BIZREFUND guide
Michigan small claims court: limit and fee
A refund request that a company refuses can end in small claims court. This page gives the Michigan facts a letter writer needs before deciding anything: the limit, the court, the fee, the rule on asking first, and where to complain. Each fact names its official source and the date it was checked.
The limit
In Michigan, the general small claims limit is USD 7,000. The limit rises by statute in steps: USD 5,000 in 2012, USD 5,500 in 2015, USD 6,000 in 2018, USD 6,500 in 2021 and USD 7,000 from January 1, 2024, with no further step scheduled.
Which court
Small claims cases in Michigan are heard in the Small claims division of the district court. The court's own page, linked below, explains where to file and what the forms are called.
Filing fee range
The filing fee runs from USD 30 to USD 70, depending on the amount you claim. USD 30 for a claim up to USD 600, USD 50 up to USD 1,750 and USD 70 above that, by the court's small claims overview form.
Before you file
The official pages read for this state do not say whether you must ask first. A dated letter with the evidence attached is the record either way. The court's small claims overview and the statute say nothing about asking first.
Your state's consumer law
The main consumer protection law in Michigan is the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCL 445.901 et seq.; prohibited practices at MCL 445.903). A letter can name it; what it covers in your case is a question for the statute itself or a lawyer.
Where to complain
The Michigan attorney general takes consumer complaints through its own page, linked below. A complaint there is a report that the office keeps and can act on; it is not a claim for your money.
E-filing
Online filing depends on the county. The court's page says which counties offer it.
Worked example
Example: a USD 850 refund that a store in Michigan refused is under the USD 7,000 limit, so it is the size of claim the Small claims division of the district court hears. The filing fee for it would fall between USD 30 and USD 70. The letter from the refund desk is the written request that comes first, and the timeline log is the record you bring.
Sources
- Small claims limit
- Filing fee
- The court
- Consumer law
- Michigan attorney general: consumer complaint
- Online filing
Checked on 2026-10-11 against the sources above. Limits and fees change; confirm on the court's own page before you file.
Not legal advice and not a law firm. This page says what the court and the rule are, not whether you should file.
Common questions
What if my claim is over the limit?
Then small claims is not the court for the whole amount. People sometimes claim only up to the limit and give up the rest, or use a different court. Which is right for you is not something this page can say.
Do I have to send a letter before I file?
In Michigan, the court's page does not say whether to ask first, by the official pages read for this guide. A dated letter with the evidence attached is the record either way.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It lists what the court and the rule are, with the official source for each fact and the date it was checked. It does not judge your case or tell you to file.