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

Listed court is 58th District Court, Civil Division (Small Claims) in Grand Haven / Holland / Hudsonville. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: see the fee table. Claims up to $7,000. Michigan return time: 30 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,135. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	58th District Court, Civil Division (Small Claims)
City	Grand Haven / Holland / Hudsonville
County filing fee	$25/$45/$65 tiered per MCL 600.8420 plus $5 e-filing fee; the court's own fee page lists several figures ($30/$50/$70 among them) without clear small-claims-specific labeling - confirm with clerk
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
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: 58th District Court, Civil Division (Small Claims). 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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	$999	$999	$1,998	Fits under the $7,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,135	$1,135	$2,270	Fits under the $7,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,349	$1,349	$2,698	Fits under the $7,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,489	$1,489	$2,978	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 Ottawa County compare with other Michigan counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,135: rank 8 of 83 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 21.5% of households rent in Ottawa County.

Ottawa County two-bedroom rent $1,135, rank 8 of 83 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Grand Traverse County	$1,203
Macomb County	$1,195
Ottawa County	$1,135
Ingham County	$1,112
Clinton County	$1,110
Monroe County	$1,101

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 Ottawa County

Coopersville
Ferrysburg
Grand Haven
Holland
Hudsonville
Spring Lake
Zeeland

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 Aid of Western Michigan: free legal advice and representation in a 17-county service area, including housing problems
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 Ottawa County?

County filing fee: $25/$45/$65 tiered per MCL 600.8420 plus $5 e-filing fee; the court's own fee page lists several figures ($30/$50/$70 among them) without clear small-claims-specific labeling - confirm with clerk.

Where do I file a deposit claim in Ottawa County?

58th District Court, Civil Division (Small Claims) 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.