How long you have in Michigan
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
| Kind of claim | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Unpaid Loan | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Contractor Dispute | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Auto Repair | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Security Deposit | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Other | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Property Damage | 3 years | the day the damage happened | MCL 600.5805(2) |
| Sale of Goods | 4 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCL 440.2725(1) |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 6 years runs out on 2032-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.
More about Michigan
Common questions
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Michigan?
- The shortest window is 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under MCL 600.5805(2). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in Michigan?
- 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under MCL 600.5805(2).
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Michigan?
- 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under MCL 440.2725(1).
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Michigan?
- An individual can claim up to $7,000. A business can claim up to $7,000. A public agency can claim up to $7,000. That comes from MCL 600.8401.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Michigan's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2024-01-01.
- MCL 600.5807(9) · effective 2018-05-07 · A claim for money owed under an agreement, written or spoken, must be filed within six years of when it was broken.
- MCL 600.5805(2) · effective 2018-06-12 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within three years of the damage.
- MCL 440.2725(1) · effective 1964-01-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.