Current through May 1, 2026 · Last verified July 6, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2.517 tells a Michigan judge sitting without a jury to make brief, specific findings of fact and conclusions of law before entering judgment, and lets any party move within 21 days of judgment to have those findings amended or supplemented.
(1)In actions tried on the facts without a jury or with an advisory jury, the court shall find the facts specially, state separately its conclusions of law, and direct entry of the appropriate judgment.
(2)Brief, definite, and pertinent findings and conclusions on the contested matters are sufficient, without over elaboration of detail or particularization of facts.
(3)The court may state the findings and conclusions on the record or include them in a written opinion.
(4)Findings of fact and conclusions of law are unnecessary in decisions on motions unless findings are required by a particular rule. See, e.g., MCR 2.504(B).
(5)The clerk shall notify the attorneys for the parties of the findings of the court.
(6)Requests for findings are not necessary for purposes of review.
(7)No exception need be taken to a finding or decision.
(B)Amendment. On motion of a party made within 21 days after entry of judgment, the court may amend its findings or make additional findings, and may amend the judgment accordingly. The motion may be made with a motion for new trial pursuant to MCR 2.611. When findings of fact are made in an action tried by the court without a jury, the question of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the findings may thereafter be raised whether the party raising the question has objected to the findings or has moved to amend them or for judgment.
Amendment History
Michigan tracks the orders that adopt and amend its Court Rules in a separate administrative record rather than printing a history note beneath each rule in the compiled rules text reproduced here. The text above is verified current through the source’s own May 1, 2026 update; for the full order-by-order history of this rule, see the Michigan Supreme Court’s rules and orders page.
Plain-English Summary
When a case is tried to the bench, or to a jury the court is using only in an advisory role, the judge has to find the facts specially and state the legal conclusions separately before directing entry of judgment. Those findings don't need to be exhaustive; brief, definite, and to-the-point findings on the matters in dispute are enough, without piling on unnecessary detail. The court can state them on the record or spell them out in a written opinion, and the clerk lets the attorneys know once they're in. None of this applies to ordinary motion rulings unless some other rule specifically calls for findings there, and a party doesn't have to request findings, object to them, or take any formal exception to preserve the right to challenge them later.
A party unhappy with the findings has a real chance to fix them: a motion filed within 21 days of judgment can ask the court to amend its findings, make additional ones, and adjust the judgment to match, and that motion can be paired with a motion for a new trial under Rule 2.611. Once findings have been made in a bench trial, a party can later challenge whether the evidence supports them, whether or not that party ever objected to the findings or moved to amend them or for judgment in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Michigan judge have to explain a bench-trial ruling in detail?
The judge must find the facts specially and state legal conclusions separately, but the findings only need to be brief, definite, and focused on the contested issues, not exhaustive.
Can I ask the court to change its findings after a bench trial?
Yes. Within 21 days after entry of judgment, you can move to amend the findings, ask for additional findings, and have the judgment amended to match, and you can combine that motion with a motion for a new trial.
Do I have to object to the findings at the time to challenge them later?
No. Rule 2.517 says no exception need be taken to a finding or decision, and you can later question whether the evidence supports the findings whether or not you objected or moved to amend them.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Michigan Court Rules (MCR 2.517). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Michigan (Mich. Const. 1963, art. VI, § 5). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:bench trial findings Michiganfindings of fact and conclusions of law Michiganmotion to amend findings