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Small claims · checked October 20, 2026

Small claims limit in Michigan: $7,000

Michigan caps small claims at $7,000, set by MCL 600.8401. It ranks 33rd of 51 verified jurisdictions.

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  1. 1Limit$7,000
  2. 2CourtDistrict court small claims division
  3. 3FeeSet by clerk
  4. 4RuleMCL 600.8401

The rule in Michigan

The small claims limit in Michigan is $7,000. The rule is MCL 600.8401; the Michigan Legislature, MCL 600.8401 puts it this way: “Beginning January 1, 2024, $7,000.00.” The court that hears these cases: District court small claims division.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Michigan ranks 33rd from the top. That is $3,000 below the median of $10,000. It is 2.8 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 28% of the $25,000 top figure. Massachusetts and Montana use the same $7,000 figure.

Next door, Indiana allows $10,000, Ohio allows $6,000 and Wisconsin allows $10,000. A claim of $7,000 that fits in Michigan would be $1,000 over the line in Ohio. Indiana goes $3,000 further, so a dispute worth $10,000 could stay in small claims there but not in Michigan.

Worked check against the $7,000 figure: a $3,500 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $3,500 of room; a claim of exactly $7,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $7,001 is $1 over.

The source checked for Michigan does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.

The statute sets the limit on a dated schedule: $5,000 from September 1, 2012, $5,500 from January 1, 2015, $6,000 from January 1, 2018, $6,500 from January 1, 2021 and $7,000 from January 1, 2024. A case is measured against the figure in force when it is filed.

Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. Michigan caps deposits at 1.5 months' rent (deposit rules), so a claim for a full deposit stays under the $7,000 limit whenever the monthly rent is $4,666 or less.

Indiana$10,000Wisconsin$10,000Michigan$7,000Ohio$6,000Median, verified$10,000
Small claims limits, Michigan against neighbouring or nearest states. Bar lengths are to scale.

Source: Michigan Legislature, MCL 600.8401 · MCL 600.8401 · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the District court small claims division. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.

Questions

What is the small claims limit in Michigan?

$7,000, under MCL 600.8401. Checked October 20, 2026.

Do interest and costs count toward the Michigan limit?

The wording quoted from the source (“Beginning January 1, 2024, $7,000.00.”) does not address it; the court clerk can say how the court counts them.

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

The source checked does not publish a statewide fee; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts it.

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