In Michigan, a creditor or debt collector generally has six years to file a lawsuit to collect most consumer debts. This six-year limit comes from Michigan's Revised Judicature Act (MCL 600.5807) and applies to actions on a written contract, on a credit card or open account, and on a promissory note. Once that six-year window closes, the debt does not disappear, but the law gives you a complete defense you can raise to defeat a lawsuit, no matter how large the balance.
How long is the deadline in Michigan?
Michigan does not use a patchwork of widely different deadlines for everyday consumer debt the way some states do. The general rule for breach-of-contract claims, set by MCL 600.5807, is a six-year statute of limitations, and that period governs the debts most consumers worry about:
Written contracts: Six years. This covers most installment loans, personal loans, and signed financing agreements.
Credit cards and open accounts: Courts in Michigan generally treat credit card debt as a contract claim subject to the same six-year period. There is no shorter, separate "open account" clock that cuts the time down to two or three years as exists in some other states.
Promissory notes: Six years for a typical note to pay a sum of money.
One important exception involves the sale of goods. Under Michigan's version of the Uniform Commercial Code (MCL 440.2725), a claim for breach of a contract for the sale of goods carries a four-year limitations period. Most pure credit card and loan disputes are not "sales of goods," but the distinction can matter, so the exact nature of the contract is worth checking. Because limitations rules contain technical wrinkles, treat six years as the working rule for ordinary consumer debt and confirm the period that applies to your specific situation.
When does the clock start running?
The statute of limitations does not start on the day you opened the account. It starts when the claim "accrues" - in a debt case, that is generally the date of the first missed payment that was never cured, or the date the creditor could first have sued you. For a revolving credit card account, the clock typically begins running from the date of your last payment or the date you defaulted and the account went delinquent.
This is why the date of your last payment is one of the most important facts in any old-debt case. If your last payment or default was more than six years before a collector files suit, the lawsuit is very likely time-barred. Pull your records, your bank statements, and your credit report to pin down that date precisely.
The critical trap: a payment or acknowledgment can restart the clock
This is the single most important rule to understand, because it is how old debts come back to life. In Michigan, certain actions can restart the six-year clock from zero or even revive a debt that has already expired:
Making a payment. Sending even a small partial payment on an old debt can reset the limitations period, giving the collector a fresh six years to sue.
Acknowledging the debt in writing. Under Michigan law, a written and signed acknowledgment of the debt, or a written promise to pay it, can restart or revive the obligation. A casual verbal comment is treated differently from a signed writing, but you should not rely on that distinction - the safest course is to say nothing that admits you owe.
Debt collectors know this. A common tactic is to call about a very old, time-barred account and offer a "great deal" if you make just one small payment today. That single payment can hand them a brand-new six-year window to sue you for the entire balance. Before you pay anything or sign anything on an old debt, confirm how old it is. If it is close to or past the six-year mark, paying could be the worst thing you do.
Time-barred debt and your credit report are different timelines
Do not confuse the lawsuit deadline with how long a debt stays on your credit report. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most negative debts can be reported for about seven years - a separate timeline from Michigan's six-year suing deadline. A debt can legally remain on your credit report after it is too old to sue on, and vice versa.
An expired statute of limitations is a defense you must raise
Here is the rule that trips up the most people: in Michigan, an expired statute of limitations is an affirmative defense. That means it does not work automatically. The court will not throw out a stale lawsuit on its own. If you are sued on a time-barred debt and you ignore the summons, the collector can still win a default judgment against you - and once there is a judgment, the age of the original debt no longer protects you.
To use the defense, you must:
Respond on time. File a written answer with the court by the deadline stated in the summons. Do not skip the hearing.
Specifically plead the statute of limitations. State in your answer that the claim is barred by the applicable limitations period under MCL 600.5807. If you do not raise it, you can lose the right to use it.
Be ready to show the dates. Bring evidence of your last payment or date of default to prove that more than six years has passed.
Filing a clear, timely answer that raises the limitations defense is often enough to get a time-barred case dismissed. Many consumers lose not because the law is against them, but because they never showed up.
Federal protections that work alongside Michigan law
Federal law gives you additional leverage. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) governs third-party debt collectors nationwide. Under the FDCPA and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Regulation F, it is illegal for a collector to sue or threaten to sue on a debt they know is time-barred. If a collector files suit on a debt that is plainly past Michigan's six-year deadline, that may itself violate federal law and give you a counterclaim.
Separately, if a creditor does win a judgment and tries to garnish your wages, the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act caps most wage garnishment at 25% of disposable earnings (or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less). Michigan follows these federal garnishment limits, and certain income such as many public benefits is protected.
Where to verify and get help in Michigan
Limitations law has exceptions, and the facts of your account control the outcome, so verify before you act:
Michigan Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection Team. The Michigan Attorney General's office accepts consumer complaints about abusive debt collection and publishes consumer alerts. This is the state's primary consumer-protection authority.
The Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL). Read MCL 600.5807 for the limitations periods and MCL 440.2725 for sales of goods. The official statute text is the authoritative source.
The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for your FDCPA rights and sample response letters.
Legal aid or a consumer attorney. Michigan has legal aid organizations that help with debt-collection lawsuits, and many consumer attorneys handle FDCPA cases at no upfront cost.
The bottom line: in Michigan you generally have a six-year window in which a debt is enforceable in court, the clock usually starts at your last payment or default, a new payment or signed acknowledgment can restart it, and you must affirmatively raise the expired deadline in a timely court answer to use it as a defense.
Official Michigan Sources
This page is based on Michigan law. Limits and deadlines change — verify the current details directly with the official Michigan sources below. This is general legal information, not legal advice.
Federal law also applies. Federal laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act protect you nationwide, on top of Michigan’s own rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does a creditor have to sue me on a debt in Michigan?
Generally six years for most consumer debts, including written contracts, credit card and open accounts, and promissory notes, under MCL 600.5807. Contracts for the sale of goods under the UCC (MCL 440.2725) carry a shorter four-year period.
When does the six-year clock start in Michigan?
It starts when the claim accrues - usually the date of your first uncured missed payment or default, not the date you opened the account. The date of your last payment is often the key fact, so confirm it from your statements and credit report.
Can making a payment restart the statute of limitations in Michigan?
Yes. Making a partial payment, or signing a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, can restart the six-year clock or revive an already-expired debt. Be very cautious about paying or signing anything on an old debt before confirming how old it is.
What happens if I ignore a lawsuit on an old, time-barred debt?
The court will not dismiss it automatically. If you do not file a timely answer raising the statute of limitations, the collector can win a default judgment against you, and the age of the debt will no longer protect you.
Can a debt collector still report or call about a debt that is too old to sue on?
Possibly. Credit reporting runs about seven years under the federal FCRA, a separate timeline from the six-year suing deadline. However, under the FDCPA and Regulation F, a collector may not sue or threaten to sue on a debt they know is time-barred.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and may not reflect the most current law or the law in your jurisdiction. Laws vary by state and change over time. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
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