How long does an eviction take in Michigan?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Michigan, and anywhere from 3.5 to 9 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Michigan eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 7 daysofficial source
7-day demand for possession (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.134(2)) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 7-21 days (typical 10)official source
Hearing is generally set within 10 days of the summons source - Judgment to lockout 10-14 daysofficial source
Order of eviction can issue 10 days after judgment source - If the tenant appeals 10-day windowofficial source
10 days to appeal to circuit court; bond/escrow stays proceedings source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
In nonpayment cases, paying the judgment and costs before the order of eviction is executed stops it. official source source
Eviction costs in Michigan
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $55-$215 | 47th District Court example: Possession only $55; possession + money $90-$215 by amount (47th District example) official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Michigan; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Michigan; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,168/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$11) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Local rules | Check | Detroit has a right-to-counsel ordinance. |
Eviction cost calculator for Michigan
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 75/100
Timeline 41.7/50 · right to cure 3/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Michigan eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Michigan?
A nonpayment eviction in Michigan typically takes about 4 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3.5 to 9 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Michigan?
7-day demand for possession (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.134(2)).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Michigan by paying the rent?
In nonpayment cases, paying the judgment and costs before the order of eviction is executed stops it.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Michigan?
The filing fee we found is $55-$215 (47th District Court example). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Michigan landlord-friendly for evictions?
Michigan scores 75 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 41.7/50, right to cure 3/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | www.legislature.mi.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | www.courts.michigan.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | www.courts.michigan.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | www.courts.michigan.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | www.fhgov.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Michigan: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
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