Michigan Phone Call Recording Laws: Rules for Landlines, Cell Phones, and VoIP (2026)

Michigan's eavesdropping statute, MCL 750.539c, prohibits recording the private conversations of others, but courts have established a participant exception that lets you record any phone call you are part of without notifying the other party. When calling into a stricter state, disclosing the recording is the safest practice.

Phone call recording is one of the most common and practical applications of Michigan's recording laws. Whether you want to record a personal call, a business conversation, or a call with a government agency, the rules depend on the participant exception established by Michigan courts and the location of the person on the other end of the line.

This guide covers every aspect of phone call recording law in Michigan, including the legal framework, interstate calling rules, business recording practices, and how to use recorded calls as evidence.

Michigan's Legal Framework for Phone Call Recording

The Eavesdropping Statute and Phone Calls

MCL 750.539c prohibits eavesdropping on private conversations. This statute applies to phone calls when a third party (someone not on the call) uses a device to intercept or record the conversation without all-party consent.

However, the statutory definition of "eavesdrop" under MCL 750.539a(2) limits the prohibition to recording "the private discourse of others." When you are on the phone call, the conversation is not solely that of "others." It is also yours.

How the Participant Exception Applies to Calls

The Sullivan v. Gray, 117 Mich. App. 476, 324 N.W.2d 58 (1982), participant exception, affirmed by the Sixth Circuit in Fisher v. Perron, 30 F.4th 289 (6th Cir. 2022) and reached again on reconsideration by the same district court in AFT Michigan v. Project Veritas, No. 4:17-cv-13292 (E.D. Mich. Nov. 8, 2021), directly applies to phone calls. If you are a party to the call, you can record it without informing the other person.

This applies to:

• Landline calls on home or office phones
• Cell phone calls on any carrier or device
• VoIP calls through services like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, FaceTime, and WhatsApp
• Conference calls where you are an active participant
• Video calls where audio is captured along with video

You do not need to announce the recording, play a beep tone, or obtain verbal agreement. Your participation is the consent.

Limits of the Participant Exception for Calls

The exception has clear boundaries:

• You must be on the call. You cannot tap someone else's phone line, intercept calls between others, or use a device to listen to a call you are not part of.
• You cannot delegate recording rights. You cannot ask a friend to record a call on your behalf from an extension or separate device while you are on the line. The person doing the recording must be a direct participant.
• The exception covers your calls only. Setting up a recording device to automatically capture all calls on a shared phone line may record calls made by others when you are not present, which would violate the eavesdropping statute.

Interstate Phone Call Recording Rules

The Multi-State Problem

When you make or receive a call between Michigan and another state, both states' laws potentially apply. Michigan's participant exception makes the recording legal under Michigan law, but the other state may have different rules. You can compare both states' consent rules in our recording consent checker before the call.

All-Party Consent States

The following states require consent from all parties before recording a phone call:

• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Washington

If the person on the other end of your call is in one of these states, their state's law may govern the recording. Several of these states have applied their laws to calls that originate from or terminate in their jurisdiction, regardless of where the recording party is located.

The most notable example is California, where the state Supreme Court held in Kearney v. Salomon Smith Barney, Inc., 39 Cal. 4th 95 (2006) that California's all-party consent law applies to calls involving California residents even when the recording occurs elsewhere.

Practical Guidance for Interstate Calls

To minimize legal risk when recording calls with people in other states:

1. Know where the other party is. If they are in an all-party consent state, consider disclosing the recording.
2. When in doubt, disclose. A simple statement like "I am recording this call for my records" satisfies even the strictest state laws.
3. Document the disclosure. If you inform the other party of the recording and they continue the conversation, that continuation generally constitutes implied consent.

International Calls

Recording laws vary significantly by country. Canadian federal law generally allows one-party consent recording under the Criminal Code. European Union countries generally require consent from all parties under GDPR privacy principles. When recording calls with international parties, research the specific country's laws or default to disclosure.

Business Phone Call Recording in Michigan

Legal Requirements

Michigan businesses where employees participate in customer calls can legally record those calls under the participant exception. The employee's participation on the call satisfies the consent requirement.

However, best practices for business call recording go beyond the minimum legal requirement:

Recommended Business Practices

Pre-call notification: Play an automated message at the start of the call: "This call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance and training purposes." This approach satisfies all-party consent requirements for any state the caller may be in and builds customer trust.

Employee training: Train all staff who handle recorded calls on proper procedures, including when recording starts, how to disclose recording, and how to handle callers who object.

Written policies: Maintain a written call recording policy that covers:

• Which calls are recorded and why
• How recordings are stored and for how long
• Who has access to recordings
• How recordings are deleted when retention periods expire
• Employee responsibilities regarding recorded calls

Compliance with interstate rules: If your business serves customers in all-party consent states, the pre-call notification approach eliminates legal risk across all jurisdictions.

