Consumer Debt · Statute of Limitations
Statute of Limitations on Debt in Michigan
How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt in Michigan, by debt type — and, just as important, when that clock can restart.
The four limits at a glance
Years a lawsuit is allowed, by debt type. Credit card is the most-searched.
Six years. Michigan applies a single 6-year contract period (§600.5807) to nearly all consumer debt, including credit cards, with no oral/written split. (The subsection number shifted from (8) to (9) in a later amendment, but the 6-year figure is not in doubt.)
When the clock starts — and what can restart it
The single most misunderstood part of debt limitations.
A partial payment restarts the 6-year clock under Michigan case law (unless the payment is accompanied by a declaration disputing the debt). A written acknowledgment also revives it — but a verbal acknowledgment is not enough (case law plus §600.5866). A payment on an old account can reopen the window.
A statute of limitations does not erase the debt or wipe it from your credit report — it is a defense you must raise if you are sued after the period runs. In many states a partial payment or a signed written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so be careful before paying or signing anything on an old account. This page is legal information, not legal advice.
The full limits, with the statute
Every period and how Michigan classifies each debt type.
| Debt type | Limit in Michigan | How it's classified |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 6 years | Open account / general contract |
| Written contract | 6 years | — |
| Oral contract | 6 years | — |
| Open account | 6 years | — |
| Promissory note | 6 years | A negotiable note runs 6 years under MCL §440.3118. |
Promissory-note periods often come from the UCC (§3-118, generally 6 years) rather than the general contract statute; confirm the instrument type for a specific note.
What Michigan debtors get wrong
Michigan keeps things uniform: a single 6-year contract period (§600.5807) covers nearly all consumer debt, including credit cards, with no oral-versus-written split to argue about. The wrinkle is accrual — Michigan courts have gone back and forth over whether a revolving account's clock runs from the last payment or from contractual maturity, though the last-payment/default view generally wins. Revival is the common-law kind: a partial payment restarts the whole 6 years, and only a written acknowledgment (never a verbal one) will do the same.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on credit-card debt in Michigan?
Six years. Michigan applies a single 6-year contract period under MCL §600.5807 to nearly all consumer debt, including credit cards.
Does Michigan treat oral and written debts differently?
No. Unlike many states, Michigan uses one 6-year period for contract debt generally, so the oral-versus-written distinction usually doesn't change the answer.
Can a partial payment restart the debt clock in Michigan?
Yes. Under Michigan case law a voluntary partial payment restarts the 6-year clock, and a written (not verbal) acknowledgment does the same — so avoid paying on a debt you believe is time-barred.
When does the Michigan debt clock start?
At breach or default — generally around the last or first missed payment. Courts have debated the exact accrual point for revolving accounts, but the default-based view generally controls.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.