Question 1 of 8. The fee above is the court's; ours is $49 for the paperwork.
- Filing fee
- $30–$70
- Claim limit
- $7,000
- Service per defendant
- $16
- Pay online
- At the counter
What Wayne County charges to file
Source: 36th District Court fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $600 | $30 |
| $600.01 – $1,750 | $50 |
| $1,750.01 – $7,000 | $70 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 313-965-2200 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. Wayne County also charges:
- Certified mail restricted delivery per defendant: $16
- Motion fee: $20
- Jury demand: $50
- Appeal fee to civil division: $25
- Certified copies: $10
- Copies per page: $1.25
None of these are optional once the case is moving, and all of them are recoverable in the judgment if you win. They are simply not quoted at the counter when you ask what it costs to file.
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 313-965-2200 before you file.
What it costs to serve the defendant
Wayne County charges $16 per defendant for service. That is on top of the filing fee, and you pay it for each person or business you are suing.
- Certified mail, restricted delivery, arranged by the court clerk for a fee paid by the plaintiff
- Personal service by a sheriff, court officer, or licensed process server hired by the plaintiff
- Personal service by any competent adult who is not a party to the case
If the defendant was not properly served by the hearing date, the hearing is typically adjourned and a new hearing date is set rather than the case proceeding to default judgment.
How this clerk takes payment
36th District Court accepts:
- Check or money order payable to 36th District Court
- Cash (in person at the Civil Division counter)
Common questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Wayne County?
$30–$70 to file, depending on how much you are suing for, plus $16 per defendant for service. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 313-965-2200 before you file.
Can I get the filing fee back if I win?
Court costs, including the filing fee and service, are normally included in the judgment you ask for. Getting them back still depends on collecting the judgment.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee in Wayne County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. Wayne County's self-help center can point you at it. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the Wayne County filing fee?
36th District Court takes 2 forms of payment, listed above.
The Wayne County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Wayne County filing forms, completed with your claim in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with 36th District Court's address, hours, and the current fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-23 · Sourced from 36thdistrictcourtmi.gov (36th District Court, Detroit), courts.michigan.gov (SCAO DC 84/84n form), legislature.mi.gov (MCL 600.8401, 600.8412, 600.8420, 600.8427) and MCL 600.8401 (Small Claims Division; $7,000 limit effective January 1, 2024, up from $6,500 in 2021, $6,000 in 2018, $5,500 in 2015, $5,000 in 2012). See how we verify.