Jackson County, Michigan: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Jackson County District Court - Small Claims Division in Jackson. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $7,000. Michigan return time: 30 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $966. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Jackson County District Court - Small Claims Division
City	Jackson
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$7,000 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	30 days after Termination of tenancy/occupancy (move-out); landlord must mail itemized list of damages within 30 days; if no damages claimed, deposit balance must be returned promptly (courts/practice treat 30 days as the operative return deadline). Applies when: the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced.
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	MCL 554.601–554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, Act 348 of 1972), esp. §§554.602, 554.603, 554.609, 554.613

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $7,000 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

Michigan statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced	30 days	Termination of tenancy/occupancy (move-out); landlord must mail itemized list of damages within 30 days; if no damages claimed, deposit balance must be returned promptly (courts/practice treat 30 days as the operative return deadline)

Michigan return rule: 30 days (the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Jackson County District Court - Small Claims Division. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Jackson County.
The Michigan business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Jackson County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$776	$776	$1,552	Fits under the $7,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$966	$966	$1,932	Fits under the $7,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,163	$1,163	$2,326	Fits under the $7,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,243	$1,243	$2,486	Fits under the $7,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Jackson County compare with other Michigan counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $966: rank 26 of 83 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 25% of households rent in Jackson County.

Jackson County two-bedroom rent $966, rank 26 of 83 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Barry County	$974
Berrien County	$972
Jackson County	$966
Genesee County	$964
St. Clair County	$960
Wexford County	$935

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 83 of 83 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Jackson County

Brooklyn
Cement City
Concord
Grass Lake
Hanover
Jackson
Parma
Springport

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Legal Services of South Central Michigan: free civil legal assistance with homelessness prevention, including evictions and related housing cases, in 13 south and central Michigan counties; LSSCM is a division of the Michigan Advocacy Program
Legal Services of Northern Michigan: free legal advice and representation in 36 counties in Northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, including eviction defense, federal housing subsidies, and HUD-approved housing counseling for landlord-tenant problems

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Jackson County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Jackson County?

Jackson County District Court - Small Claims Division is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.