Michigan
Small claims court in Michigan
Michigan's Small Claims Division allows claims up to $7,000 with no lawyers permitted on either side. The trade-off: there is no right to appeal a Small Claims judgment. Either party may demand removal to the District Court's regular civil docket — which allows lawyers and an appeal — at any point before the judgment is entered.
Important: Unlike most states, Michigan small claims judgments cannot be appealed. If appellate review matters, demand removal to the regular civil docket before judgment.
Max claim (individual)
$7,000
Filing fee
$30.00 – $70.00
Filing → judgment: 8-12 weeks
Court
District Court (Small Claims Division)
In person; remote available
The rules at a glance
- Lawyers allowed?
- No (at the initial hearing)
- Corporations allowed?
- Yes
- Right of appeal?
- No
Official resources
Other states
Alaska
$10,000
Alabama
$6,000
Arkansas
$5,000
Arizona
$3,500
California
$12,500
Colorado
$7,500
Connecticut
$5,000
District of Columbia
$10,000
Delaware
$25,000
Florida
$8,000
Georgia
$15,000
Hawaii
$5,000
Iowa
$6,500
Idaho
$5,000
Illinois
$10,000
Indiana
$10,000
Kansas
$4,000
Kentucky
$2,500
Louisiana
$5,000
Massachusetts
$7,000
Maryland
$5,000
Maine
$6,000
Minnesota
$15,000
Missouri
$5,000
Mississippi
$3,500
Montana
$8,000
North Carolina
$10,000
North Dakota
$15,000
Nebraska
$3,800
New Hampshire
$10,000
New Jersey
$5,000
New Mexico
$10,000
Nevada
$10,000
New York
$10,000
Ohio
$6,000
Oklahoma
$10,000
Oregon
$10,000
Pennsylvania
$12,000
Rhode Island
$5,000
South Carolina
$7,500
South Dakota
$12,000
Tennessee
$25,000
Texas
$20,000
Utah
$15,000
Virginia
$5,000
Vermont
$10,000
Washington
$10,000
Wisconsin
$10,000
West Virginia
$10,000
Wyoming
$6,000
Not legal advice. Procedures vary by court and change
periodically. Always confirm details with the clerk's office or the
official court website (linked above) before filing.