How to Collect a Debt in Southfield, Michigan — 46th District Court
To collect a debt owed in Southfield, 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 Southfield debt gets collected, step by step
Demand letter. A formal, compliant demand often resolves the balance without suit.
File suit. A debtor in Southfield, Lathrup Village is sued at the 46th District Court.
Money claims for these communities are filed at the 46th District Court, 26000 Evergreen Rd., Southfield, MI 48076 · (248) 796-5800.
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 Southfield — 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.
The 46th District Court handles civil money claims for six Oakland County communities: Southfield, Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Franklin Village, Bingham Farms, and Southfield Township. Claims are filed at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48076, (248) 796-5860 (Civil Division direct), and the building is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.). Since December 5, 2023, all parties — including self-represented creditors — are required to e-file civil, landlord-tenant, and small claims documents through MiFILE. After a money judgment is issued, the same court processes wage and bank garnishments and state tax refund intercepts, with enforcement covering all six municipalities in the court's territory.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to collect a debt in Southfield, 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 Southfield?
Money claims are filed in the 46th 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 Southfield?
For a demand letter, no — but an LLC or corporation generally must appear through an attorney to sue in Michigan. Full placement puts a 46th District Court filing and the garnishments in the hands of the firm, on contingency.