2026 state court fee data · Michigan

Small Claims in Michigan

Recorded at $30–$75 - among the cheaper civil filings in Michigan, and one of 10 states where we price this filing.

Filing steps ↓ About this data

Fee rank is not wait rank

Signature reading for Small Claims in Michigan: 6 steps on published procedural depth for this filing. On this filing's state cohort, Michigan sits in the lower third of recorded max fees ($30–$75). The published step list sits near the 6-step median for this filing (6 steps). According to PlainCivil's compiled state court fee schedules, Small Claims in Michigan ranks #96 of 120 process-state filings by maximum filing fee (highest max fee = #1). Civil Lawsuit is largest of 2 at $400 among 12 civil filings in Michigan; that is not the longest wait: Divorce records 60 days on a $250 ceiling.

Small Claims figures for Michigan are compiled schedule reference, not legal advice - verify with the clerk where you intend to file.

In-state wait inventory

Waiting periods among Michigan civil filings

Exclusive split of all 12 tracked filings in Michigan - orthogonal to in-state fee placement below.

Compare a state record

Compare small claims with another state

Start with Michigan, then inspect another published court-schedule record without leaving this page.

Focus the comparison by published maximum fee

This only narrows the same court-schedule records; it does not estimate a total filing cost.

In-state placement

Where small claims sits among Michigan filings

Of the 12 civil filings we track in Michigan, small claims ranks 10 by recorded maximum fee: among the cheaper civil filings in Michigan. Neighbours: Tenant Rights at $100 and Domestic Violence Protection at $0.

Same-state corpus only, not a national ranking. How we place filings

The Michigan row lists 6 procedural steps against a 6-step median for this filing: a reading of published detail, not difficulty.

Filing Fee Details

$30-$75 depending on claim amount.

Michigan's low-band fee among states

Michigan sits in the lower third of this filing's state cohort at $30–$75 (rank #7 of 10 by max fee).

Source: state court filing-fee schedules (upper-bound fee per state). Verify current amounts with the relevant court. How we calculate this ranking →

Key Requirements

  • Claim limit: $7,000
  • No attorneys allowed at hearing
  • Filed in District Court Small Claims Division
  • Judgment good for 5 years (renewable)

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    File DC 84 (Affidavit and Claim) at District Court

  2. 2

    Pay filing fee

  3. 3

    Defendant served by certified mail or officer

  4. 4

    Hearing scheduled (3-6 weeks)

  5. 5

    Informal hearing — no lawyers

  6. 6

    Judge or magistrate issues judgment

Important Notes

Michigan prohibits attorneys at small claims hearings. Limit is $7,000.

Grounds / Eligibility

Monetary disputes up to $7,000

Quick Reference

Fee stamp
NOMINAL schedule band
Wait stamp
OPEN clock band
Filing Fee
$30–$75
Residency
File in district court where defendant lives, works, or where claim arose
Typical Timeline
3-6 weeks to hearing

Official Resources

Michigan Court Website Official Forms

Nearest fee-schedule peers in Michigan

Ordered by ABS(filing_fee_max) to this row's NOMINAL stamp - not an A-Z process catalog.

Tenant Rights
NOMINAL
$30–$100
1-3 months
Domestic Violence Protection
WAIVED
Free
Ex parte PPO same-day; respondent can request hearing within 14 days
Eviction
CLERK
$45–$150
Hearing within 10-21 days. Possession order after judgment.
Restraining Order
WAIVED
Free
Ex parte PPO same-day; respondent can request hearing within 14 days
Name Change
CLERK
$150–$200
1-2 months
Divorce
CLERK
$150–$250
No children: 60-day minimum. With children: 180-day minimum. Contested: 1-2 years.

Take this with you

What to do with small claims in Michigan's numbers, next.

Filing fees and requirements change; verify current figures with your local court before filing.

According to published Michigan court materials compiled in the PlainCivil state-process database. See our methodology for source categories and vintage. Schedule row for Small Claims in Michigan: max fee $30–$75, wait Not published, vintage 2026-09-01.