Statute of Limitations for Account Stated / Open Account in Michigan

Overview

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

Michigan’s statute of limitations for an account-stated or open-account style claim is generally 6 years under Michigan’s general limitations statute, MCL § 767.24(1). This default period is the rule most people run into when the claim is framed as an unpaid account rather than a contract with a separate, shorter limitations period.

Because Michigan’s limitations rules depend heavily on how the claim is legally characterized (and what evidence exists), the safest approach is a clear workflow: identify the claim type as pleaded, confirm the starting date, and then check whether any tolling or exception doctrines apply.

Limitation period

Michigan’s general statute of limitations is 6 years. Under MCL § 767.24(1), an action founded on a contract—when no shorter limitations period applies—must typically be brought within 6 years.

Here’s how that plays out in practice for account-style disputes:

• Open account (typical pattern): If the account is treated like a continuing commercial relationship (for example, charges accruing over time), the “when the clock starts” question becomes crucial. Courts often analyze whether each item is part of a single integrated account or whether the claim is more properly treated as discrete transactions.
• Account stated (typical pattern): An “account stated” theory commonly involves an assertion that a balance was agreed upon or acknowledged. The limitations analysis often turns on when the alleged statement/acknowledgment occurred and whether that agreement functions like a new promise or settlement of the prior items.

A practical timing checklist

Use this checklist to estimate whether a claim might be time-barred under the general 6-year rule:

Examples: the last unpaid charge, the date of the account statement, the date the debtor allegedly acknowledged the balance. Some contract-related claims can have specialized statutes depending on how the complaint is structured and the facts involved. This page applies the general/default rule from your jurisdiction data. If the case is filed after that window, a limitations defense is commonly that the claim is barred by MCL § 767.24(1).

Start date matters more than most people expect

Two cases can both be labeled “account stated” or “open account,” yet the SOL outcome can differ based on:

• which date the plaintiff treats as the accrual date, and
• whether evidence of acknowledgment or payment changes accrual/tolling arguments.

Even under one general limitations statute, the factual “anchor” date can move the result by months or years.

Key exceptions

The 6-year number is the baseline. However, Michigan law recognizes doctrines that can change the limitations outcome—even though MCL § 767.24(1) remains the starting point for the analysis.

Because you requested to keep sources limited to the Michigan statute citation provided, this section focuses on practical doctrines to check, rather than claiming a specific result for any particular fact pattern.

Things to investigate that can affect the SOL calculation

• Tolling due to legal disability or other statutory tolling
  Certain circumstances can pause or extend the limitations period under Michigan law.
• Accrual and “continuing account” arguments
  For open-account style disputes, one party may argue each charge starts a new limitations clock; the other side may argue the account is integrated into a single claim. Pleadings and evidence often determine which framing is more persuasive.
• Acknowledgment of debt and payment history
  Evidence that the balance was acknowledged or payments were made can affect how accrual is argued and whether a limitations defense is weakened.
• Fraud or concealment-related doctrines
  If there is concealment-related conduct affecting when the claim could reasonably have been discovered, that can influence timing arguments.

How exceptions show up in pleadings and evidence

In real-world business disputes and collections matters, SOL issues typically appear as:

• an affirmative defense in the answer (often framed as “barred by limitations”), and
• factual disputes about the accrual date and whether any doctrine extends the deadline.

Common documents that often control the timeline include:

• invoices / monthly statements,
• ledger histories,
• account summaries,
• correspondence acknowledging the balance,
• any partial payments and their dates.

Statute citation

Michigan’s general statute of limitations for contract-based actions is:

• MCL § 767.24(1) — 6-year general period (general/default rule)

Based on the jurisdiction data provided (and absent a claim-type-specific sub-rule for account stated/open account), this page applies MCL § 767.24(1) as the controlling default.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator helps convert dates into a potential filing deadline using the 6-year general rule from MCL § 767.24(1).

To get an accurate output, you’ll typically provide inputs like:

• Event date (accrual anchor): the date you believe the claim started for SOL purposes (commonly the last unpaid charge, the account statement date, or the date of acknowledgment).
• Jurisdiction: Michigan (US-MI).
• SOL period: 6 years (general/default under MCL § 767.24(1)).

How outputs change when you change inputs

Use these “what-if” examples to understand sensitivity:

• If you move the event date forward by 6 months, the estimated deadline generally moves forward by about 6 months as well (because the calculation is “6 years from that anchor”).
• If you select a different anchor date (for example, “last payment date” versus “last invoice date”), the deadline can shift materially—sometimes enough to change whether a filing looks timely versus time-barred.
• If you keep the calculator set to Michigan’s general 6-year default, it won’t automatically incorporate fact-specific exception/tolling doctrines.

Ready to calculate? Use the DocketMath tool here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Michigan and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• MCL § 600.5807

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