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Home→Tools→State Estate Planning Guides→Michigan

How Does Estate Planning Work in Michigan?

Your complete Michigan estate planning overview: probate costs, will execution requirements, trust rules, and what happens if you die without a plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Probate in Michigan uses reasonable compensation for attorney fees, typically 1.7-2.7% of the estate value — about $26,017 all-in on a $500,000 estate. Estates under $53,000 may qualify for Affidavit of Decedent's Successor.

Simple estates in Michigan typically take 5-7 months through probate. Complex or contested estates can take 1-3 years. A revocable trust avoids probate entirely.

Michigan has adopted the Uniform Trust Code and does not require witnesses for trust execution. Notarization is not required for validity, though many financial institutions require notarized trust documents. The successor trustee must publish notice to Michigan creditors, after which a claim is barred in 4 months.

Michigan offers remote online notarization (RON) for estate planning documents. These tools, combined with revocable trusts and beneficiary designations, provide multiple ways to transfer assets without probate.

A healthcare power of attorney in Michigan requires 2 witnesses to be valid. A financial power of attorney requires 2 witnesses or notarization. A financial power of attorney is durable by default, so it stays in effect if you become incapacitated.

In Michigan, the executor must file an inventory of the estate's assets within 91 days of appointment. A revocable trust skips the court-supervised inventory entirely, so a trustee distributes assets without filing one.

In Michigan, divorce automatically revokes a beneficiary designation that names a former spouse on covered accounts, so the asset does not pass to the ex-spouse unless the designation is renewed after the divorce.

Estate Planning in Michigan

Estate planning in Michigan is shaped by remote online notarization and the Uniform Trust Code. The choice between a will and a revocable trust depends on which of those features changes the cost or process for your situation, not on any single rule.

Probate in Michigan runs attorney fees on a reasonable-compensation standard, typically 1.7-2.7% of the estate value, with room to negotiate. A simple estate typically closes in 5-7 months, and the 4-month creditor-claim window sets the floor. Estates under $53K can use the Affidavit of Decedent's Successor and avoid full probate administration. The Affidavit of Decedent's Successor is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court.

For a revocable trust, Michigan does not require witnesses for trust execution. Notarization isn't required for validity, though banks and title companies typically expect a notarized trust before they'll work with it. Michigan has adopted the Uniform Trust Code, so trust administration follows the same baseline rules used in most states.

Michigan offers remote online notarization for estate documents, so signing can happen over secure video. Combined with beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and payable-on-death registrations, these can move significant value outside probate without setting up a trust.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 13, 2026

Sources

  • legislature.mi.gov

Data sourced from Michigan estate law primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.

Michigan Estate Planning Tools

  • Answer a specific Michigan question: How much does probate cost in Michigan? · Who inherits without a will in Michigan? · Do I need probate in Michigan? · How much does a will cost in Michigan? · How much does a trust cost in Michigan? · How do I sign a will in Michigan?

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