Michigan small claims limit, fees and rules
Michigan’s limit rose in steps written into the statute, from $5,000 in 2012 to $7,000 on January 1, 2024; the schedule ends there, and no further increase has been enacted.[1][2]
| Rule | Michigan |
|---|---|
| Dollar limit | $7,000$7,000 or less (since January 1, 2024) in the Small Claims Division of District Court; the statute's step-up schedule ends at $7,000. |
| Court | Small Claims Division of the District Court |
| Filing fee | Statutory filing fee: $25 (up to $600), $45 ($600.01–$1,750), $65 (over $1,750), plus postage for each defendant served by the clerk (MCL 600.8420). Some courts add an electronic-filing system fee. |
| Lawyers | Not allowed at the hearingAn attorney may not take part in filing, prosecuting or defending a small claims case except on the attorney's own behalf (MCL 600.8408(1)). Either side can instead remove the case to the regular district court docket, where lawyers are allowed. |
| Appeal | No appeal if a district judge decided the case (MCL 600.8427); a party can avoid this by removing the case to the general civil docket before the hearing. If a magistrate decided it, either party may demand a new hearing before a district judge (within 7 days). |
| Also note | MCL 600.8401 stepped the limit up: $5,000 (2012), $5,500 (2015), $6,000 (2018), $6,500 (2021), $7,000 (Jan 1, 2024). No further increases are scheduled in the statute (checked through PA 2 of 2026). |
The trade-off: no lawyers, no appeal
Michigan’s small claims division is the most final in the country. A party gives up the right to a lawyer and a jury, and if a district judge hears the case, the judgment cannot be appealed. If a magistrate hears it, either party may demand a new hearing before a judge. Either side can instead ask to remove the case to the general civil docket before the hearing, where lawyers and appeals are allowed but costs are higher.
- Filing fee: $25 up to $600, $45 for $600.01–$1,750 and $65 above $1,750, plus postage to serve each defendant.
- Where to file: the district court where the defendant lives or does business, or where the claim arose.
- Collecting: winning does not pay you; you may need garnishment or other court steps if the defendant does not pay.
Deadline to file in Michigan
Small claims cases have the same filing deadline as any lawsuit: once the statute of limitations runs, the court will dismiss the claim if the defendant raises it.[3][4][5]
| Claim | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid loan or written contract | 6 years | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Oral agreement | 6 years | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Credit card or open account | 6 years | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Property damage (e.g. fender bender) | 3 years | MCL 600.5805(2) |
See the full Michigan statute of limitations list for other claims, compare the small claims limit by state if the defendant is elsewhere, and read how to file a claim in small claims court for the general steps. Whether to bring counsel is covered on the small claims attorney page.