EVERY DEADLINE
46 periods Michigan law measures, gathered out of the file and put in order, shortest first. Each one says what starts it, whose period it is, and what the law attaches to it. The shortest here is 24 hours. The longest is 10 years.
Every period on this page is stated by a section of the file and carries that section's own authority. None of it is a calculation: a period that turns on facts, on service, or on a court's discretion is described the way the section describes it and no further.
46 deadlines
Traffic stops2
30 days
The insurer paying personal protection benefits
- From
- The insurer receiving reasonable proof of the fact and amount of the loss
- Whose
- The insurer
A benefit not paid within this period is overdue, and an overdue payment bears simple interest at 12% a year.
1 year
Written notice of injury to the no fault insurer
- From
- The accident
- Whose
- The injured person, or someone on their behalf
Without this notice, or a payment by the insurer, an action for personal protection benefits cannot be started after this period.
Impaired driving1
14 days
Asking for a hearing after refusing the chemical test
- From
- The notice of the refusal
- Whose
- The person who refused
Without a request, the Secretary of State suspends or denies the license for 1 year, or 2 years for a second refusal within 7 years.
Court and money34
24 hours
A notice to quit under a controlled substance clause
- From
- Service of the written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
Available only where the lease has the clause and a formal police report has been filed.
3 business days
Canceling a door to door sale
- From
- Signing the agreement
- Whose
- The buyer
Until midnight of the third business day. A mailed notice counts once it is in the mailbox.
4 days
Giving the landlord a forwarding address
- From
- The end of the occupancy
- Whose
- The tenant
Without it the landlord is relieved of sending the notice of damages, though the tenant's later claim to the deposit is not lost.
5 business days
A public body answering a records request
- From
- The public body receiving the request
- Whose
- The public body
It grants, denies in writing, grants in part, or issues 1 notice extending the time by not more than 10 business days. An emailed or faxed request is received 1 business day after it is sent.
7 days
A notice to quit for unpaid rent
- From
- Service of the written notice or demand
- Whose
- The tenant
A tenant who has not paid within this period is the one the court may remove in summary proceedings.
7 days
Appealing a magistrate's small claims decision
- From
- The magistrate's decision
- Whose
- Either side
The appeal goes to a district judge for a new hearing. From the district judge's decision there is no further appeal.
7 days
Responding to a notice of damages
- From
- Receiving the notice of damages
- Whose
- The tenant
The response goes by ordinary mail, saying in detail which charges are agreed and which are not, and the date of mailing counts as the date of the response.
7 days
Returning the move in inventory checklist
- From
- Receiving possession of the unit
- Whose
- The tenant
The tenant returns 1 copy of the checklist noting the condition of the unit, unless both sides agree to a shorter period.
10 days
An electronic return of the deposit balance
- From
- Mailing the notice of damages
- Whose
- The landlord
A landlord sending the balance by direct deposit or electronic transfer, in place of a check, deposits it within this period.
10 business days
The head of a public body answering a records appeal
- From
- Receiving the written appeal
- Whose
- The head of the public body
It may be extended once by up to 10 business days in unusual circumstances.
10 days
The seller returning payments after a cancellation
- From
- The cancellation
- Whose
- The seller
Payments, any note, and a trade in in substantially as good condition, or the buyer may recover the trade in allowance.
14 days
Asking for review of the department's wage determination
- From
- The notice of the determination
- Whose
- The employer or the employee
Without a request in this period, and absent good cause for a late one, the determination is final.
14 days
Objecting to an ex parte parenting time order
- From
- Receiving notice of the order
- Whose
- The other parent
A written objection, or a motion to modify or rescind the order, is filed with the clerk within this period. The friend of the court then tries to resolve the dispute within 14 days.
14 days
The landlord's written notice about the deposit
- From
- The tenant taking possession
- Whose
- The landlord
Within this period the landlord gives written notice of the landlord's name and address, where the deposit is held, and the tenant's obligation to give a forwarding address in writing.
14 days
Wages on a weekly or biweekly payday
- From
- The end of the work period
- Whose
- The employer
An employer with a regular weekly or biweekly payday complies if the payday falls on or before the 14th day after the work period ends.
15 days
Documentation for earned sick time
- From
- The employer's request
- Whose
- The employee
Only for earned sick time of more than 3 consecutive days. The employer may not delay the start of the time while it waits, and pays the out of pocket cost of the documentation.
15 days
Wages on a monthly pay period
- From
- The end of the monthly pay period
- Whose
- The employer
All wages earned during the pay period are paid within this period.
20 days
The seller asking for the goods back
- From
- The cancellation
- Whose
- The seller
If the seller does not demand the goods in this period, they become the buyer's without obligation.
30 days
Appealing an unemployment redetermination
- From
- The notice of the redetermination
- Whose
- The claimant or the employer
A redetermination is final unless an appeal for a hearing before an administrative law judge is filed within this period.
1 month
Notice ending a month to month tenancy
- From
- Giving the notice
- Whose
- Whichever side is ending it
Where rent is paid at intervals shorter than 3 months, notice equal to the interval between payments is enough.
