SueYou
For Lawyers

Resources · Small Claims

Michigan Small Claims Court

District Court, Small Claims Division, for claims up to $7,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$7,000
LawyersLawyers not allowed
Time to sue on a contract6 years
Good to know

If you claim more, you give up the excess and cannot sue for it later. Either side can move the case to the regular civil division before trial, which lifts the cap and allows lawyers.

Lawyers: A lawyer can appear only for themselves. A business can send an officer or employee who knows the facts, and moving the case to the regular civil division allows lawyers.

How it works in Michigan

  1. Complete the small claims affidavit (form DC 84) and sign it before a notary or court clerk.
  2. File with the district court clerk where the dispute happened or where the defendant lives or works.
  3. Pay the filing fee or ask for a fee waiver. The clerk sets the hearing date.
  4. Pay for service by certified mail or personal delivery. The court handles sending the papers.
  5. Present your own case at the hearing. You cannot use a lawyer or a jury in small claims.

What it costs

$30, $50 or $70 depending on the claim amount ($25, $45 or $65 plus a $5 e-filing system fee). Service costs extra.

How long you have to sue

Written contract6 years
Spoken agreement6 years
Damage to property3 years
Personal injury3 years

MCL 600.5807(9), 600.5805(2). These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

If a magistrate decides, either side can appeal within 7 days to a district judge for a new hearing; a decision by a district judge is final with no appeal.

The limit stepped up to $7,000 on 1 January 2024 under a schedule written into the statute. No later step is listed; the legislature's site was complete through PA 114 of 2026. Redesigned small claims forms were released 30 June to 1 July 2026. The (6/26) versions can be used now and must be used from 1 January 2027.

Sources

Cities in Michigan

MichiganDetroit36th District Court, Small Claims Division

Have a dispute in Michigan?

A demand letter settles many disputes before court. Build one here, or compare lawyers and their prices.

Demand Letter BuilderHire a Lawyer

General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.