Michigan 7-Day Demand for Possession: What Landlords Need to Know (DC 100a)
When a tenant falls behind on rent in Michigan, the eviction process usually starts with a written demand—not a court filing. For nonpayment of rent, that document is commonly called a 7-Day Demand for Possession. The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) publishes the approved form as DC 100a.
If you own or manage rental property in Michigan, understanding this notice can save time, money, and a dismissed case. Below is a practical overview of what DC 100a is for, what it must say, and how service works—plus a simple way to get a compliant notice printed and mailed.
Landlords Are People Too.®
What Is a Michigan 7-Day Demand for Possession?
A demand for possession for nonpayment of rent tells the tenant that rent is owed and that they must either pay the rent or move out within the stated time—typically 7 days from the date the notice was served.
Michigan law authorizes summary proceedings (the streamlined eviction process in district court) when a person holds over after failing or refusing to pay rent due within 7 days from service of a written demand for possession for nonpayment. See MCL 600.5714(1)(a). The form and content of the demand are governed by MCL 600.5716, and how you may serve it is set out in MCL 600.5718.
SCAO form DC 100a is the court-approved “Demand for Possession, Nonpayment of Rent” used statewide for this purpose. SCAO’s own instructions note that the form is commonly called a “7-Day Notice,” but a lease or other applicable law may require a longer period.
When Do Michigan Landlords Use DC 100a?
Use DC 100a when:
- The tenant has not paid rent due under the lease or rental agreement, and
- You want the tenant to pay or vacate before you file an eviction case.
Important limitations reflected in the statute and form instructions:
- The demand is about rent due—not every possible charge you might wish to accelerate because of a lease breach.
- If the lease or applicable law requires more than 7 days, you should give that longer period (DC 100a has a blank for a longer number of days).
- Serving a demand is a pre-filing notice step. It is not the lawsuit itself.
What Must the Demand Include?
Under MCL 600.5716, a demand for possession or payment must be:
- In writing and addressed to the person in possession
- Clear about the address or brief description of the premises
- Clear about the reasons for the demand and the time to take remedial action
- Clear about the amount due when nonpayment of rent (or other sums due under the lease) is claimed
- Dated and signed by the person entitled to possession, or that person’s attorney or agent
DC 100a is designed to capture those elements in a standard format that courts and tenants recognize.
How Can You Serve a DC 100a?
Michigan law allows several service methods for a demand for possession. Under MCL 600.5718(1), service may be by:
- Personal delivery to the person in possession
- Personal delivery on the premises to a family or household member or employee of suitable age and discretion, with a request that it be delivered to the person in possession
- First-class mail addressed to the person in possession
- Electronic service, but only if the person in possession has specifically consented in writing under the statute’s electronic-service rules
SCAO’s instructions for DC 100a mirror these methods and warn that some informal approaches are not proper service—for example, slipping the demand under the door, attaching it to the property, or using mailing methods that require a signature.
If you mail the demand, Michigan law is specific: the date of service is the next regular day for delivery of mail after the day it was mailed. That timing detail matters when you calculate when the 7-day period ends and when you may file in court. (See our related post on how mailing affects notice deadlines.)
After you serve the tenant’s copy, complete the Certificate of Service on the court copy and keep it. You may need it if you later file a complaint for possession.
What Happens After the 7 Days?
If the tenant neither pays the rent owed nor vacates within the time stated in a properly served demand, you may be able to start a summary proceeding in the Michigan district court that covers the property. Filing typically involves a summons and complaint, with a copy of the demand attached showing when and how it was served—requirements addressed in Michigan Court Rule MCR 4.201.
A demand for possession is often the cleanest first step. Getting the form, the rent figure, the property description, and the service method right reduces the chance of a preventable delay later.
A Straightforward Option for Michigan Property Owners
If you want help preparing and mailing the notice—without turning the process into a full legal engagement—Piper Legal’s Notice Generator is built for Michigan landlords who need a DC 100a (or a 30-day Notice to Quit) handled as a practical, administrative task.
For a $50 flat fee, Piper Legal prepares the notice, prints it, and mails it to the tenant. The service is for Michigan properties only. Using it creates no attorney-client relationship; it is an administrative, self-directed convenience for Michigan property owners.
Call to Action
Ready to send a Michigan 7-Day Demand for Possession? Use the Notice Generator to prepare SCAO form DC 100a and have Piper Legal print and mail it for a $50 flat fee.
Landlords Are People Too.®
Disclaimer: This post is general information for Michigan property owners, not legal advice. Your situation may differ based on your lease, local practice, and the facts of your case. Using the Notice Generator does not create an attorney-client relationship with Piper Legal (Jeremy R.M. Piper, PLC).