Michigan Small Claims Court: How to File and Win (2026)
Michigan small claims court handles money disputes up to $7,000. You file an Affidavit and Claim (form DC 84) at your local District Court, pay a filing fee of $30 to $70, and the court serves the defendant for you. Most hearings happen within 30 to 60 days. No lawyers are allowed at the hearing, and the loser usually pays your filing costs on top of the judgment.
Quick warning before we start. A lot of websites still say the Michigan limit is $6,500. That number is out of date. The limit went up to $7,000 on January 1, 2024 under MCL 600.8401. This guide uses the current law, with statute cites so you can check everything yourself.
Michigan small claims court: quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Maximum claim | $7,000 (MCL 600.8401) |
| Filing fee | $30, $50, or $70 based on claim size |
| Where you file | Small claims division of the District Court |
| Lawyers allowed? | No, both sides represent themselves (MCL 600.8408) |
| Time to hearing | Usually 30 to 60 days |
| Appeals | None from a judge. 7 days if a magistrate heard it (MCL 600.8427) |
How much can you sue for in Michigan small claims court?
The Michigan small claims limit is $7,000.
That number took effect on January 1, 2024. The legislature wrote the raises into the statute years ago: $5,500 in 2015, then $6,000, then $6,500, and finally $7,000 in 2024. The schedule stops there. Unless lawmakers pass something new, $7,000 is the ceiling for the foreseeable future.
This matters because tons of guides online still say $6,500. If you trimmed a $6,900 claim down to $6,500 because of a stale article, you just gave away $400 for nothing. The current cap is $7,000. You can read every state's small claims limit here.
Owed more than $7,000? Two choices. Trim the claim down to $7,000 and eat the difference, or skip small claims and file a regular civil case in District Court, where the ceiling is $25,000. Lawyers are allowed on that track and it drags on longer. You keep the full amount, though.
What Michigan small claims court can and cannot hear
Small claims in Michigan is money only. The statute spells it out: "cases for the recovery of money." So no asking the judge to force a contractor back to work, and no orders making a neighbor return your ladder. Dollars. That is the whole menu.
The cases that do well here are the everyday ones. A security deposit. A loan your cousin never paid back. A contractor who vanished mid-job, a mechanic who broke more than he fixed, a store sitting on a refund it owes you.
Michigan also has a few rules most states skip:
- No lawyers. Attorneys cannot take part in a small claims case except on their own behalf (MCL 600.8408). A big company cannot send its legal team after you.
- No collection agencies and no assignees. You cannot buy someone's claim and sue on it, and debt collectors cannot use this court (MCL 600.8407, 600.8408).
- Five claims per week. One person cannot file more than 5 small claims per week in one district (MCL 600.8407). This keeps the docket from being flooded by bulk filers.
- Businesses send a real witness. A corporation must appear through an officer or employee who has direct, personal knowledge of the dispute (MCL 600.8408). Not a hired rep who read a file.
What it costs to file a small claim in Michigan
Filing costs scale with the size of your claim. There is a base fee set by MCL 600.8420, and every filer adds a $5 electronic filing fee under MCL 600.1986. Most websites just quote the totals without explaining them, so here is the actual math:
| Claim amount | Base fee | E-filing fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $600 | $25 | $5 | $30 |
| $600.01 to $1,750 | $45 | $5 | $50 |
| Over $1,750 | $65 | $5 | $70 |
You also pay to serve each defendant. The clerk mails your claim by certified mail and charges the postal rate, which runs about $10 to $15 per defendant at most courts. Personal service by a court officer costs more. Later, a writ of garnishment or execution costs $15 each in small claims (MCL 600.8420).
So a typical case costs about $40 to $85 to get moving. If you win, ask the judge to add your costs to the judgment. The defendant pays them back.
Cannot afford the fee? Ask the clerk for a fee waiver (form MC 20). If the court waives your filing fee for low income, it must waive the $5 e-filing fee too. For a fuller cost picture, see our guide on how much it costs to sue someone.
