How long does an eviction take in Michigan?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 3.5 to 9 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Michigan actually earn?
We'll prefill Michigan's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,168/mo
- Property tax 1.18%–1.2%
- Insurance $1,033–$1,164/yr
- Vacancy 5.7%
The Michigan eviction timeline
Each step comes from Michigan's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 4 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
7 days7-day demand for possession (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.134(2))
- 2
File and get a judgment
7–21 days · typical 10Hearing is generally set within 10 days of the summons
- 3
Judgment to lockout
10–14 daysOrder of eviction can issue 10 days after judgment
- 4
If the tenant appeals
10-day window10 days to appeal to circuit court; bond/escrow stays proceedings
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 ↗
What an eviction costs in Michigan
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
47th District Court example$55–$215Possession only $55; possession + money $90-$215 by amount (47th District example)
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Michigan yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Michigan yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,168/moMichigan median gross rent, ±$11. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
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 or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Local rules: Detroit has a right-to-counsel ordinance.
Michigan scores 75 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
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 LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
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).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Michigan?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Michigan costs a landlord roughly $1,700 to $3,100: about 4 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,168/month (about $1,100), court and service fees of about $160-$472 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 9 weeks can pass $4,900. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Michigan landlord-friendly for evictions?
Michigan scores 75 out of 100 on the LandlordCost 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
Not yet verified for Michigan: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcelegislature.mi.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcecourts.michigan.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcecourts.michigan.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcecourts.michigan.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcefhgov.com ↗
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcelegislature.mi.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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