Want them filled in for you? Answer a few plain-English questions and get your completed Michigan small claims forms plus a judge script, ready to review and file.
Get My Michigan Forms — $19Filing a small claims case in Michigan means using Michigan's own forms and following its court's procedure. This guide covers the core documents a typical case uses, the claim limit, and where to get the official Michigan forms — without paying for something your court provides free.
The short version: file your claim in Small Claims Division of the District Court, serve the defendant, and prepare your evidence for the hearing. Get the official forms free from courts.mi.gov — and get the current claim limit from the court too, because we are still verifying ours.
What Forms Do You Need in Michigan?
Form names and numbers differ by state, but a Michigan small claims case generally uses the same core documents:
📄 Affidavit and Claim, Small Claims (Form DC 84); must be sworn before a notary or the court clerk
The document that opens your case — it names the parties, the amount you're claiming, and the basis of the claim. Get the current version from courts.mi.gov.
📬 Serving the defendant
After filing, the defendant is served with the DC 84 and notice, ordinarily by the court via certified mail (return receipt), or by an officer/process server (MCR 4.302/4.303). Proof of service is recorded on the court's process/return.
💵 Fee waiver
Fee Waiver Request (Form MC 20) Ask the clerk for the current fee-waiver form.
⚖️ Default judgment
If the defendant is properly served but doesn't respond or appear, you can ask the court to enter a judgment in your favor by default.
Where to Get Official Michigan Forms
Michigan small claims forms are free from the official sources below. Always use the current official version, and confirm any local (county/court) variations before you file.
- Michigan court forms — courts.mi.gov
- Official source — courts.michigan.gov
- Official source — courts.michigan.gov
- Your local courthouse or clerk — the clerk can provide the current forms and tell you which ones your court requires.
Michigan Small Claims Limit & Fees
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Small Claims Division of the District Court |
| Claim limit | Verifying — see the note below the table |
| Filing fee | Ask the clerk of court. Fees change and vary by claim size, and we publish a figure only where we have verified it against the court’s own schedule. |
| Fee waiver | Fee Waiver Request (Form MC 20) |
Michigan's small claims limit is $7,000. MCL 600.8401 gives the Small Claims Division jurisdiction over money claims that do not exceed $7,000, so a claim of exactly $7,000 still qualifies. Under MCL 600.8425(1) you may file here with a larger claim, but you cannot recover more than $7,000 — the excess is waived permanently for that case. Our Michigan limits guide works through where that trade-off is worth it. Limits change, so confirm before filing at the Michigan courts small claims page or from the clerk of your district court before you decide what to claim. While you have the clerk, confirm the filing fee too: our fee record for Michigan is a mid-confidence figure we have not checked against a published court fee schedule, so the tiers in the table above are a rough guide to what filing costs, not a quote.
Fees change over time and can vary by county — confirm the current figures with your Michigan court before you file.
Before you file, run the numbers. Now that you know the Michigan limit, three free tools answer the questions that come next: is the claim still in time (statute of limitations checker), is suing worth it once you count the fee and your time (worth-it calculator), and what will the whole thing cost (cost-to-sue estimator)? Many disputes settle before any of this, once the other side gets a written demand letter.
Michigan Small Claims Forms: FAQ
❓ What forms do I need to file a small claims case in Michigan?
A Michigan small claims case is filed in Small Claims Division of the District Court. You generally need a claim/complaint form to open the case, a way to serve the defendant with proof of service, and — if you can't afford the fee — a fee-waiver form. Form names and numbers are set by the court, so download the current official versions from courts.mi.gov before you file.
❓ How much can you sue for in Michigan small claims court?
Up to $7,000. MCL 600.8401 gives Michigan's Small Claims Division jurisdiction over money claims that do not exceed $7,000, so a claim of exactly $7,000 still qualifies. Under MCL 600.8425(1) you may file here with a larger claim, but you cannot recover more than $7,000 — the excess is waived permanently for that case. Limits do get raised, so confirm with your district court or at courts.mi.gov before you decide what to claim. If your claim exceeds the limit, you can reduce it to stay in small claims or file in a higher court instead.
❓ Where do I get official Michigan small claims forms?
From your state court — Michigan's judiciary publishes the official forms, and the Small Claims Division of the District Court clerk can provide the current versions and tell you which ones your court requires. Court-issued forms are free; you only pay the filing fee.
❓ Do you need a lawyer for small claims court in Michigan?
No. Small claims court is designed for people to represent themselves without an attorney, and Michigan is no exception. The forms and procedure are simplified so you can file, serve, and present your own case.
Generate Your Michigan Small Claims Forms
A few plain-English questions is all it takes: SmallClaimsHelper drafts your Michigan claim plus a judge script, ready to review and file for $19.
Start My Claim — $19This is general information, not legal advice. Michigan's small claims forms, fees, and claim limits can change and often vary by county — always rely on the current official forms and verify the rules with your court before you file.