How to Cite a Michigan Statute

There are specific ways to cite Michigan laws.

Statutes in Michigan are laws written by the state legislature and published in Michigan Compiled Laws. In legal documents, statutes must be clearly cited in the text. There are specific ways to cite Michigan statutes when writing a document. The way to cite statutes is different than citing court decisions. Citations are used so that readers know where to find the exact text of a given Michigan law. Citations often add credibility and support to your article if done correctly.

Instructions

1. Write the information you want to cite in your article followed by a period. For example, write "It is illegal to drive in the state of Michigan without a seatbelt."

2. Begin the in text citation following the information. The citation will be its own sentence.

3. Lead your citation with the year that the Michigan statute was passed.

4. Add the type of law. If the law is a local act or public act, follow the year with "LA" or "PA." If the law is found in the Michigan Compiled Laws, you will write "MCL" after the year.

5. Include the act number following the type of law. Do not include the word "Act" but just the number. An example of a citation of a Michigan statute is 1970 MCL 35.291.

6. Add the section number after the act number if needed for clarity. The section number is not required and should only be included if the article does not make it clear what sections of the act are being referenced.

References

• Michigan Courts: Uniform System of Citation
• Cornell Law: Basic Legal Citation