Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 600 / Act 236 of 1961
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2021 (2026)

Foreign corporations; actions based on forbidden acts; exceptions.

✓ current as of July 2026
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REVISED JUDICATURE ACT OF 1961


Act 236 of 1961


600.2021 Foreign corporations; actions based on forbidden acts; exceptions.

Sec. 2021.

    (1)  If a law of this state prohibits a corporation or an association of individuals from performing an act unless the act is expressly authorized by law, and the act is done by a foreign corporation, the foreign corporation shall not maintain an action based on that act, or upon any liability or obligation, express or implied, arising out of or made or entered into in consideration of that act.

    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a foreign corporation subject to the business corporation act, 1972 PA 284, MCL 450.1101 to 450.2098, or the nonprofit corporation act, 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to 450.3192.

History: 1961, Act 236, Eff. Jan. 1, 1963 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 438, Imd. Eff. June 11, 2002

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1967–1977 · leading case: Lake States Eng'g Corp. v. Lawrence Seaway Corp., 167 N.W.2d 320 (Mich. Ct. App. 1969).
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Lake States Eng'g Corp. v. Lawrence Seaway Corp., 167 N.W.2d 320 (Mich. Ct. App. 1969). · cites it 2× “2021]) provides: “When, by the laws of this state, any act is forbidden to be done by any corporation, or by any association of individuals, without express authority by law, and such act was done by a foreign corporation, the foreign corporation shall not maintain any action…”
Behlen Mfg. Co. v. Andries-Butler Inc., 217 N.W.2d 125 (Mich. Ct. App. 1974). · cites it 3× “94 and MCLA 600.2021; MSA 27A.2021 have on the case before us, particularly in relation to the validity or invalidity of the contract.”
Long Mfg. Co. v. Wright-Way Farm Serv., Inc., 197 N.W.2d 862 (Mich. Ct. App. 1972). · cites it 2× “MCLA 600.2021; MSA 27A.2021; Lake States Engineering Corp v Lawrence Seaway Corp, 15 Mich App 637, 645 (1969).”
Long Mfg. Co. v. Wright-Way Farm Serv., Inc., 214 N.W.2d 816 (Mich. 1974). “MCLA 600.2021; MSA 27A.2021 provides that a foreign corporation may not "maintain any action” founded upon or arising out of any act which is forbidden.”
Thomas Indus., Inc. v. Wells, 262 N.W.2d 853 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 6× “200(1011), MCLA 600.2021; MSA 27A.2021. On appeal, plaintiff initially claims that the paucity of facts garnered below prevented the lower court from properly determining whether Thomas had conducted business in Michigan within the meaning of MCLA 450.”
Stoneleigh Homes, Inc. v. Jerome Bldg. Co., 188 N.W.2d 152 (Mich. Ct. App. 1971). · cites it 2× “Lawrence Seaway Corporation (1969), 15 Mich App 637 , is applicable to the facts herein when considered in conjunction with MCLA § 600.2021 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 27A.”
Columbus Servs., Inc. v. Preferred Bldg. Maint., Inc., 270 F. Supp. 875 (W.D. Mich. 1967). “Laws 1948, § 600.2021 [P.A.1961 No. 236]: “When, by the laws of this state, any act is forbidden to be done by any corporation * * * without express authority by law, and such act was done by a foreign corporation, the foreign corporation shall not maintain any action founded…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.