Credit Card Debt Statute of Limitations in Michigan
Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9) ✓ verified · 3 sources
The deadline
6 years
from the date of default — the first missed payment / last activity that breaches the account, under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9).
Advertisement
Michigan law sets a hard deadline of 6 years to sue over unpaid credit card debt. The controlling statute is Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9), and the clock generally starts on the date of default — the first missed payment / last activity that breaches the account. Below: exactly when that clock starts, the exceptions that can pause it, and the traps that shorten it.
Michigan Deadlines for Related Claims
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Debt | 6 years | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9) |
| Car Accident | 3 yrs | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 yrs | MCL § 600.5838a (medical-malpractice accrual/limitations); MCL § 600.5805(8) (2-year period) |
| Wrongful Death | 3 yrs | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2922; § 600.5805(2) |
| Personal Injury | 3 yrs | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) |
| Dog Bite | 3 yrs | MCL § 287.351 |
| Slip and Fall | 3 yrs | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) |
| Defamation | 1 yr | MCL § 600.5805(11) |
| Breach of Contract | 6 yrs | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9) |
| Medical Debt | 6 yrs | MCL 600.5807 |
When the Clock Starts
In Michigan, the limitations period for credit card debt collection generally begins on the date of default — the first missed payment / last activity that breaches the account. Michigan does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.
Advertisement
Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline
- Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
- Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.
Credit-card debt is treated as a breach-of-contract/open-account claim governed by the six-year residual contract period in MCL 600.5807(9) (formerly subsection (8)). Revival trap: a partial payment or a signed written acknowledgment of the debt restarts the six-year clock under Michigan's renewal-of-debt rules.
Source: Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9), official Michigan statute · verified 2026-07
What to Do Before the Deadline Runs
- Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
- Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
- Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Michigan government defendants).
- If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.
How Michigan Compares to Nearby States
| State | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 6 years | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9) |
| Ohio | 6 yrs | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(C) |
| Indiana | 6 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 |
| Wisconsin | 6 yrs | Wis. Stat. 893.43(1) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Michigan?
You have 6 years from the date of default — the first missed payment / last activity that breaches the account, under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9).
Can I still sue after 6 years in Michigan?
Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.
Advertisement
Sources
- Official Michigan Legislature — MCL 600.5807 (official statute text)
- Corroborating Justia — 2024 Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5807 (Breach of Contract; Period of Limitations)
- Corroborating FindLaw — Michigan Compiled Laws ch. 600 § 600.5807
- Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Michigan attorney.