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Homestead Exemption Laws in Michigan

Michigan protects a homestead worth up to $3,500 from execution, limited to 40 acres outside a plat, city or village or 1 lot inside one, with a separate, larger exemption in bankruptcy.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Michigan at a glance

Exemption amount
$3,500 (more in bankruptcy)
In bankruptcy, MCL 600.5451 sets base amounts of $30,000 ($45,000 if 65 or older or disabled), which the state treasurer adjusts every 3 years.
Unlimited in value
No
Acreage limit
1 lot in a plat, city or village, 40 acres elsewhere

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Michigan

How much home equity does the homestead exemption protect in Michigan?

Exemption amount in Michigan: $3,500 (more in bankruptcy). In bankruptcy, MCL 600.5451 sets base amounts of $30,000 ($45,000 if 65 or older or disabled), which the state treasurer adjusts every 3 years.

Is the homestead exemption unlimited in value in Michigan?

No. Unlimited in value in Michigan: no.

Is there an acreage limit on the homestead exemption in Michigan?

Acreage limit in Michigan: 1 lot in a plat, city or village, 40 acres elsewhere.

Where do the Michigan homestead exemption laws come from?

The rules above come from Mich. Comp. Laws 600.6023(1)(g) and Mich. Comp. Laws 600.5451. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The bankruptcy homestead amounts in MCL 600.5451 are adjusted every three years by the state treasurer for inflation, so the current bankruptcy figures are higher than the base amounts.

What this means in practice

The exemption applies to equity, not to the full value of the home. Equity is the market value minus the mortgages and other liens on the property. A lender that holds a mortgage on the home, and certain other claims such as taxes on the property, can usually still be enforced against it regardless of the exemption.

Check whether you need to take a step to claim the protection. Some states protect a home automatically once it is your residence, while others require you to record a homestead declaration with the county or to claim the exemption in court when a creditor tries to collect.

In bankruptcy, federal law can limit a state homestead exemption for a home bought within a set period before the filing, and residency rules decide which state's exemptions apply if you moved recently. Some states also let filers choose the federal bankruptcy exemptions instead of the state list. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm which rules apply to your situation.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

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