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Order to Remit Prisoner Funds for Fines, Costs, and Assessments, page 1
Basic · 32/100Form Complexity Index

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What this form asks for

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The Order to Remit Prisoner Funds for Fines, Costs, and Assessments, also known as Form MC 288, is a legal document used by the Michigan judicial system. It authorizes the Department of Corrections to withhold a percentage of a prisoner's funds to satisfy financial obligations like fines and court costs. This ensures that outstanding debts to the court are paid over time from the prisoner's trust account. Today, this form can be filled out quickly and accurately using AI-powered services like Instafill.ai, which can also convert non-fillable PDF versions into interactive fillable forms.
Fillable fields25
Pages2
Form Complexity IndexBasic, 32/100

The AI checks your answers before you download

14 checks built for this form, so a wrong date or a missing answer is caught before anyone else sees it.

Case Number Format and Completeness

This check ensures the 'case no' field is not empty and conforms to the standard Michigan court case number format. The case number is the primary identifier for the legal proceeding, and its accuracy is critical for filing and record-keeping. An invalid or missing case number would render the order un-fileable and delay the collection of funds.

Prisoner Number Validation

This validation verifies that the 'prisoner no' field is populated and matches the format used by the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). This number is essential for the MDOC to accurately locate the specific prisoner's trust account for fund withdrawal. An incorrect number could lead to funds being taken from the wrong individual or the order being rejected.

Prisoner's Date of Birth (DOB) Validation

This check ensures the 'D O B' field contains a valid date in a standard format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY) and represents a plausible age. The date cannot be in the future and should be logically consistent with the age of an adult in custody. This validation serves as a crucial secondary check on the prisoner's identity and prevents data entry errors.

Financial Balance Amount Format

This validation verifies that the 'balance' field contains a positive numerical value, formatted correctly as currency. The amount cannot be zero or negative, as the order is intended to collect an outstanding debt. This ensures the financial obligation is clearly and unambiguously stated for the Department of Corrections.

Order Date Chronology

This check validates that the 'order dated' field contains a valid date that is not in the future. This date, which refers to the original judgment of sentence, must logically precede the date the current remittance order is signed. This is critical for establishing the legal basis for the collection by referencing the correct originating order.

Remittance Address Selection Logic

This validation enforces logic between the remittance address checkboxes and the address text field. If 'the following address' is checked, the corresponding address field must be filled out; if 'the above address' is checked, the other address field should be ignored or disabled. This prevents ambiguity and ensures the MDOC knows exactly where to send the collected funds.

And 8 more checks
  • Court and Judge Information Completeness
  • Prisoner Identification Completeness
  • Certificate of Mailing Service Method Selection
  • Certificate of Mailing Date Validation
  • State Identification (SID) Number Format
  • Case Number Consistency Across Form
  • Court Telephone Number Format
  • Institution Information Completeness

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How to Fill Out MC 288 Online for Free in 2026

What the AI walks you through.

  1. Navigate to Instafill.ai and upload or select the Michigan Form MC 288.
  2. Provide the court and case information, including the judicial district, county, case number, and judge's name.
  3. Enter the prisoner's identification details, such as their full name, prisoner number, SID, and date of birth.
  4. Input the financial details, including the total balance owed and the date of the original judgment of sentence.
  5. Specify the address for the Department of Corrections to remit the collected funds.
  6. Use the AI to review all entered information for accuracy and completeness before the judge's signature.
  7. Once signed, distribute the completed form to the court, the MDOC Court Order Unit, and the prisoner as instructed.

Common Mistakes in Completing MC 288

The ones the AI is built to catch.

