Estate planning attorneys in Michigan average $305 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $915–$1,830 for a simple individual will and $3,460–$5,190 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Michigan allows estates under $53,000 to use a simplified Affidavit of Decedent's Successor procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Michigan probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Michigan, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Start by filtering the directory above by your county and the practice area you need. Look for firms with experience in your specific situation — board certifications in estate planning, trust, or probate law are a strong signal. Most Michigan estate planning attorneys offer an initial consultation; some are free, others charge a flat fee. Ask up front whether the firm bills by the hour or by flat-fee package, and what the expected cost is for your situation.
86 estate planning firms in Michigan: probate, trust administration, and estate planning, by county and practice area.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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86 firms
FirmLudington, MI
Ludington firm covering the four-county Mason, Lake, Oceana, and Manistee region through the Mason County Probate Court. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, will and trust drafting, and elder-law matters. Probate work has been led by Tracy Thompson since the mid-1990s.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder Law
Solo PracticeSault Ste. Marie, MI
Sault Ste. Marie solo practice focused on elder law, estate planning, and Medicaid planning, with services spanning trust and probate administration, guardianships, business formation, real estate transactions, and liquor license transfers across the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Michigan. Free phone consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
Solo PracticeKalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo and Battle Creek law office handling estate planning, probate, Medicaid planning, trust administration, and bankruptcy. Founded in 2004 when Michael B. Walling established his solo practice serving southwest Michigan families.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning
FirmAlpena, MI
Downtown Alpena firm covering Alpena, Montmorency, Presque Isle, and Alcona Counties in Northeast Michigan. Handles probate and trust administration, estate planning, elder law and Medicaid planning, and business succession matters for families across Northern Michigan.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
FirmShelby Township, MI
Shelby Township firm serving Macomb County families through the Macomb County Probate Court in Mount Clemens. Concentrates on estate planning paired with elder law and Medicaid planning, asset preservation, guardianships and conservatorships, and probate and probate litigation after a death.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 4 more
FirmClinton Township, MI
Clinton Township firm serving Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair County families through the Macomb County Probate Court in Mount Clemens. Builds revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and Medicaid plans, and administers estates after a death whether distribution runs through a will or Michigan's intestacy statutes. Offers a free case evaluation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
Free Michigan forms and tools to get started.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Understand your state's estate planning landscape. See will execution requirements, probate procedures, trust administration rules, and what happens if you die without a plan.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.
