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Small claims court in Michigan (2026)

In Michigan you can sue for up to $7,000 in small claims. Court: Small claims division of the District Court. Lawyers: not allowed. Appeal: no appeal. For a broken written agreement you generally have 6 years to sue. Last checked .

Michigan small claims at a glance

Most you can sue for
$7,000
Court
Small claims division of the District Court
Filing fee
$30–$70
Lawyers
Not allowed
Appeal
No appeal

Can you sue in Michigan small claims?

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Michigan small claims limit

$7,000

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The rule: Money claims of $7,000 or less (since January 1, 2024). Only money can be awarded, not return of property or orders to act. Staying in small claims waives any right to recover more than the limit. A person may file no more than 5 small claims a week in one district (20 for a local government).

Deadline to sue (general rule)

6 years for this kind of claim in Michigan. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.

Breach of contract: 6 years. Injury to a person or property: 3 years (assault/battery 2 years, libel/slander 1 year). Sale-of-goods contracts (UCC): 4 years.

Lawyers: Lawyers generally can't represent you in small claims court.

Collectors: a company that bought or was assigned the debt can't use small claims court in Michigan.

Appeal: Parties who stay in small claims waive any appeal from a district judge's decision. Exception: if a magistrate heard the case, either party may appeal de novo to a district judge of the small claims division within 7 days after entry of the magistrate's decision; no further appeal.

Filing fee: Statewide filing and processing fee: $30 for claims up to $600, $50 for over $600 up to $1,750, $70 over $1,750 (each is the statutory filing fee of $25/$45/$65 plus a required $5 electronic filing system fee). Service and copy fees are extra. Fee waiver available (Form MC 20).

The deadline shown is the general statute of limitations counted from the date you entered. The real deadline can be later (for example when the problem was discovered later or the other side left the state) or earlier (a contract can shorten it, and claims against a government agency often need a written notice first, on a much shorter clock). If you are close to it, file now or ask a legal aid office. This is legal information, not legal advice.

All Michigan small claims rules →Write a demand letter →

Where to file and how much

  • Court. Each district court has a small claims division. File in the county (or district) where the claim arose or where the defendant is established, lives or works; with several defendants, where any of them is.
  • Limit. Money claims of $7,000 or less (since January 1, 2024). Only money can be awarded, not return of property or orders to act. Staying in small claims waives any right to recover more than the limit. A person may file no more than 5 small claims a week in one district (20 for a local government). (in force since January 1, 2024)
  • Filing fee. Statewide filing and processing fee: $30 for claims up to $600, $50 for over $600 up to $1,750, $70 over $1,750 (each is the statutory filing fee of $25/$45/$65 plus a required $5 electronic filing system fee). Service and copy fees are extra. Fee waiver available (Form MC 20).

Who can sue and who can speak in court

  • Attorneys (except for themselves), collection agencies and their employees may not take part. Assignees and third-party beneficiaries may not file. A business is represented by the proprietor, a partner, or a full-time salaried employee or officer with personal knowledge of the facts; a minor sues through a next friend.
  • A collection agency or anyone who was assigned or bought the claim can't file it in small claims.
  • Before you file. The small claims statute and the SCAO overview do not require a demand before filing.
  • Jury and moving the case. No jury and no verbatim record in small claims. Before the hearing starts, either party may remove the case to the general civil division (where lawyers, juries and appeals are allowed) or demand a judge instead of a magistrate.

How long you have to sue in Michigan

The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Breach of contract: 6 years. Injury to a person or property: 3 years (assault/battery 2 years, libel/slander 1 year). Sale-of-goods contracts (UCC): 4 years.

Kind of claimTime to sue
Written contract6 years
Oral (spoken) agreement6 years
Damage to property3 years
Personal injury3 years

Law: MCL 600.5807(9), 600.5805(2), 440.2725(1)

After the hearing: appeals and collecting

Who can appeal
Neither side can appeal a small claims judgment.
Deadline
Parties who stay in small claims waive any appeal from a district judge's decision. Exception: if a magistrate heard the case, either party may appeal de novo to a district judge of the small claims division within 7 days after entry of the magistrate's decision; no further appeal.
Collecting the money
No attachment or garnishment before judgment. After judgment the creditor may use a debtor's examination subpoena, garnishment of wages, bank accounts or tax refunds (Forms MC 12, MC 13, MC 52) and execution. A small claims judgment is from a court not of record, so an action on it must be brought within 6 years.

Good to know in Michigan

  • The affidavit must be signed under oath before a notary public or deputy clerk.
  • Either party may ask for a judge instead of a magistrate before the hearing.
  • A defendant who cannot disprove the claim may ask for an installment plan at the hearing.
  • Evening and Saturday sessions may be available on written request.

Official help and forms

Sources

Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.

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