30 days
Protesting an unemployment determination
- From
- The determination being mailed or served
- Whose
- The claimant or the employer
A request for review, or for transfer to an administrative law judge, within this period. After it the agency reconsiders only for good cause.
30 days
The landlord's itemized notice of damages
- From
- The end of the occupancy
- Whose
- The landlord
A landlord who misses it is treated as agreeing that no damages are due, and has to return the full deposit immediately.
45 days
The landlord suing for damages, or returning the balance
- From
- The end of the occupancy
- Whose
- The landlord
Within this period the landlord may sue for the damages claimed; otherwise the balance goes back.
60 days
The wait before a divorce is heard, without minor children
- From
- Filing the complaint
- Whose
- The court
No proofs or testimony are taken until this period runs, except where the cause is desertion, or where testimony is taken only to preserve it.
90 days
Suing under the whistleblowers' protection act
- From
- The alleged violation
- Whose
- The employee
The civil action for an injunction, actual damages or both is brought within this period, in the circuit court.
90 days
Telling the employer about a work injury
- From
- The injury, or the day the employee knew or should have known of it
- Whose
- The employee
Notice of the injury goes to the employer within this period. A missed notice is excused unless the employer proves it was prejudiced by it.
180 days
Suing over a records denial
- From
- The public body's final denial
- Whose
- The person who asked for the records
The suit goes to circuit court, or to the court of claims for a state body.
6 months
The wait before a divorce is heard, with children under 18
- From
- Filing the complaint
- Whose
- The court
No proofs or testimony are taken until this period runs. In cases of unusual hardship or compelling necessity the court may take testimony any time after 60 days.
12 months
Filing a wage complaint with the department
- From
- The violation
- Whose
- The employee
The written complaint has to be filed within this period.
2 years
Making a claim for a work injury
- From
- The latest of the injury, the date the disability shows itself, or the last day of work for that employer
- Whose
- The employee
A claim to the employer, or a written claim to the agency, made after this period is not valid for any purpose under the act.
3 years
Filing an earned sick time claim with the department
- From
- The violation
- Whose
- The employee
An employee affected by a violation may file a claim with the department within this period, and the department investigates it.
6 years
Suing on an ordinary contract
- From
- The claim first accruing
- Whose
- The person owed
The period for an action to recover money due for breach of a contract the section does not otherwise list.
6 years after the practice, or 1 year after the last payment, whichever ends later
Suing under the consumer protection act
- From
- The practice, or the last payment in the transaction
- Whose
- The consumer
A consumer who is sued over the transaction may raise any claim under the act as a defense or counterclaim at any time.
Two dates and a comparison, so this one is not worked out for you.The whole of it: Deceptive Business Practices →10 years
Enforcing a judgment of a court of record
- From
- The judgment
- Whose
- The person holding the judgment
Within the period an action may be brought on the judgment for a new judgment, which runs its own period. A small claims judgment is not of record and has 6 years.
Your home2
14 days
Moving to modify or end a protection order issued without notice
- From
- Being served, or getting actual notice of the order
- Whose
- The person the order restrains
A later motion is allowed only on a showing of good cause.
56 days
A search warrant affidavit becoming public
- From
- The warrant being issued
- Whose
- The court file
The affidavit becomes public on the 56th day unless a police officer or prosecutor has obtained a suppression order.
Charges and penalties7
30 days
Paying a store's civil demand
- From
- The date the demand was mailed
- Whose
- The person the demand is sent to
Paying the amounts demanded within this period ends further civil liability to the store. The demand itself says a response is not required, and paying does not prevent a criminal prosecution.
3 years
Applying to set aside misdemeanors
- From
- The last of sentencing, probation or prison
- Whose
- The applicant
The earliest an application can be filed for misdemeanors other than serious ones, a first offense operating while intoxicated, and assaultive crimes.
3 years
Petitioning again after a denial
- From
- The date the court denied the earlier petition
- Whose
- The applicant
Another petition on the same conviction waits this long unless the order sets an earlier date.
5 years
Applying to set aside 1 felony, serious misdemeanors, or a first OWI
- From
- The last of sentencing, probation, parole or prison
- Whose
- The applicant
The earliest an application can be filed. No criminal charges may be pending, and there can be no new conviction during the period.
7 years
An eligible misdemeanor set aside without an application
- From
- Sentencing
- Whose
- The state
Only for misdemeanors eligible for the automatic route, which excludes assaultive crimes and serious misdemeanors, among others.
7 years
Applying to set aside more than 1 felony
- From
- The last of sentencing, probation, parole or prison
- Whose
- The applicant
The earliest an application can be filed. No criminal charges may be pending, and there can be no new conviction during the period.
10 years
An eligible felony set aside without an application
- From
- Sentencing or release from prison, whichever is later
- Whose
- The state
Only for felonies eligible for the automatic route, which excludes assaultive crimes, crimes of dishonesty and offenses punishable by 10 or more years, among others.
MyRightz is legal education, not legal advice. Nothing here creates an attorney client relationship. Applying the law to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.