into digitally fillable versions, ensuring all entries are clear and legible.

The form is marked 'Rev. 5/21', indicating its revision date. Courts and agencies periodically update forms to comply with new laws or procedures, and using an old version is a common mistake. An outdated form may be rejected outright or may lack crucial information, such as the correct MDOC email address, causing processing failures and delays.