Civil Division 

15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
CIVIL DIVISION
101 E. Huron St.
P.O. Box 8650
Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8650

The Civil Division is responsible for processing general civil actions where the amount in dispute is $25,000 or less, small claims matters where the amount in dispute is $3,000 or less, and landlord-tenant matters.  The 15th Judicial District Court will handle the case if the amount of the claim is $25,000 or less and the defendant resides or does business in the City of Ann Arbor, or the incident from which the case arose occurred within the City of Ann Arbor.  

Civil cases are court proceedings designed to work out a dispute between two or more people, businesses, or organizations.  In a civil case, the plaintiff files a case seeking monetary damages, injunctions, or equitable relief.  The person, business, or organization who is being sued is the defendant.  

Cases can be filed weekdays, during court hours, in the 15th Judicial District Court Clerk's office on the first floor of the Washtenaw County Courthouse, room 110.  Civil filing fees vary with the amount of the claim.  Civil filing fees can be paid by cash, personal check (no starter checks), certified check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, Mcard or Discover.  Checks should be made payable to "15th District Court." 

Notice Regarding Check Payments: All checks are approved for acceptance and cleared electronically by Telecheck check verification service upon presentation to the Court.

Interest Rates for Money Judgments (pdf format)

General Civil

General civil cases are disputes involving amounts of $25,000 or less.  In general civil cases all parties involved in the case have the right to an attorney, the right to a trial, and the right to appeal the decision of the court.

Small Claims

In small claims cases you can only sue for monetary damages (up to $3,000).  In small claims cases neither party is represented by an attorney and there is no right to a jury trial.  The parties do have the right to appeal the decision of the court if the case is heard by a magistrate.  However, there is no right to appeal if the case is heard by a district court judges.  If either party does not want the case heard in small claims court then that party has the right to request that the case be moved to the general civil docket.

When appearing in small claims court parties should bring any documentation, or other evidence that supports their side of the case.  It is also advisable to make a list of the items you intend to cover so that you are prepared to present your argument to the magistrate or judge.

How to Use Small Claims Court (pdf format)

Collecting Money from a Small Claims Judgment (pdf format)

Landlord-Tenant

Landlord-tenant cases arise when a landlord seeks to regain possession of the premises from a tenant with an initial notice for one of the following reasons:

• Non-payment of Rent
• Termination of Tenancy
• Any other type of notice permitted by law

If a landlord serves a tenant with a "Demand for Possession Non-payment of Rent" notice then the tenant has seven (7) days to pay or move out.

If a landlord serves a tenant with a "Termination of Tenancy" notice then the tenant has time equal to the payment schedule determined in the rental agreement to move out.  If there is no rental agreement then the "Termination of Tenancy" notice is a thirty (30) day notice.

Court hearing dates are generally scheduled within fourteen (14) days from the filing date of the complaint as required by court rules.

How to File Landlord-Tenant or Land Contract Cases (pdf format)