Direct answer

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Statute Of Limitations calculator.

Michigan’s general debt collection statute of limitations (SOL) is typically 6 years, under MCL § 767.24(1). Importantly, Michigan does not reset the SOL on January 1. The key question is whether the lawsuit was filed within 6 years of the claim’s accrual/trigger date (often the date the creditor could first sue, commonly tied to default/breach), not whether the calendar year changed.

If you’re checking whether a collector filed a lawsuit in 2026 and it might be time-barred, you generally compare:

• the accrual date / trigger date (when the claim could first be filed), versus
• the court filing date (when the complaint was filed).

What you need to know

Michigan’s general/default SOL period is 6 years for covered civil actions, based on MCL § 767.24(1). Per the brief’s guidance, no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified, so this article uses the 6-year general period as the default framework.

In practical terms:

• If the debt collection claim falls within the category covered by Michigan’s general SOL, the collector generally must file the lawsuit before the 6-year period expires.
• “New year deadlines” matter only because the calendar date affects whether a filing date is before or after the 6-year expiration.
• Missing the SOL deadline does not automatically erase the debt, but it can affect whether the collector can obtain a judgment in court. A SOL time-bar typically must be raised as a defense (procedural and fact-specific).

Michigan SOL analysis often depends on these inputs:

1. Accrual date (start of the clock)
   Common starting points include the date of default/breach, a key contractual event, or the date a cause of action could first be filed. Accrual can be fact-specific.

2. Filing date (what you compare to the deadline)
   Use the date the complaint was filed in court—not the date you received a letter.

3. Tolling / pauses / extensions (if any apply)
   Some situations can extend or pause SOL timelines. Even if the general rule is “6 years,” tolling can change the outcome. This guide focuses on the baseline statute and the math framework.

Step-by-step

Use this process to estimate whether a Michigan debt collection lawsuit might be time-barred under the 6-year general SOL in MCL § 767.24(1). This is not legal advice—it’s a deadline-math workflow.

Step 1: Confirm you’re using the right SOL rule (general/default)

Start with this question: “Is this debt collection claim likely covered by Michigan’s general civil SOL statute?”

Because your brief indicates no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found, this guide treats MCL § 767.24(1) (6 years) as the default.

Step 2: Choose the accrual/trigger date to test

Pick the earliest date that plausibly starts the clock—commonly:

• the date of default/breach (if the contract ties liability to a missed payment or similar trigger), or
• the date the creditor could first sue (depending on how accrual applies to the specific claim), or
• sometimes the last payment-related event—but only if it lines up with how the claim accrues under the facts and contract language.

If you have multiple “important dates,” use the one that best matches “when the claim could first be filed.”

Step 3: Get the court filing date

Find the complaint filing date from the court paperwork or docket. This is the date you compare to the SOL deadline.

Step 4: Calculate the approximate 6-year deadline

Baseline framework under the general rule:

• SOL length: 6 years
• Statute citation: MCL § 767.24(1)

Approximate endpoint: **accrual date + 6 years = latest filing date (rough estimate)

Step 5: Run the comparison with DocketMath

Use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to avoid manual date errors:

• Primary CTA: /tools/statute-of-limitations

Key statutes and citations

• MCL § 767.24(1) — 6-year general statute of limitations
  Source reference: https://www.michigan.gov

What this citation is doing in the article

This statute is used as the general/default SOL baseline for the content here.

Because your brief found no claim-type-specific sub-rule, the article does not claim a shorter or longer SOL for specific debt-collection claim types. Instead, it applies the 6-year general period as the default.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming the SOL resets on January 1
  Michigan SOL timing is driven by the accrual/trigger date and the statutory period—not the start of a new year.

• Mixing communication timelines with lawsuit timelines
  A collector may contact you after the SOL expires. That’s not the same as filing a lawsuit within the SOL window.

• Using the wrong “clock start” date
  “Last payment,” “charge-off,” and “default” can be different dates. SOL math depends on the accrual/trigger date.

• Using a received-letter date instead of a filing date
  The relevant comparison is usually between accrual date + SOL versus the court filing date.

• Ignoring tolling or pauses
  If tolling applies, the “6-year from accrual” simple model can shift. This guide doesn’t attempt to compute tolling.

Run the numbers

Here’s how the 6-year general rule can interact with the new year in Michigan.

Inputs to use in DocketMath

In DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool (/tools/statute-of-limitations), enter:

• Accrual date (the date the claim could first be filed)
• Filing date (date the complaint was filed)
• Ensure your calculation is using the general/default 6-year rule from **MCL § 767.24(1)

How outputs can flip with small input changes

SOL calculations are date-sensitive. For example:

• If the lawsuit is filed before (accrual + 6 years) → it’s more likely within the SOL window.
• If filed after (accrual + 6 years) → it’s more likely outside the SOL window.

Quick “calendar-year boundary” example

Assume an accrual date of January 10, 2019.

• Approximate 6-year endpoint under MCL § 767.24(1): January 10, 2025

Two filings:

• December 20, 2024 → likely within the 6-year period
• January 20, 2025 → likely outside the 6-year period

That’s the practical “new year” effect: a filing shortly after January can be the difference between “likely timely” and “likely time-barred” under the same 6-year statute.

Use DocketMath to calculate precisely

Run your scenario in DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator:

• /tools/statute-of-limitations

Then compare the tool’s latest filing date (based on the 6-year SOL) to the court filing date in your case.

Related reading

• Browse the blog

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator