An eviction in Michigan usually takes three weeks to two months when the tenant does not contest the case. If the tenant raises defenses, requests a jury trial, or appeals, the process can stretch to several months. The total time depends on four moving parts: the required notice period before filing, how quickly the court schedules a hearing, the 10-day wait after judgment, and how fast a court officer can carry out the physical removal.
The Notice Period Comes First
Nothing starts until the landlord serves written notice, and the length of that notice depends on why the landlord wants possession.
- Nonpayment of rent: 7 days. The landlord serves a Demand for Possession stating the amount owed, and the tenant has seven days to pay or move.1State of Michigan Courts. State of Michigan Form DC 100a – Demand for Possession Nonpayment of Rent
- Month-to-month tenancy or lease violations: 30 days.2Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 554.134
- Serious health hazard or extensive property damage: 7 days.2Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 554.134
- Drug-related activity with a formal police report on file: 24 hours.2Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 554.134
The landlord cannot file in court until that period runs out without the tenant paying, fixing the issue, or leaving. A wrong notice or a missed day of the waiting period is one of the most common reasons an eviction case gets dismissed and has to start over.
Filing the Case and Getting to a Hearing
Once the notice period expires, the landlord files a Summons and Complaint in the local district court. The filing fee for a claim of possession is $45.3Michigan Courts. District Court Fee and Assessments Table The tenant must be served before the hearing, either personally or by mail with a second court-sent copy.4Michigan Courts. Summary Proceedings Flowchart
At the first hearing, both sides present their case. If the tenant does not appear and was properly served, the landlord can ask for a default judgment that same day. If the case is not resolved at the first hearing, the court adjourns the trial 7 to 14 days unless the tenant requests a jury trial or the court finds good cause for a longer delay. With good cause, the adjournment can run up to 56 days.4Michigan Courts. Summary Proceedings Flowchart
What Pushes the Timeline Past Two Months
A straightforward nonpayment case with no response from the tenant can wrap up in roughly three to four weeks from the notice date to the Order of Eviction. The timeline grows when the tenant fights back.
A jury trial request is the biggest single factor. What would otherwise take a few weeks can turn into months while the court schedules the trial and both sides prepare. Common defenses also extend the process because the court has to weigh evidence and may need additional hearings. Tenants frequently raise the implied warranty of habitability, arguing that the landlord’s failure to keep the property safe and livable affects the rent obligation. They can also challenge whether the notice was served correctly, whether it listed the right information, or whether the landlord waited the full notice period. Retaliatory eviction is another defense, used when a tenant recently reported code violations or asked for repairs and the landlord then filed for possession.
The 10-Day Wait After Judgment
If the judge rules for the landlord, the court enters a Judgment of Possession. In most cases, the landlord cannot get an Order of Eviction until at least 10 days after judgment. For nonpayment cases, this window also acts as a right to redeem: a tenant who pays the full judgment amount plus taxed court costs within those 10 days keeps possession.5Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 600.5744
The 10-day wait is not absolute. Michigan law allows a court to issue an immediate Order of Eviction in a handful of situations: trespass or forcible entry, a holdover maintained by force, a willful or negligent continuing health hazard, ongoing extensive property damage, or a property that housing inspectors have ordered vacated for lacking a certificate of compliance. Each ground must be specifically alleged in the complaint and proved to the court.5Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 600.5744 Immediate evictions are uncommon in practice because of the evidence required.
The Order of Eviction and Physical Removal
When the 10 days pass without payment or a move-out, the landlord returns to court and applies for the Order of Eviction, also called a Writ of Restitution. Only a court officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, or designated law enforcement officer can carry out the removal. The officer takes the tenant and the belongings out, placing the belongings in a public area or delivering them to the sheriff.5Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 600.5744 Scheduling that visit typically adds several more days.
Two deadlines cap the back end of the process under Michigan Court Rules. The Order of Eviction must be issued no later than 56 days after the judgment, and it must be executed no later than 56 days after it is issued.6Michigan Courts. Michigan Court Landlord-Tenant Benchbook – Orders of Eviction Miss either window and the landlord has to go back to court to explain why, which costs more time.
How an Appeal Extends Things
A tenant who loses in district court can appeal to the circuit court, but the window is short: 10 days from the judgment.7Michigan Courts. Landlord-Tenant or Land Contract Appeals Table The circuit court reviews the case on the district court record. Filing an appeal does not automatically stop the eviction, so a tenant who wants to stay during the appeal has to request a stay separately. An appeal can add months to the overall timeline for both sides.
Self-Help Does Not Speed Anything Up
A landlord who tries to avoid the court process by changing locks, cutting off utilities, or hauling out a tenant’s possessions is liable for the greater of actual damages or $200 per occurrence.8Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 600.2918 Only the court officer or law enforcement officer named in the Order of Eviction can remove a tenant. The courthouse route is the only route, and following each step in order is what actually gets a property back the fastest.