Incomplete or Incorrect Case Identifier
Users often provide an incomplete case number or forget to include the judge's name in the 'CASE NO. and JUDGE' field. This happens due to oversight or not having all the information readily available. An incorrect identifier can lead to the order being misfiled, delayed, or rejected by the court clerk or the Department of Corrections, as it cannot be matched to the correct legal proceeding.
Missing Critical Prisoner Identifiers
Forgetting to fill in the 'Prisoner no.', 'SID', or 'DOB' is a frequent error. These numbers are the primary means for the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to accurately identify the individual. Omitting any of these fields can make it impossible to locate the correct prisoner account, causing the order to be returned and delaying the collection of funds indefinitely.
Ambiguous Remittance Address Selection
The form provides two options for where funds should be sent: 'the above address' or 'the following address'. A common mistake is checking 'the following address' but failing to write in the address, or checking neither box. This ambiguity means the MDOC does not know where to send the collected funds, leading to holds on the money and significant processing delays until the court clarifies the destination.
Failure to Attach the Judgment of Sentence
The form explicitly states '(A copy of the judgment of sentence or order is attached.)', but filers frequently forget to include this document. The MDOC requires this attachment to verify the legal basis and the exact amount of the financial obligation. Submitting the order without the attached judgment will result in an automatic rejection and require a complete resubmission.
Invalid Certificate of Mailing
Users often neglect to sign or date the 'Certificate of Mailing' on the second page. This certificate is a legal declaration that the order was properly served, and an unsigned or undated certificate is legally invalid. This error can nullify the proof of service, potentially leading to legal challenges and requiring the form to be re-served and re-filed from scratch.
Illegible Handwriting on a Printed Form
When this form is printed and filled out by hand, illegible handwriting for names, addresses, and case numbers is a major source of errors. Poor handwriting can be misinterpreted during data entry by court or MDOC staff, leading to incorrect deductions or misdirected correspondence. To avoid this, forms should be filled out digitally whenever possible. AI tools like Instafill.ai can convert non-fillable PDFs into clear, type-written, fillable forms to ensure perfect legibility.
Incorrect Balance Amount
The form specifies that the balance should 'not including restitution,' which is collected separately. A frequent mistake is for court staff to enter the total amount owed, including restitution, into the 'balance' field. This leads to incorrect calculations and potential over-collection from the prisoner's account, creating accounting problems for both the court and the MDOC.
Forgetting the Judge's Signature and Date
An order is not legally binding until it is signed and dated by the judge. A common administrative oversight is distributing the form after it has been prepared by a clerk but before the judge has signed it. An unsigned order is void and will be immediately rejected by the MDOC, halting any collection efforts until a properly executed version is provided.
Using an Outdated Institution Address
Prisoners are often transferred between facilities, and their location may change between the time of sentencing and the processing of this order. Using an old or incorrect 'Institution name and address' will cause the mailed copy of the order to be returned or lost. It is crucial to verify the prisoner's current location with the MDOC before completing this field to ensure proper delivery and service.

Frequently Asked Questions About MC 288

 

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How does the AI fill out MC 288?
You answer a few questions in plain words, or upload a document you already have. The AI reads what you give it and puts each answer into the right field of MC 288, on every page, in seconds. It checks the answers against the form's own rules, and you review and change anything before you download, print or sign.
What happens to my information?
It is encrypted in transit and at rest, and it is never used to train AI.
How complex is MC 288 to fill out?
MC 288 has a Form Complexity Index of 32 out of 100, in the basic tier: 25 fillable fields across 2 pages. Instafill.ai's AI fills it in under a minute, with every field there for you to review before you download.
What is the purpose of the 'Order to Remit Prisoner Funds' form (MC 288)?
This form is a court order that directs the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to collect money from a prisoner's trust account to pay for court-ordered fines, costs, and assessments.
Who is responsible for completing and signing this form?
This form is typically prepared by court personnel and must be signed by a judge to become a valid court order. The 'Certificate of Mailing' is signed by the person who serves the order.
Does this order cover restitution payments owed by the prisoner?
No, this order explicitly does not include restitution. The form states that restitution is collected separately by the Department of Corrections under a different law (MCL 791.220h).
How much money is collected from the prisoner's account?
The MDOC is ordered to collect 50 percent of all funds the prisoner receives over $50.00 each month. This means the first $50 a prisoner receives in a month is exempt from this collection.
How often will the court receive payments?
The MDOC will hold the collected funds until the total amount exceeds $100.00. Once the collected sum is over $100.00, it is sent to the court.
What information do I need to have ready to fill out this form?
You will need the case number, judge's name, court address, prisoner's name and number, SID, DOB, institution name, and the total balance owed from the original judgment of sentence.
What document must be attached to this order?
A copy of the judgment of sentence or the other court order that originally imposed the fines, costs, or assessments must be attached to this form.
Where does the completed and signed form need to be sent?
A copy of the order must be sent to the MDOC Court Order Unit in Lansing, MI, via first-class mail or email. Copies should also be provided to the court, the prisoner, and the SRA.
What happens if the prisoner is released or transferred?
If the prisoner is paroled, discharged, dies, or transfers to a facility without a trust account, any funds that have been withheld but not yet sent to the court will be remitted to the court.
What is the 'Certificate of Mailing' section for?
This section is used to officially document that a copy of the order was served to the prisoner, either by personal service at sentencing or by first-class mail to their institution.
Can I use an AI tool to help me fill out this form?
Yes, services like Instafill.ai use AI to help you accurately auto-fill form fields from your case files, which can save time and reduce the chance of data entry errors.
How can I fill out Form MC 288 online using Instafill.ai?
To fill out this form online, you can upload it to Instafill.ai. The platform's AI will make the form interactive, allowing you to easily click and type information into the correct fields before printing or saving.
My PDF version of this form is not fillable. What can I do?
If you have a non-fillable or 'flat' PDF, you can use a service like Instafill.ai. It can convert the non-fillable PDF into an interactive, fillable form that you can complete on your computer.
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