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

Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8401 (2026)

Small claims division; creation; judge; jurisdiction.

✓ current as of July 2026
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REVISED JUDICATURE ACT OF 1961


Act 236 of 1961


600.8401 Small claims division; creation; judge; jurisdiction.

Sec. 8401.

    A small claims division is created in each district as a division of the district court. A judge of the district court shall sit as judge of the small claims division. The jurisdiction of the small claims division shall be confined to cases for the recovery of money in which the amount claimed does not exceed the following:

    (a) Beginning September 1, 2012, $5,000.00.

    (b) Beginning January 1, 2015, $5,500.00.

    (c) Beginning January 1, 2018, $6,000.00.

    (d) Beginning January 1, 2021, $6,500.00

    (e) Beginning January 1, 2024, $7,000.00.

History: Add. 1968, Act 154, Imd. Eff. June 17, 1968 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 496, Eff. Jan. 1, 1979 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 278, Eff. Jan. 1, 1985 ;-- Am. 1991, Act 192, Eff. July 1, 1992 ;-- Am. 1999, Act 27, Eff. Jan. 1, 2000 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 142, Eff. Sept. 1, 2012

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1987–2022 · leading case: Cadle Co. v. City of Kentwood, 776 N.W.2d 145 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009).
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Cadle Co. v. City of Kentwood, 776 N.W.2d 145 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “” MCL 600.8401. 2 MCL 600.8408(1) provides: An attorney at law, except on the attorney’s own behalf, a collection agency or agent or employee of a collection agency, or a person other than the plaintiff and defendant, except as is otherwise provided in this chapter, shall not…”
the Meisner Law Grp. v. Weston Downs Condo. Ass'n, 909 N.W.2d 890 (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “3301 et seq. ; or Chapter 38 (public nuisances), MCL 600.”
In Re Lafayette Towers, 503 N.W.2d 740 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 3× “The small claims divisions of the various district courts are established pursuant to MCL 600.8401 et seq.; MSA 27A.8401 et seq.”
Elec. Data Sys. Corp. v. Flint Twp., 656 N.W.2d 215 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “For example, there is a small claims division within each district court with jurisdiction over controversies in which the recovery amount would not exceed $3,000, MCL 600.8401, and jurisdiction of the district courts is set at amounts not exceeding $25,000, MCL 600.”
In Re Goehring, 457 N.W.2d 375 (Mich. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 2× “Chapter 84 of the Revised Judicature Act, MCL 600.8401 et seq.; MSA 27A.8401 et seq.”
Kerekes v. Bowlds, 446 N.W.2d 357 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 2× “MCL 600.8401; MSA 27A.8401. It is not a separate court, but a division exercising a special jurisdiction in addition to the general jurisdiction of the parent district court.”
Kaiser v. Smith, 470 N.W.2d 88 (Mich. Ct. App. 1991). “301 provides that actions in the small claims division are governed by the procedural provisions of Chapter 84 of the Revised Judicature Act, MCL 600.8401 et seq.; MSA 27A.8401 et seq.”
In re Transamerica Ins. Co. of Am., 414 N.W.2d 158 (Mich. Ct. App. 1987). “The trial court granted defendant’s motion for summary disposition on the ground that a subro-gation suit filed by an insurance company was essentially an assignment within the meaning of the Revised Judicature Act’s chapter on the small claims division, MCL 600.8401 et seq.;…”
Kathryn M Rodriguez v. Hirshberg Acceptance Corp (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “Furthermore, “the district court has equitable jurisdiction and authority concurrent with that of the circuit court in,” among other matters, “cases brought under chapter 84,” which governs small claims.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8401(2) — 1 case
Kerekes v. Bowlds, 446 N.W.2d 357 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). “MCL 600.8401; MSA 27A.8401. It is not a separate court, but a division exercising a special jurisdiction in addition to the general jurisdiction of the parent district court.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8401(c) — 1 case
Kathryn M Rodriguez v. Hirshberg Acceptance Corp (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “Furthermore, “the district court has equitable jurisdiction and authority concurrent with that of the circuit court in,” among other matters, “cases brought under chapter 84,” which governs small claims.”
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