Is it legal to record a call in Michigan?

Michigan is an all-party consent state for recording conversations. In an all-party consent state, all parties to the conversation must consent before it is recorded.

Michigan law is unsettled. The statute (MCL 750.539c) requires the consent of all parties, while a Court of Appeals decision (Sullivan v. Gray) has been read to allow a participant to record their own conversation. Because appellate authority is not settled, the safer course is to treat Michigan as an all-party state: tell everyone on the call you are recording. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current statute at the official source on this page and consult your own counsel before relying on it.

The statute

Any person who is present or who is not present during a private conversation and who wilfully uses any device to eavesdrop upon the conversation without the consent of all parties thereto, or who knowingly aids, employs or procures another person to do the same in violation of this section, is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 2 years or by a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.

MCL 750.539c. Last verified 2026-07-03.^source

Sources

MCL 750.539c Tier D last verified 2026-07-03

Important

This page is general information, not legal advice. Recording laws have edge cases that this summary does not cover, including in-person versus phone recording, calls that cross state lines, and law-enforcement exceptions. Laws change. Confirm the current statute at the official source linked below, and consult your own counsel before relying on it.