Collecting a Judgment in Michigan Small Claims Court

Winning a Michigan small claims judgment and actually getting paid are two completely different problems. The court decides who owes what, but it does not collect the money for you. That responsibility falls entirely on you as the judgment creditor, and Michigan law gives you several enforcement tools — but you have to know which ones exist and how to use them.

The Court Won't Collect for You

This catches many people off guard. After the judge or magistrate signs your judgment (Form DC 85 or DC 84), the court's role is essentially over. District court clerks can accept your filings and issue writs, but they are legally prohibited from advising you on which forms to file or what strategy to use. You are on your own to navigate enforcement.

Step 1: Wait 21 Days

Under MCR 2.614(A)(1), you cannot take any enforcement action until 21 calendar days after the judgment is entered. This waiting period exists to allow the losing party to file post-judgment motions or, in magistrate cases, request a new trial before a judge. If day 21 falls on a weekend or court holiday, the period extends to the next business day.

Step 2: Send a Voluntary Payment Demand

Before spending money on court filings, send the debtor a written demand. Include the case number, the principal judgment amount, accrued post-judgment interest under MCL 600.6013, and clear payment instructions. Many debtors pay once they realize formal enforcement is coming.

Step 3: Discover the Debtor's Assets

If the debtor ignores your demand, you probably need to find out what they own or earn before choosing an enforcement tool. File a Subpoena for Debtor Examination (Form MC 11) with the court — this costs a $15 filing fee plus service and witness fees. A judge signs the order compelling the debtor to appear at the courthouse and answer questions under oath about their bank accounts, employer, income, and property.

Step 4: Choose Your Enforcement Tool

Michigan offers five main collection mechanisms, each with its own SCAO form:

• Wage garnishment (Form MC 12) — reaches up to the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage per pay period, and runs for 182 days
• Bank account garnishment (Form MC 13) — freezes nonexempt funds present when the bank receives and processes the writ, up to the balance claimed
• State tax refund intercept (Form MC 52) — garnishes the debtor's Michigan income tax refund through the Department of Treasury
• Property seizure (Form MC 19) — a court officer or sheriff physically seizes and auctions the debtor's non-exempt personal property
• Judgment lien (Form MC 94) — attaches to real estate the debtor owns, forcing payment when they sell or refinance

Each court filing costs $15. Garnishment writs also carry a $35 disclosure fee for employers and banks or a $6 fee for the State of Michigan, plus applicable service or recording fees.

Step 5: Track Your Balance

Every filing fee, service cost, and accrued interest gets added to the debtor's balance. When you fill out the sworn balance on a garnishment writ (Item 2), the total must be accurate. Payments get applied first to costs, then to interest, then to principal.

Step 6: Close the Case

Once the judgment is fully satisfied — principal, interest, and all costs — you are legally required to file a Certificate of Satisfied Judgment (Form MC 17) with the court and release any active garnishments (Form MC 50). If you recorded a judgment lien, you also need to file a discharge with the Register of Deeds.

Michigan judgments are enforceable for 10 years and renewable for another 10 under MCL 600.5809(3), so you have time. But interest accrues the entire time, and writs expire (the 182-day garnishment window, for example), so staying organized matters.

The Michigan Judgment Collection Roadmap covers every step in detail — the forms, fees, deadlines, exemptions, and a balance ledger to keep your accounting straight through the entire process.

See more Michigan guides →