Michigan: State guide

This is general information, not legal advice. Michigan creates a small claims division in each district as a division of the district court. MCL 600.8401 says a district judge sits as the judge of that division. The same section confines jurisdiction to cases for the recovery of money, and it sets a ladder of amounts: $5,000 beginning September 1, 2012; $5,500 beginning January 1, 2015; $6,000 beginning January 1, 2018; $6,500 beginning January 1, 2021; and $7,000 beginning January 1, 2024. A case filed now uses the $7,000 step. The statute is the authority for that figure. District courts are local. The clerk of the district where you file has the form.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

The ladder is in the statute so older cases stay tied to the amount in force when they were filed. Do not refile an old dispute under a higher step if a judgment or a limitations problem already attaches. For a new money claim, $7,000 is the line section 8401 states as of January 1, 2024. The section says 'the amount claimed.' Interest and costs are not given an express exclusion in the sentences that list the dollars. Ask the clerk or a lawyer how a fee or interest demand is written so the amount claimed stays inside the section. The case must be for the recovery of money.

District court also hears larger civil cases on its general civil docket. Small claims are the division with the simplified procedure and the statutory cap. You may have a lawyer unless a local rule or another statute says otherwise for a particular claim. Read chapter 84 of the Revised Judicature Act, not only section 8401, for who may sign a claim for a business and for the hearing procedure. Bring the contract, the statements, and a calculation that adds up to no more than $7,000 if that is the amount you are claiming. Service has to be completed under the court's rules before a hearing is useful.

A money judgment from the division is enforced like other district-court money judgments, through the writs the clerk issues. This directory does not state a filing fee or an appeal period, because section 8401 does not. The Michigan Courts website points to local district courts and to self-help materials. Use the statute's date ladder if someone quotes a $5,000 or $6,500 limit from an old handout. Those figures were real on the dates the statute lists. They are not the figure for a claim you file after January 1, 2024. If you need more than $7,000, file on the general civil docket of the proper court.

Official resources in Michigan

MCL 600.8401

Statute setting the small-claims money cap at $7,000 beginning January 1, 2024.

Michigan Courts

Judicial branch site for district-court locations and self-help.

Michigan Courts administration

Administrative office pages for the trial courts.

Key facts for Michigan

Michigan small claims are a division of the district court.
MCL 600.8401 limits the division to cases for the recovery of money.
Beginning January 1, 2024, the amount claimed may not exceed $7,000.
The statute lists earlier, lower caps for cases tied to earlier dates.
A district judge sits as the small-claims judge.
Larger money cases use the district court's general civil docket or another court.

What to do next

Use the $7,000 step for a case filed after January 1, 2024.
Do not rely on a handout that still says $5,000 or $6,500.
File a claim for money, and use a different docket if you need property or an injunction.
Read the rest of chapter 84 before a business signs the claim.

Looking for your city or county in Michigan?

We haven't found official court-level pages for Michigan we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Michigan, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
Michigan Courts
Website →
Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.
Your city or county office: Local governments →
Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Michigan page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

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