Statute of Limitations for Trespass to Real Property in Michigan

Overview

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

In Michigan, the statute of limitations (SOL) for bringing a lawsuit for trespass to real property is 6 years under MCL § 767.24(1).

That 6-year period is the general/default rule for trespass claims based on the jurisdiction data provided. No shorter or claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified here. So unless another, more specific statute clearly governs your situation, MCL § 767.24(1) is the starting point for timing.

If you’re trying to determine whether a claim is timely, you generally need two dates:

• The date the trespass occurred (or the date wrongful entry/occupancy can be treated as occurring for SOL purposes)
• The date you file the lawsuit

DocketMath can help you translate those dates into a practical SOL deadline, and it also lets you see how changing a key date can affect whether a filing is likely within the SOL window.

Limitation period

Michigan uses a 6-year SOL for trespass-to-real-property actions under MCL § 767.24(1).

For most default scenarios, the structure is:

• Start point: the period generally runs from the time the trespass occurred (or the most relevant event date that Michigan law treats as the accrual/trespass date)
• Deadline: you must file within 6 years of that start point

How to think about “within 6 years”

A practical, step-by-step approach:

1. Identify the last date on which the trespass (or wrongful entry/occupation) can reasonably be treated as occurring for SOL purposes.
2. Add 6 years to that date.
3. Compare the resulting calculated date (your deadline) to your intended filing date.

Inputs that change the output

When you use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool, you typically enter:

• Trespass/event date (the date you believe best matches the SOL “start” for your facts)
• Filing date (or the date you’re evaluating—often “today” if you’re estimating)

From those inputs, the calculator can provide results such as:

• Deadline date (event date + 6 years)
• Elapsed time between the event date and filing
• A timeliness readout (e.g., whether the filing appears inside/outside the SOL window)

Quick timeline example (default 6-year rule)

• Trespass date: June 1, 2019
• 6-year deadline: June 1, 2025
• Filing date scenarios:

  • If filed May 30, 2025 → likely within the SOL window
  • If filed June 5, 2025 → likely outside the SOL window

Because SOL analysis depends on the specific “event date” you enter, selecting the most defensible factual date matters. If there were repeated entries or continuing occupation, consider running multiple scenarios using different candidate dates (for example, first entry vs. last entry) and then selecting the date that best matches your understanding of accrual under Michigan practice.

Key exceptions

Although the default trespass SOL in Michigan is 6 years, many real-world timing disputes come from exceptions, accrual nuances, or other governing statutes depending on how the claim is framed.

1) Wrong statute / wrong claim type

A common SOL error is assuming that every property-related dispute automatically uses the trespass statute.

If your lawsuit is better characterized as a different type of claim—based on what the plaintiff is actually seeking and the legal theory being pursued—a different Michigan limitations period may apply.

This page is based on the general/default trespass rule provided. If your facts align more closely with a different category of claim, another SOL might control, even if the “6 years” number feels intuitive.

2) Accrual questions (when the clock starts)

Even under the same SOL statute, parties often disagree about when the cause of action accrues—that is, when the relevant trespass is treated as occurring for SOL purposes.

Accrual can be especially contested where the alleged trespass involves:

• ongoing conditions
• repeated entries
• continuing occupation

For SOL calculations, you want the date that best matches how your facts fit the relevant “trespass occurrence/accrual” concept under Michigan law. DocketMath helps you test different candidate dates quickly.

3) Tolling (pausing the clock)

Some legal doctrines can pause (toll) the limitations period under certain circumstances.

Because this page is focused on the baseline/default trespass SOL, a practical workflow is:

1. Use DocketMath to compute the baseline 6-year deadline under MCL § 767.24(1)
2. Separately evaluate whether your specific situation includes factual/legal grounds for tolling under Michigan law

Statute citation

Michigan’s general SOL for trespass to real property actions is in MCL § 767.24(1).

• General SOL period: 6 years
• Default rule used here: **MCL § 767.24(1)
• Claim-type-specific sub-rule: No claim-type-specific sub-rule was found in the provided jurisdiction data, so this page uses the 6-year default.

Statute text and numbering can change over time. For the most accurate wording, verify the current text through Michigan’s official sources. The jurisdiction data provided for this page cites michigan.gov.

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to compute a SOL deadline using Michigan’s 6-year trespass rule under MCL § 767.24(1).

What to enter

Enter:

• Trespass date (or the most relevant event/accrual date that fits your facts)
• Filing date (or “today” if you’re estimating)
• Jurisdiction: Michigan (US-MI)

Also consider the primary CTA when you’re ready to run a calculation: /tools/statute-of-limitations

What to expect from the output

You can generally expect outputs such as:

• Deadline date = trespass/event date + 6 years
• Time elapsed between the event and the filing date
• A timeliness readout (inside/outside the SOL window)

How output changes when you adjust inputs

As a practical guide, changing inputs typically changes timing like this:

If you’re unsure which factual date is the best SOL “start,” it can help to run multiple scenarios (for example, first vs. last entry) and then use your best-supported factual/legal understanding for which date should control.

Reminder: This is not legal advice, and SOL timing can be affected by how Michigan law applies accrual or tolling to your specific facts.

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