Huntington Woods estate-and-probate firm practicing in the Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Monroe, Washtenaw and St. Clair County probate courts. Handles contested and uncontested probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and litigation over wills, trusts and breach of fiduciary duty. Offers a free phone consultation.
Probate in St. Clair County
Probate Court Record
St. Clair County Probate Court
St. Clair County
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How to file probate in St. Clair County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in St. Clair County? →Settling an estate in St. Clair County →
Trust Administration Firms Serving St. Clair County
Mount Clemens firm founded in 1903, Macomb County's oldest continuous law firm, handling probate court matters primarily in Macomb, Wayne, Oakland and St. Clair Counties. Represents personal representatives and trustees in estate and trust administration and handles guardianships and conservatorships; will and trust contests are referred to local counsel.
East Lansing elder law and probate firm with offices in Battle Creek, Jackson, Saginaw, Southfield, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Helps fiduciaries with inventories, accountings and creditor claims, and its litigation team handles will and trust contests over undue influence, capacity and breach of fiduciary duty, guardianships and elder financial exploitation.
Grand Rapids and Livonia estate firm started in 1994 by former Navy JAG attorney John Tamboer. For executors it obtains letters of authority and handles the notices and court filings to the end of the case; for successor trustees it handles private trust settlement, retitling and beneficiary notices, and it files small-estate petitions. The first administration consultation is free.
Kalamazoo firm with offices in Battle Creek, Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Traverse City. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, and guardianship and conservatorship petitions, alongside wills, living trusts, and Medicaid planning. Publishes flat fees, including a set price for an uncontested probate case.
Grand Blanc elder law and probate firm with offices in Rochester and Brighton, citing local knowledge of Genesee County probate proceedings. Assists personal representatives through each step of probate and helps trustees administer trusts under Michigan law, tax rules and fiduciary duties. Also handles guardianships, Medicaid and VA benefits, and special needs planning.
All 13 Michigan trust administration firms serving St. Clair County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Michigan
Free Michigan forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Michigan.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Pour-Over Will
In Michigan, a pour-over will is signed before 2MCL 700.2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Michigan
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Michigan: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Michigan.
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Michigan happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeMCL 700.7101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 63 daysMCL 700.7814, 700.7905; MCL 700.7109Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In Michigan, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.7708Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Michigan: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 91 daysMCL 700.3706, 700.3707, 700.3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsMCL 700.3801, 700.3803, 700.3804, 700.3805, 700.3806; MCR 5.208, MCR 5.106Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 5 months to 7 months.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Michigan requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040MCL 206.51Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Michigan take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular ratesMCL § 206.51 (statutory base 4.25% with annual revenue-trigger reduction formula)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
