Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5726
Recovery of possession following forfeiture of executory contract for purchase of premises; accelerated indebtedness.
Operative Text
Sec. 5726. A person entitled to any premises may recover possession thereof by a proceeding under this chapter after forfeiture of an executory contract for the purchase of the premises but only if the terms of the contract expressly provide for termination or forfeiture, or give the vendor the right to declare a forfeiture, in consequence of the nonpayment of any moneys required to be paid under the contract or any other material breach of the contract. For purposes of this chapter, moneys required to be paid under the contract shall not include any accelerated indebtedness by reason of breach of the contract.
Michigan law under MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5726 governs when a seller (vendor) may use a court proceeding to reclaim property after a land contract buyer defaults. The contract itself must explicitly include a termination or forfeiture clause tied to nonpayment or another material breach before such a proceeding can be initiated. Importantly, any debt that was accelerated because of the breach does not count as 'moneys required to be paid' for purposes of triggering this recovery process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5726, vendors who sell property through an executory (land) contract and wish to preserve the right to recover possession through a summary proceeding generally ensure that the contract contains an express forfeiture or termination clause linked to nonpayment or material breach. Operators also take note that accelerated debt resulting from a breach cannot serve as the basis for a forfeiture action under this chapter. Careful contract drafting that clearly spells out forfeiture rights is a common practice among compliant vendors operating under this statute.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For buyers purchasing property under a land contract in Michigan, MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5726 provides an important protection: a vendor cannot pursue a possession proceeding unless the contract itself expressly grants the right to declare a forfeiture. Additionally, a vendor cannot rely on accelerated debt amounts as the trigger for such a proceeding. Buyers who believe a forfeiture action has been initiated without a proper contractual basis may wish to consult a tenant-rights or housing organization, or seek legal counsel, to understand available defenses.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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