Demand for Payment Letter — Michigan (2026)
In MI you generally have 6 years to sue on a written contract and 6 on an oral one, and small-claims court handles disputes up to about $7,000.
Below: the rule with its citation, a free sample letter you can copy, and a generator that fills in your dates and computes your deadline for $19.
- to sue on a written contract
- 6 yearsto sue on a written contract
- small claims ceiling
- $7,000small claims ceiling
We don't yet have a verified statute reference for this state. The letter will state the rule generally rather than cite a section we haven't confirmed.
Sending a dated demand letter by certified mail before filing is not required, but judges expect it and it is the cleanest evidence that you asked first.
Free sample letter
All samplesUse it as-is, or let the generator write it with your amounts and your deadline already computed.
[Your name]
[Your current address]
[Date]
[Recipient name]
[Recipient address]
Re: Demand for payment — [invoice or contract reference]
Dear [Name],
This letter is a formal demand for payment of [$amount], which became due on [due date] under [invoice or contract reference].
I delivered the work described in that agreement and have not received payment. My previous messages on [dates] have gone unanswered.
I request payment in full within 14 days of the date of this letter.
If payment is not received, I intend to file a claim in small claims court, which in Michigan handles disputes up to $7,000, together with my filing costs.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Michigan questions
In MI you generally have 6 years to sue on a written contract and 6 on an oral one, and small-claims court handles disputes up to about $7,000.
It isn't required, but judges expect it. A dated letter with a certified-mail receipt is the cleanest evidence that you gave the other side a chance to resolve it.
Rule set last curated 2026-08-01. Self-help document service. Not a law firm, and not legal advice. We do not review your letter or represent you. These state rules are under legal review — verify anything you rely on against the current statute.