Michigan statute of limitations: your deadline to sue
Miss the deadline and your case dies, no matter how strong it is. Michigan gives you more time than most states on contracts:
| Type of claim | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts, written or oral | 6 years | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Property damage | 3 years | MCL 600.5805(2) |
| Personal injury | 3 years | MCL 600.5805(2) |
| Libel or slander | 1 year | MCL 600.5805(11) |
Look at that first row again. Michigan gives you 6 years on oral contracts, not the 3 years many states allow. That handshake loan from 2022? Still fair game in 2026. Plenty of older guides botch this one, so count from the day the deal fell apart and read MCL 600.5807 yourself if you want to be sure.
The clock usually starts when the other side breaks the deal or a payment comes due. A partial payment can restart it on a debt. When in doubt, just file.
How to file a small claim in Michigan: 8 steps
Step 1: Send a demand letter first
Judges like seeing that you tried to work things out before filing. And honestly, a serious written demand often gets you paid without a courtroom at all. About 70% of disputes settle at this stage. Learn how to write a demand letter and see the data on whether demand letters actually work.
Step 2: Pick the right District Court
You file where the defendant lives or works, or where the whole mess happened. Pick wrong and the case gets bounced. Every county has at least one District Court. The Michigan Courts website has a court finder if you are not sure.
Step 3: Get the defendant's exact legal name
This step kills more cases than any other. Sue "Bob's Roofing" when the company is really "RT Roofing LLC" and your judgment may be worthless. For businesses, search the state database at LARA (Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs). It shows the registered name and the resident agent's address. Suing a company? Read how to sue a corporation first.
Step 4: Fill out form DC 84
Form DC 84 is the Affidavit and Claim. It is your whole lawsuit on one page: who you are, who you are suing, how much, and why. If you did business under a company or assumed name, the form must say so (MCL 600.8402). Michigan Legal Help has a free Do-It-Yourself Small Claims tool that fills the form out through guided questions.
Do not sign it at home. The signature happens in front of the clerk or a notary, because this is a sworn statement and they have to watch you sign it.
Step 5: File and pay
Take the DC 84 to the clerk's window, sign it there, pay your fee. You walk out with a case number and a hearing date. A lot of districts now take filings online through MiFILE, so peek at your court's website before you drive anywhere. And here is a detail almost nobody knows: ask in writing and show a need, and the court may schedule you an evening or Saturday hearing (MCL 600.8404). Working two jobs counts as a need. Ask.
Step 6: Let the court serve the defendant
The clerk mails the claim to each defendant by certified mail, or you can request personal service by a court officer. You pay the cost either way. Certified mail costs less. But some defendants simply refuse to sign for it, and then you are stuck. If that happens, pay for personal service instead. Either way, call the clerk before your hearing and make sure service actually went through. Our guide on serving court papers explains the options.
Step 7: Build your evidence
You get maybe ten minutes in front of the judge. Make them count. That means the contract, the invoices, the text thread, the photos, plus a one-page timeline with dates and dollar amounts. Make three copies of all of it. One for you, one for the judge, one for them. Witnesses have to show up in person, by the way. Here is how to prepare for small claims court.
Step 8: Show up and tell your story
Get there early. Your case gets called, and either a district judge or a magistrate hears it. Start with the number they owe you, then walk through what happened in order, handing proof over as you go. Decisions often come the same day. If the defendant was served and skips the hearing, you can get a default judgment up to the amount of your claim (MCL 600.8404).
The removal trap: how defendants can move your case
Michigan gives both sides an escape hatch. Before the trial starts, either party can demand a district judge instead of a magistrate, or remove the whole case to the court's general civil docket (MCL 600.8408).
If your case gets removed, three things change. Lawyers are allowed. Formal court rules apply. And everything slows down.
