Michigan Small Claims Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Claim Type
The Clock Depends on the Claim Type
Michigan's statute of limitations sets the time window for starting a claim. The applicable period depends on what kind of claim you have.
Limitation Periods by Claim Type
| Claim type | Time limit | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Written or oral contract breach | 6 years | MCL 600.5807 |
| Property damage / negligence | 3 years | MCL 600.5805 |
| Consumer goods (UCC sales) | 4 years from tender of delivery or breach, as applicable | MCL 440.2725 |
Contract breach (6 years): This covers unpaid invoices, broken service agreements, loan repayments, and any situation where someone agreed to pay and did not. The clock starts on the date of the breach — the day payment was due or the day the other party failed to perform.
Property damage and negligence (3 years): Car accidents, fence damage, water damage from a neighbor's property, tree removal disputes. The clock starts on the date of injury or damage.
Consumer goods under the UCC (4 years): Defective products, failed warranties on purchased goods. The clock runs from tender of delivery or breach, as applicable under MCL 440.2725.
Security Deposit Deadlines Are Different
Security deposit claims in Michigan operate on their own timeline under the Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act (LTRA), and the deadlines are much shorter:
- Tenant forwarding address: Within 4 days of move-out (MCL 554.611)
- Landlord itemized damage notice: Within 30 days of move-out if the tenant provided a forwarding address (MCL 554.609)
- Tenant dispute response: By ordinary mail within 7 days of receiving the damage list (MCL 554.612)
- Landlord files suit to keep disputed deposit: Within 45 days of move-out (MCL 554.613)
If the tenant complied with the notice steps and the landlord misses the 45-day deadline to file suit for the disputed amount, the tenant may sue for double the amount retained. Keep copies and mailing dates for each notice.
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How to Calculate Your Deadline
Use the trigger described above to calculate the period: the contract breach, the injury or damage, or the tender of delivery for UCC goods. The triggering date matters; if it is disputed or the deadline is close, get Michigan legal help before filing.
If you are close to the deadline, confirm the correct court and filing requirements before submitting. A filing rejected for non-compliance is effective on the date the clerk accepts the corrected filing, not the original submission date (MCR 1.109(D)(2)).
What Tolling Does Not Apply
Michigan does not automatically pause the statute of limitations if you send a demand letter, enter mediation, or negotiate informally. Unless the parties execute a formal standstill agreement, the clock keeps running while you try to resolve things outside court.
The Michigan small claims filing guide includes a deadline calendar worksheet to map your specific deadlines — whether you are dealing with a contract, property damage, or a security deposit dispute.
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