Rule or statute summary

In Michigan, most “collections last” questions turn on how long a creditor has to sue on a debt—i.e., the statute of limitations (SOL). Once the SOL window expires, the creditor generally cannot file a lawsuit to obtain a judgment based on that specific debt.

Important: an expired SOL may limit the ability to sue, but it does not automatically stop every form of collection activity (for example, communications, reporting, or other actions that may be governed by different laws). This page focuses on the lawsuit-timing baseline supported by the statute below, not on every collection practice.

Michigan’s general/default SOL (no claim-type-specific sub-rule found)

Per the brief you provided:

• Michigan’s general/default SOL period is 6 years
• General statute: **MCL § 767.24(1)
• No claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for this general question

So the guidance here treats Michigan’s general SOL as the default rule for the “how long can they sue?” part of the collections question.

Citations

• 6 years — MCL § 767.24(1)

Source location (jurisdiction data reference): https://www.michigan.gov

Note: This is presented as the general/default period for the type of timing question in the brief. If you’re dealing with a particular debt category or a different accrual trigger, the effective timeline can change—verify the claim details before relying on any SOL estimate.

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath (the statute-of-limitations calculator) to translate Michigan’s 6-year general SOL into a practical timeline based on your dates.

Primary CTA: /tools/statute-of-limitations

What inputs to enter (Michigan / US-MI)

Because no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found in the brief, set the calculator to use the Michigan general/default rule (6 years).

Typical inputs include:

• Debt “start date” / triggering date
  This is the date the SOL clock starts (often called the accrual date). Depending on the debt, this might relate to when the obligation was due or when the claim accrued.
• Today’s date (or the comparison date)
  This is used to determine whether the 6-year period is still open or already expired.
• Jurisdiction: **Michigan (US-MI)

How the output changes when dates change

The calculator output will generally respond to these kinds of changes:

1. Earlier triggering/accrual date → likely more time has passed → SOL may be expired sooner
2. Later triggering/accrual date → less time has passed → SOL may still be open

Practical “collections” takeaway

• The 6-year figure reflects how long the creditor generally has to file a lawsuit.
• It does not automatically mean collection activity stops after 6 years; other laws and regulations may govern other aspects of collection behavior.

Pitfall to avoid: People often read “6 years” as “collections end.” In Michigan, what the statute-backed number most directly addresses here is lawsuit timing under MCL § 767.24(1).

Related reading

• Browse the blog

Sources and references

• Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL § 767.24(1) (general SOL period stated as 6 years). Source indicated for jurisdiction data: https://www.michigan.gov
• TODO: If you share the debt type (e.g., credit card, promissory note, medical debt) and the relevant accrual event/trigger date, we can check whether any additional Michigan-specific SOL sub-rules apply beyond the general/default 6-year period described in the brief.

Rule or statute summary

The governing rule defines when the clock starts, how long it runs, and which exceptions apply. For Michigan, use the citation below as the baseline and document any carve-outs that apply to your matter.

If an assumption is uncertain, document it alongside the calculation so the result can be re-run later.

Citations

Use these sources to confirm the authoritative text before finalizing the calculation.

• MCL § 600.5807

If an assumption is uncertain, document it alongside the calculation so the result can be re-run later.

Capture the source for each input so another team member can verify the same result quickly.

Use the calculator

Run the Statute Of Limitations calculation in DocketMath, then save the output so it can be audited later: Open the calculator.

If an assumption is uncertain, document it alongside the calculation so the result can be re-run later.

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