Michigan Legal Help explains collection options, protected income, and practical limitations.
Small Claims Edition · A♦
You won. They still haven't paid. Here's how to collect.
In one New York survey, 75% of small claims winners collected nothing (NYPIRG, 2024). The usual reasons: they couldn't find assets and didn't know the steps. We walk you through both.
Help you can use now · Michigan
Official information, forms, and real help.
A judgment does not guarantee payment. Check waiting periods, stays, payment orders, exemptions, and service requirements before using a collection procedure.
Find DCI 84 (small claims collection instructions), MC 12 (periodic garnishment), and MC 13 (nonperiodic garnishment). Confirm current instructions with your court.
Use Michigan Legal Help’s finder for legal aid, clinics, and lawyer options. Eligibility and availability are determined by each provider.
Links checked November 2, 2026. These organizations are independent; listing them does not imply partnership or endorsement. Unshaken does not prepare or file court forms.
Mistakes that stall collection
- Starting before the 21 days are up
- Garnishing the wrong employer or a closed account
- Missing that some income is protected from garnishment
- Giving up after one try; many winners need more than one round
Confirm form numbers and fees with your court; they change.
Your collection steps in Michigan
- 1
Wait 21 days after the judgment. You can't start collecting before then.
- 2
Check whether they're paying under any payment plan the judge ordered.
- 3
Find where they work or bank. A court-ordered debtor's examination makes them answer under oath.
- 4
Garnish wages with a periodic garnishment (form MC 12), served on the employer.
- 5
Garnish a bank account with a nonperiodic garnishment (MC 13), served on the bank.
- 6
Pay the fee for each garnishment (about $15) and keep copies of everything.
- 7
Record the judgment as paid once you're paid in full.
Don't
- Don't contact their employer informally; use the court forms.
- Don't assume the court will collect for you.
Planned practice · Join the waitlist
Collection is a card game. Learn to play it before you need to.
Our planned collection card game would deal you a debtor who dodges, an employer who doesn't answer and a bank account that comes up empty. Pick the right form at the right time, and see the costs add up as you go.
This edition is not playable on this website yet. Features and access arrangements may change.
The debtor in the game is a cartoon. The money you're owed is real.
FAQ
- Can the court collect for me?
- No. In small claims, collecting is up to the winner.
- What if they have no job or money?
- A judgment usually lasts years and can be renewed, so you can try again when their situation changes.
- Is this worth it for a small amount?
- Compare current fees and realistic collection prospects with the amount owed. A collection planner is not available here yet.
Be ready when Unshaken launches.
General information and practice, not legal advice. Legal details reflect Michigan; other states differ.
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