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Small Claims Court Limits in Michigan

In Michigan, the small claims division of District Court hears claims up to $7,000, filing fees run $25 to $65 depending on the amount, and lawyers may not take part.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Michigan at a glance

Maximum claim
$7,000
Limit in effect since January 1, 2024.
Filing fee
$25 to $65
$25 up to $600, $45 over $600 up to $1,750, $65 over $1,750, plus postage for mailing to each defendant.
Lawyers allowed
No
An attorney may not take part except on the attorney's own behalf. Either party may instead remove the case to the general civil division.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Michigan

What is the small claims court limit in Michigan?

Maximum claim in Michigan: $7,000. Limit in effect since January 1, 2024.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Michigan?

Filing fee in Michigan: $25 to $65. $25 up to $600, $45 over $600 up to $1,750, $65 over $1,750, plus postage for mailing to each defendant.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Michigan?

No. Lawyers allowed in Michigan: no. An attorney may not take part except on the attorney's own behalf. Either party may instead remove the case to the general civil division.

Where do the Michigan small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from MCL 600.8401, MCL 600.8408 and MCL 600.8420. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

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