Michigan Legal Help
Last updated August 2026
A Michigan eviction has more steps than the notice suggests. For unpaid rent, the landlord serves a 7-day demand for possession and must wait those 7 days before filing. Damage and health hazards also get 7 days; only illegal drug activity drops to 24 hours. Then comes real court, with the summons served at least 3 days before the hearing.
Even losing usually buys time: in most cases the judge must wait 10 days after judgment before signing an Order of Eviction, with immediate orders reserved for force, serious hazards, or condemned housing.
MichiganLegalHelp.org arms you for each step free: a Do-It-Yourself Answer to the eviction complaint, a DIY Motion to Set Aside Default if you missed the hearing, and guides covering defenses, mediation, rental assistance, and counterclaims.
Money helps too: at the pretrial hearing the judge is supposed to tell low-income tenants about free legal aid. Find yours ahead of time with the site's Guide to Legal Help, which routes by issue, county, and income.
If unpaid rent drove the case, work the money in parallel: MDHHS State Emergency Relief covers rent arrears for households facing an eviction judgment (decided in 10 days), and 2-1-1 knows the local funds. The court clock and the money hunt run separately; work both.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- The legal information and court-form tools are free for everyone, with no income screen
- The site also links to local legal aid programs, which set their own income-based eligibility
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Read the notice and count the days: 7 for nonpayment or damage, 24 hours only for illegal drug activity.
- 2
Can you gather the rent? The landlord must wait out the 7-day demand before filing, so use those days: pay, or negotiate in writing.
- 3
Served a summons? Court is at least 3 days out. Use the free DIY Answer tool on MichiganLegalHelp.org before the hearing.
- 4
Run the Guide to Legal Help to find free legal aid for your county and income; judges flag it at pretrial, but earlier is better.
- 5
Missed the hearing? File the DIY Motion to Set Aside Default fast.
- 6
Facing judgment? Ask MDHHS for State Emergency Relief rent help (10-day decisions) and dial 2-1-1 for local funds.
- 7
Remember: most eviction orders wait 10 days after judgment, and only a court officer can remove you.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much notice does a Michigan eviction take?
A 7-day demand for nonpayment of rent, 7 days for damage or health hazards, 24 hours for illegal drug activity, and a notice to quit for lease violations. The landlord must wait out the notice before filing.
How fast is eviction court in Michigan?
Fast: the summons can be served as little as 3 days before the hearing. But after a judgment, the judge usually must wait 10 days before signing an Order of Eviction.
Can my landlord evict me without going to court?
Eviction requires a court case and a signed Order of Eviction; a notice alone does not remove you, and in most cases the judge must wait 10 days after judgment before signing the order.
Is there free help with the court forms?
Yes: MichiganLegalHelp.org's DIY Answer to Eviction Complaint and DIY Motion to Set Aside Default are free, with plain-language guides on defenses, mediation, and counterclaims.
How do I find a free lawyer?
The Guide to Legal Help on MichiganLegalHelp.org routes by issue, county, and income to legal aid offices. Judges are supposed to mention free legal aid to low-income tenants at pretrial, but find yours before then.
Can I get rent money to stop the eviction?
Possibly: MDHHS State Emergency Relief covers rent arrears for households facing an eviction judgment, decided within 10 days, and 2-1-1 tracks local rent funds.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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