Up to $7,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Michigan, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Division (District Court), where you can sue for up to $7,000.
Your deadline: Michigan generally gives you 6 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $65 (About $30–$70 by amount, plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8401; deadlines: Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 600.5807, 600.5805. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract 6 yrs; property damage and personal injury 3 yrs.
Suing for something else in Michigan: Michigan unpaid loan · Michigan property damage · Michigan unpaid rent · Michigan contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Ohio ($6,000, 8 years) · Indiana ($10,000, 10 years) · Wisconsin ($10,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026