Call Center Recording

Michigan-based call centers that handle calls from multiple states should default to providing notice on all calls. This is the industry standard because it is impossible to know in advance which state each caller is in. A blanket notification policy is simpler, more reliable, and legally safer than trying to determine the caller's location before deciding whether to disclose.

Recording Government Agency Calls

Calling State Agencies

When you call a Michigan state agency, the agency may record the call (and usually discloses this at the start). You can also record the call under the participant exception. Many Michigan agencies provide recorded disclosures that effectively put both sides on notice.

Calling Federal Agencies

Federal phone calls are governed by the federal Wiretap Act, 18 U.S.C. 2511, which follows one-party consent. You can record your own calls with federal agencies.

Using Recorded Phone Calls as Evidence

Admissibility in Michigan Courts

Phone call recordings made legally under the participant exception are admissible in Michigan courts, subject to the Michigan Rules of Evidence. The party introducing the recording must establish:

• Authenticity: The recording accurately captures what was said
• Chain of custody: The recording has not been altered since it was made
• Relevance: The recording relates to an issue in the case

Common Uses of Recorded Calls

Legally recorded phone calls frequently serve as evidence in:

• Contract disputes: Proving what terms were agreed to verbally
• Harassment and stalking cases: Documenting threatening or harassing statements
• Family law cases: Recording co-parenting conversations, discussions about custody, or evidence of misconduct
• Insurance claims: Preserving statements made by insurance adjusters or agents
• Consumer complaints: Documenting conversations with businesses or service providers
• Employment disputes: Recording conversations about wages, working conditions, or discriminatory statements

Recordings in Family Law

Parents in custody disputes frequently record phone calls with the other parent. Under the participant exception, a parent can record their own conversations with the co-parent. However, recording the child's conversations with the other parent when the recording parent is not part of the call raises third-party eavesdropping concerns.

Michigan courts have addressed parent-child recording scenarios with mixed results. The safest approach is to only record calls where you are a direct participant.

Criminal Penalties for Illegal Phone Recording

Illegally recording phone calls in Michigan carries the same felony penalties as other eavesdropping violations:

Federal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2511 may also apply, carrying up to 5 years imprisonment. Civil liability for statutory damages is authorized separately under 18 U.S.C. 2520.

Phone Recording Apps and Technology

Legal Considerations for Recording Apps

Using a recording app on your own phone to record calls you participate in is legal under Michigan's participant exception. Popular apps include built-in phone recording features, third-party apps, and cloud-based recording services.

Automatic Recording Settings

Some apps and phone systems offer automatic recording of all calls. If you are the only person who uses the phone, this is functionally the same as manually recording each call you participate in. However, if the phone is shared with family members or coworkers, automatic recording may capture their calls when you are not a participant, violating the eavesdropping statute.

Cloud Storage and Security

Recorded calls stored in the cloud should be secured with strong passwords and encryption. Michigan law does not have specific requirements for storing recorded calls, but maintaining security protects you from potential liability if recordings are accessed by unauthorized parties.

Related Michigan Recording Laws

Audio Recording | Video Recording | Voyeurism & Hidden Cameras | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Phone Call Recording | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant | Dashcam Laws | Schools | Medical Recording

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a phone call in Michigan without telling the other person?

Yes. Under Michigan's participant exception from Sullivan v. Gray (1982), you can record any phone call you are a party to without informing the other person. This applies to landline, cell phone, and VoIP calls. You do not need to announce the recording or obtain consent.

What if I am calling someone in an all-party consent state from Michigan?

When calling someone in an all-party consent state like California, Florida, or Pennsylvania, the stricter state's law may apply. To avoid legal risk, consider disclosing that you are recording. A simple statement at the start of the call satisfies even the strictest state laws.

Can a business record customer phone calls in Michigan?

Yes. Michigan businesses can record calls where an employee participates under the participant exception. However, best practice is to play an automated notice at the start of the call informing the caller that the call may be recorded. This satisfies all-party consent requirements for callers in other states and builds customer trust.

Can I use a recorded phone call as evidence in court in Michigan?

Yes. Phone call recordings made legally under the participant exception are admissible in Michigan courts. You must establish that the recording is authentic, has not been altered, and is relevant to the case. Illegally recorded calls are typically inadmissible and may expose you to criminal liability.

Is it legal to use a phone recording app in Michigan?

Using a recording app on your own phone to record calls you participate in is legal under the participant exception. However, if the phone is shared and the app automatically records all calls, it may capture conversations of others when you are not a participant, which would violate the eavesdropping statute.