Defendants sometimes use removal to scare plaintiffs or stall. Do not panic. Your case does not get weaker, it just gets more formal. Most defendants never bother because removal costs them time and money too. But know the option exists, because once trial starts in small claims, both sides waive the right to a jury, to counsel, and to any appeal from a judge's decision (MCL 600.8412).
Appeals: the 7-day magistrate window
Here is a detail even many Michigan guides get wrong. Whether you can appeal depends on who heard your case.
If a district judge heard it, the decision is final. No appeal for either side (MCL 600.8427).
If a magistrate heard it, either side can appeal and get a brand new trial in front of a district judge. But you only get 7 days from the magistrate's decision to file (MCL 600.8427). That is one week, not one month. The appeal fee is $25. If you lose in front of a magistrate and want a second shot, move immediately.
If you win: how to collect in Michigan
Winning gets you a judgment, not a check. The court does not collect for you. But Michigan hands you better collection tools than most states.
Start with the 30-day pay-or-disclose order. A defendant who does not pay on the spot gets ordered to do one of two things within 30 days: pay everything, or tell you and the court, in writing, where they work and where they keep their bank accounts (MCL 600.8410). Read that again. The court makes the loser hand you a map to their paycheck and their bank. In most states you dig for that information with subpoenas, on your own dime.
Then there is garnishment that never expires. Garnish someone's wages in Michigan and the garnishment keeps running until the judgment is paid in full (MCL 600.4012). It used to lapse every 182 days and you had to refile. The legislature killed that rule in 2015. You pay the employer a one-time $35 garnishee fee, federal law caps the take at 25% of disposable pay, and child support orders plus tax levies cut in line ahead of you.
| Collection tool | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Wage garnishment | $15 writ + $35 garnishee fee | Takes up to 25% of pay until the judgment is satisfied |
| Bank garnishment | $15 writ | Freezes and takes funds from a known account |
| Execution against property | $15 writ | Court officer seizes non-exempt property |
| Debtor discovery subpoena | $15 | Forces the debtor to answer questions about assets |
One catch: the judge can order the judgment paid in installments, and while the defendant keeps up with payments, collection is paused (MCL 600.8410). A defendant can even show up at the hearing with no defense at all, just to ask for a payment plan. Annoying, but you still get paid.
The 6-year judgment trap. Here is the detail that should set your urgency. A small claims judgment in Michigan is a judgment of a "court not of record," and the deadline to sue on it for renewal is 6 years, not the 10 years that regular district court judgments get (MCL 600.5809). Almost every guide online says Michigan judgments last 10 years. For small claims, that is wrong. Start collecting right away, and if the debt is dragging near year six, file to renew before it dies. Full playbook here: collecting a small claims judgment.
Interest runs from the day you file
Here is a quiet perk of filing: interest on a Michigan judgment runs from the day the complaint was filed, not the day you won (MCL 600.6013). The rate equals the average 5-year Treasury note yield plus 1%, and it resets every six months. The treasurer's certified number for the back half of 2026 is 3.959%, which puts the current rate at 4.959%, compounded annually.
On a $5,000 judgment, that is about $248 per year while the defendant stalls. Not huge, but it means delay costs them, not you. And it is one more number to put in your demand letter.
Security deposit cases: Michigan's 45-day hammer
If you are suing a landlord, Michigan gives tenants one of the strongest deposit laws in the country. Four rules do the heavy lifting:
- Deposits are capped at 1.5 months' rent (MCL 554.602).
- You must send your forwarding address in writing within 4 days of moving out (MCL 554.611). Do not skip this. It protects your notice rights.
- The landlord has 30 days to mail an itemized list of damages, and the list must come with a check for the difference (MCL 554.609). If you disagree, respond by mail within 7 days (MCL 554.612).
