Skip to main content

Free tools / Michigan / Pleadings

Michigan answer to complaint deadline

Quick answer

In Michigan, you generally must respond to a complaint within 21 days after personal service of the summons and complaint within michigan (MCR 2.108(A)(1)).

MCR 2.108(A)(1)
AI-assisted — Michigan rules pending attorney verification; confirm against the cited rule.
AI-assisted — verify independently. Michigan deadline rules here are AI-generated and pending attorney review. Confirm against the cited rule and your local court before relying on this.
CourtFlow computes deadlines like this automatically — from the court email itself, straight to your calendar, for every case.
Start a trial — setup in 5 minutes

Estimates based on standard Michigan rules and court-holiday closures; not legal advice. Confirm against your specific case, local administrative orders, and the current rules.

How the deadline works

Under MCR 2.108(A)(1), the answer is due within 21 days after personal service of the summons and complaint within michigan. 28 days if served outside Michigan or by registered mail (the 28-day track is substantive, not an add-on). A deadline landing on a weekend or court holiday moves to the next business day.

Questions

How long do I have to respond to a complaint in Michigan?
Generally 21 days after personal service of the summons and complaint within michigan, under MCR 2.108(A)(1).