How to Collect a Debt in Detroit, Michigan — 36th District Court
To collect a debt owed in Detroit, you escalate as far as it takes: an attorney demand letter, a lawsuit and money judgment in district court (up to $25,000; small claims up to $7,000), then garnishment of wages or bank accounts. With full placement you pay a 25% contingency only if we collect.
Your options, cheapest first
Option
What it is
Price
Last-chance letter
A firm third-party demand to resolve directly — business debts only
$25.00
Attorney demand letter
On law-firm letterhead, FDCPA-compliant
$75.00
Letter + attorney call
Demand letter followed by an attorney phone call
$149.00
Full placement
We handle it end-to-end: letters, suit, judgment, garnishment
25% if we collect
Consumer (personal/household) debts start with the attorney letter — the $25.00 last-chance letter is for business/commercial debts only.
How a Detroit debt gets collected, step by step
Demand letter. A formal, compliant demand often resolves the balance without suit.
File suit. A debtor in Detroit is sued at the 36th District Court.
Money claims for these communities are filed at the 36th District Court, 421 Madison Street, Detroit, MI 48226 · (313) 965-2200.
Claims up to $25,000 go to the district court's civil division; up to $7,000 can go to small claims.
Judgment. If the debtor doesn't pay or appear, we move for a judgment for the balance plus allowable costs and interest.
Garnishment & enforcement. With a judgment we garnish wages (periodic), bank accounts (non-periodic), or state tax refunds, and use other post-judgment tools until the debt is satisfied.
Start collecting in Detroit — letters from $75.00, or 25% only if we collect
Tell us who owes what. Pick a demand letter or hand us the whole file — you'll track everything in your portal.
How much does it cost to collect a debt in Detroit, Michigan?
It depends how far you go. A last-chance letter (business debts) is $25.00, an attorney demand letter is $75.00, a letter plus an attorney call is $149.00, and full placement — letters through judgment and garnishment — is a 25% contingency, so you pay only if we collect.
Where do I sue to collect a debt owed in Detroit?
Money claims are filed in the 36th District Court. Michigan district courts hear civil claims up to $25,000; the small claims division handles up to $7,000 with a simpler process.
How do I garnish wages or a bank account in Michigan?
Once you have a money judgment, you can file a periodic garnishment against the debtor's wages or a non-periodic garnishment against bank accounts, plus garnish state tax refunds. We handle the judgment and the garnishments as part of full placement.
Do I need a lawyer to collect a business debt in Detroit?
For a demand letter, no — but an LLC or corporation generally must appear through an attorney to sue in Michigan. Full placement puts a 36th District Court filing and the garnishments in the hands of the firm, on contingency.