Below is a list of the commonly used Garnishment forms by the 52nd District Court, 2nd Division - Civil Division:

Note: When printing documents, be sure to print all pages in the PDF, every page is needed.

• 52-2 Contact Information - MC505
• Request and Writ for Garnishment-periodic - MC12
• A Guide to Garnishment of Periodic Payments - Supplement to MC12 and MC14 - P-01
• Request and Writ for Garnishment-(non-periodic) - MC13
• Garnishee Disclosure - MC14
• Objections to Garnishment and Notice of Hearing - MC49
• Garnishment Release - MC50
• Request and Writ for Garnishment (income tax refund/credit) - MC52

Additional Garnishment Forms can be found at the Michigan Courts website.

Below is a list of the commonly used Small Claims forms by the 52nd District Court, 2nd Division - Civil Division:

Note: When printing documents, be sure to print all pages in the PDF, every page is needed. Bring three (3) copies of each form when filing.

• 52-2 Contact Information - MC505
• Affidavit and Claim, Small Claims (with instruction sheet) - DC84
• Demand and Order for Removal, Small Claims - DC86
• Motion and Affidavit to Set Aside Default (Civil) - MC99
• Voluntary Dismissal - MC09
• Subpoena, Order to Appear and/or Produce - MC11
• Motion and Affidavit for Installment Payments/To Amend Order for Installment Payments - MC15
• Motion to Set Aside Order for Installment Payments - MC16
• Certificate of Satisfied Judgment - MC17
• Request and Order to Seize Property - MC19
• Claim of Appeal - MC55
• Motion, Affidavit and Bench Warrant - MC229
• Motion and Order to Show Cause - MC230
• Order for Administrative Closing Due to Bankruptcy - MC300
• Proof of Mailing - MC302
• Motion and Verification for Alternate Service - MC303
• Order Regarding Alternate Service - MC304
• Order - MC327

Additional Small Claims Forms can be found at the Michigan Courts website.

• $30: Claim is $600.00 and under
• $50: Claim is $600.01 - $1,750.00
• $70: Claim is $1,750.01 - $6,500.00 (as of 1/1/21)

• Serve by Court's Process Server (billed by Process Server): $23 per Defendant + mileage fee 
• Mileage Fees (billed by Process Server): .87 cents per mile (as of 1/1/19)
• Serve by Certified Mail: $16 per defendant in addition to filing fee (as of 07/10/2023)

If the defendant pays the total amount of the judgment, the plaintiff must immediately file a "Satisfaction of Judgment" form.

If the defendant completes the "Affidavit of Judgment Debtor" form and the information is not sufficient for collection, the plaintiff may obtain a "Discovery Subpoena". A Discovery Subpoena requires the defendant to appear at the court to be questioned or examined under oath about his/her assets. The cost is $15.00 for filing plus a service fee.

If you have reason to believe that a third party is holding money or owes money to the defendant, you may file an "Affidavit for Writ of Garnishment". The cost for filing is $15.00 plus a service fee.

A defendant's property, which is not exempt under the law, can be used to satisfy a judgment by filing a "Writ of Execution". The cost of filing is $15.00 plus a service fee.

If your Small Claims case involves a traffic accident, ask the court clerk for details regarding suspension of the defendant's drivers license.

Before commencement of a trial, the plaintiff or defendant may, upon filing a demand, require that the trial be conducted before a district court judge and not a magistrate, or may remove the case from the small claims division to the general civil division of the district court.

Download the Demand and Order for Removal - DC86 form.

You must file your small claims case in the court which has the venue (the court in which proceedings may be instituted) for the particular area where the defendant lives or where the action arose.

You can start a lawsuit against a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.

A corporation, sole proprietorship, or corporation as plaintiff or defendant may be represented by a full time employee who has direct and personal knowledge of the facts in dispute. Partnerships may be represented by a general partner.

Within a district court division, a person cannot file more than five (5) claims in the small claims division in one (1) week.

Once you have established the proper venue (the court in which proceedings may be instituted), you have to complete an Affidavit and Claim - DC84 form.

To complete this form, you need to know:

• The defendant's (person that you are suing) correct name and address - (if you are suing a business, you must indicate whether it is a partnership or a corporation)
• Reasons for the claim
• The date the claim arose
• Amount of money claimed - You may ask for court costs on the affidavit and claim by writing the amount of money claimed plus costs (example: amount of money claimed, $35 plus costs). The Court will determine if costs will be awarded (costs include the filing fee and service fee).
• You must sign the form in the presence of a deputy clerk or a notary public.
• Download the Affidavit and Claim - DC84 form.
• Visit the Small Claims Fees section to find about costs associated with starting a case.

The defendant (person being sued) has to be served with a copy of the affidavit and claim by a deputy sheriff, sheriff, bailiff, appointed court officer, legally competent adult who is not a party or an officer of a corporate party or by certified mail (you may utilize this court's process server or if you choose service by certified mail, this court will process the certified mailing).

If you utilize this court's process server, the service fees are as follows:

• 52-2 District Court Officer - $23 plus mileage (1-1/2 times $.58/mile) - court officer will send the plaintiff a bill for service
• Certified Mail - $16 additional added on to your filing fee (this court will process the certified mailing).

When you file your small claims case, the clerk will give you a hearing date approximately 30-45 days from the date of filing, depending on the docket.

Call the Court before your court date. In order to prevent an extra trip to the court on your hearing date, it is advisable to call the court the day before the hearing date to ensure that proper service was obtained.

Only for good cause shown will the court consider rescheduling your court date. Usually this requires to you contact the other party to the action and ask for their consent before you make the request to the court. This cannot be done by telephone, the proper paperwork must be filed.

Your case will be heard by an attorney/magistrate. The magistrate's decision can be appealed within seven (7) days from the date of the judgment. If the magistrate's decision is appealed, the case will be scheduled to be heard before the assigned Judge. Once the Judge makes a final decision, it is final and you have no right to appeal.

If the magistrate/judge renders a judgment in your favor, the court will prepare the appropriate judgment and the defendant will have 21 days from the date of the judgment to pay the amount of the judgment to you. The court does not collect the judgment for you. If the defendant does not pay you within 21 days from the date of the judgment, you may start collection procedures. Please refer to Collecting Your Money from a Small Claims Judgment - DCI84 to find out procedures on how to collect your money.

If you (the plaintiff) fail to appear for your hearing, the case will be dismissed. If the defendant fails to appear, a default judgment will be entered in your favor. The court will prepare the appropriate judgment. Both parties in these instances would have the right to file a motion to set aside the dismissal/default judgment within 21 days from the date the dismissal or the default judgment is signed. Download the Motion to Set Aside Default and Order - MC99. If the motion is granted, a trial date could occur immediately following the outcome of the motion or a new trial date may be held.

If the lawsuit is settled before the hearing date, you must prepare a carbon pack "dismissal" form or four (4) copies of the form and submit the completed form to the court before the hearing date or submit a statement in writing to the court before the hearing date advising the court that the case has been settled and the hearing is not necessary. Download the Voluntary Dismissal - MC09 form.

A small claims judgment is valid for six (6) years from date of entry.

When you are paid in full, you must complete a satisfaction of judgment form and send it into the court. Download the Satisfaction of Judgment - MC17 form.

This information attempts to explain the procedures for filing a small claims case. Clerks at the courts will be happy to assist you in the processing of your claim, but they are not attorneys, and cannot give out legal advice.

If you require special accommodations to use the court because of disabilities, please contact the court immediately to make arrangements.