- The 45-day rule: if you dispute the charges, the landlord must sue you within 45 days of move-out to keep any of your deposit. Not the other way around. If the landlord just keeps the money and never files, they waive all claimed damages and owe you double the deposit (MCL 554.613).
Most tenants never learn that last rule, and most landlords count on that. If your landlord missed the 45-day window, your small claims case is close to automatic. Start with our guide on getting your security deposit back.
Common mistakes that sink Michigan small claims cases
- Suing the wrong name. A judgment against "Bob's Roofing" is useless if the company is registered as something else. Check LARA before you file.
- Trusting a stale limit. The cap is $7,000 now. Do not trim a valid claim to fit $6,500 because an old article told you to.
- Missing the 7-day appeal window. If a magistrate ruled against you, you have one week to demand a new trial in front of a judge. People find out on day ten.
- Ignoring service problems. Certified mail bounces more often than you would think, and failed service stalls everything. A week out, call the clerk and ask whether the defendant was actually served.
- Taking a hallway promise. If the defendant offers to pay, do not drop the case. Ask the judge to enter the deal as a judgment. Then it is enforceable if they ghost you.
- Sitting on the judgment. Small claims judgments are only good for 6 years in Michigan. Use the 30-day disclosure order, then garnish. Waiting helps the debtor, not you.
Michigan small claims court FAQ
What is the small claims limit in Michigan?
$7,000, set by MCL 600.8401. The jump from $6,500 happened on January 1, 2024, and no further increases are on the books.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Michigan?
Between $30 and $70, depending on claim size: $30 up to $600, $50 up to $1,750, $70 above that. A $5 e-filing fee is baked into each total. The clerk's certified mail adds roughly $10 to $15 per defendant.
Do I need a lawyer for Michigan small claims court?
No, and you cannot bring one. Michigan bars attorneys from small claims hearings unless the lawyer is the one suing or being sued (MCL 600.8408). Both sides speak for themselves, which keeps the playing field level.
Can I appeal a Michigan small claims decision?
Depends who heard it. From a district judge, no appeal, the decision is final. From a magistrate, either side has 7 days to appeal and gets a completely new trial in front of a judge (MCL 600.8427).
How long do I have to file a small claim in Michigan?
Contracts get 6 years, written or oral (MCL 600.5807). Property damage and personal injury get 3 years (MCL 600.5805). Libel and slander get just 1 year.
How long is a Michigan small claims judgment good for?
Six years, and this surprises people. Small claims judgments come from a court not of record, so they get 6 years instead of the 10 that regular district court judgments carry (MCL 600.5809). You can sue on the judgment before it expires to renew it.
Can I garnish wages with a Michigan small claims judgment?
Yes, and the garnishment stays alive until the judgment is fully paid (MCL 600.4012). The writ costs $15 plus a $35 fee to the employer. Federal law caps the take at 25% of disposable earnings, and a court-ordered installment plan can pause it.
Can I file a Michigan small claim online?
A lot of District Courts take e-filing through MiFILE, and Michigan Legal Help has a free Do-It-Yourself tool that fills out the DC 84 for you. Availability varies by district, so check with your local court first.
How long does a Michigan small claims case take?
Figure 30 to 60 days from filing to hearing, with a decision usually the same day. And if daytime court is impossible for you, courts may offer evening or Saturday hearings when you request one in writing and show a need (MCL 600.8404).
Don't let it slide
Someone in Michigan owes you money and thinks you will shrug it off. The numbers say otherwise: $30 to $70 to file, a hearing inside two months, no opposing lawyers allowed, and a court order that makes a loser reveal where they work and bank.
Before you file, send a real demand first. PettyLawsuit sends a professional demand letter instantly, with certified mail tracking, follow-up calls, and a Final Notice if they stall. About 70% of cases settle without ever seeing a courtroom. We've helped with 5,000+ cases. If they still won't pay, you'll walk into District Court with a paper trail that does half the work for you.
And if you are on the other end of one of these, here is what to do if someone sues you.