Landlord Tenant
Questions? Contact our Civil Division at (517) 540-7648 or civildept@livgov.com
Contact the Civil Department at (517) 540-7648 to confirm appearance at your scheduled court date/time. If you are scheduled to appear in-person, please invite only those individuals to attend the hearing that are a party to the litigation. On the day of your hearing, please check in with a Civil Clerk at Window 3 after you clear the security check point.
Landlord Tenant proceedings are used to recover possession of premises and/or obtain a money judgment. This action must be filed at the District Court where the premises are located. If there is a claim for a money judgment on a landlord tenant case, the District Court has jurisdiction up to $25,000. If a claim for money judgment exceeds the Court’s jurisdiction, the District Court determines the possession issue and the Circuit Court determines the money portion.
Filing Fees
All checks must be made payable to the 53rd District Court.
Possession Only
Land Contract Forfeiture Only
Jury Demand
Motion Fee
Application & Order of Eviction
2nd Mailing Fee
Possession & Money Judgment/Land Contract Forfeiture & Money Judgment
$0 to $600
$601 to $1,750
$1,751 to $10,000
$10,001 to $25,000
Eviction Diversion Program
The 53rd District Court offers an Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) under the assistance of Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM,) who is funded through United Way. Legal Services provides free legal advice and representation to low income individuals, families, and older adults. If you qualify, this program will offer attorney assistance with your matter. The likely outcome is with LSSCM’s assistance your matter will be dismissed based on adherence to the terms of agreement. The tenant will not suffer credit bureau interference with future rental properties. If your matter has issues that can successfully be litigated before the court, LSSCM will represent you from trial to appeal process.
If you are interested in Legal Assistance/Eviction Diversion Program, please contact LSSCM at (517) 394-2985 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please contact the Office within 48 hours of receiving this notice to maximize Legal Services ability to provide proper representation for your Landlord Tenant matter.
Seizure & Eviction Information
For more information on property seizures and assistance with conducting evictions, please visit the Sheriff’s Office – Civil Division, or contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office at (517) 540-7936.
Legal Self Help Resources
Several resources are available for Livingston County residents who need help navigating legal matters. Browse our list of free and low-cost legal resources.