Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5728
Prerequisites to recovery of possession under MCL 600.5726; contents of notice of forfeiture.
Operative Text
Sec. 5728. (1) Possession may be recovered under section 5726 only after the vendee or person holding possession under him has been served with a written notice of forfeiture and has failed in the required time to pay moneys required to be paid under the contract or to cure any other material breach of the contract. Unless the parties have agreed in writing to a longer time, the person served with a notice of forfeiture shall have 15 days thereafter before he is required to pay moneys required to be paid under the contract and cure other material breaches of the contract or to deliver possession of the premises. (2) The notice of forfeiture shall state the names of the parties to the contract and the date of its execution, give the address or legal description of the premises, specify the unpaid amount of moneys required to be paid under the contract and the dates on which payments thereof were due, specify any other material breaches of the contract and shall declare forfeiture of the contract effective in 15 days, or specified longer time, after service of the notice, unless the money required to be paid under the contract is paid and any other material breaches of the contract are cured within that time. The notice shall be dated and signed by the person entitled to possession, his attorney or agent.
Michigan law under MCL § 600.5728 establishes the procedural steps that must occur before a land contract vendor can recover possession of property from a vendee. Specifically, the vendee must first receive a written notice of forfeiture that identifies the parties, the property, the amounts owed and their due dates, and any other material contract breaches. The vendee then has at least 15 days—or longer if the contract specifies—to pay the overdue amounts, cure other breaches, or surrender possession before any forfeiture can take effect.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 600.5728, a land contract vendor seeking to recover possession must ensure the written notice of forfeiture is complete and accurate, including the names of both parties, the contract's execution date, the property address or legal description, the specific unpaid amounts with their due dates, and a description of any other material breaches. The notice must clearly state that forfeiture becomes effective in 15 days (or a longer agreed period) unless the vendee cures the identified defaults. Compliant operators typically date and sign the notice—or have their attorney or agent do so—and serve it properly before initiating any possession proceedings under MCL § 600.5726.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
As a vendee under a land contract, MCL § 600.5728 gives you a minimum of 15 days after receiving a written notice of forfeiture to pay any overdue amounts, cure other material breaches, or deliver possession—and your contract may provide an even longer cure period if the parties agreed to one in writing. The notice itself must meet specific content requirements; a notice that omits required information such as the unpaid amounts, due dates, or a proper description of the breach may be legally deficient. Tenants and vendees who believe a forfeiture notice does not comply with MCL § 600.5728 may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or housing attorney, and may be able to raise noncompliance as a defense in any possession proceeding brought under MCL § 600.5726.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation