What to Do When Someone Dies in Livingston County, Michigan
Probate in Livingston County runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Livingston County, settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneys
Probate Court Administrator: Deborah Shaw (dshaw@livgov.com). Probate Register: Kathe Wenzel (kwenzel@livgov.com). Four filing methods: in-person, secure mailbox outside Judicial Center, email, or fax; filing fees for fax/email may be paid by credit card over the phone. Copies $1.50/page; certified letters of authority $13 each.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Livingston County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 204 S. Highlander Way, Suite 2, Howell. It is one of 5 Michigan counties where probate e-filing is mandatory rather than optional.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Michigan intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Michigan estates take 7 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 4 monthsMCL 700.3803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Livingston County
What probate costs in Livingston County, Michigan comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 204 S. Highlander Way, Suite 2, Howell.
Michigan charges $150MCL § 600.880(1)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Probate Court (https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Michigan are negotiated, typically 1.7%MCR 5.313(A) (attorney entitled to reasonable compensation; MRPC 1.5(a) factors); MCL 700.3721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%MCR 5.313(A) (attorney entitled to reasonable compensation; MRPC 1.5(a) factors); MCL 700.3721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Michigan requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
Probate in Michigan typically runs 7 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
If you're handling probate yourself in Livingston County, Michigan, you can file at the Probate Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Livingston County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Livingston County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Livingston County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Register of Deeds Brandon Denby, at 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843. Phone: (517) 546-0270. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm.
The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Livingston County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Livingston County · Register of Deeds · Brandon Denby
Michigan allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Livingston County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Michigan are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.7%MCR 5.313(A) (attorney entitled to reasonable compensation; MRPC 1.5(a) factors); MCL 700.3721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%MCR 5.313(A) (attorney entitled to reasonable compensation; MRPC 1.5(a) factors); MCL 700.3721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Livingston County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Serves Washtenaw, Livingston, and western Wayne County families from Ann Arbor, with a second office in Petoskey. Handles trust and estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and elder law work including Medicaid and special needs planning. Estate and elder law has been the firm’s focus for more than 30 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more
Brighton estate-planning and elder-law firm serving Livingston, Oakland, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties. Handles trust and will planning, Medicaid and long-term-care asset protection, and trust administration for families settling a relative's estate. Led by a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a credential held by only a small number of Michigan attorneys.
Huntington Woods estate-and-probate firm serving Metro Detroit's Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County probate courts. Handles contested and uncontested estate and trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate litigation including will contests, trust disputes, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims. Founder Howard Collens has practiced estate law for over 30 years.
Ann Arbor firm on South Main Street serving Washtenaw County and surrounding communities. Handles estate settlement and probate, estate and income tax questions that come up during administration, and probate and trust litigation through its litigation group. Eight attorneys work in the estates, trusts, and elder law practice.
Ann Arbor firm serving Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, and Livingston County families through the Washtenaw County Probate Court and across Michigan. Handles probate and estate administration after a death, trust administration and asset distribution for trustees, beneficiary representation, and special-needs planning. Founded in 2008.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationElder LawConservatorshipand 3 more
Fowlerville-based law firm serving Livingston County and surrounding areas with estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, and conservatorships. Free initial consultations available.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Livingston County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Livingston County, Michigan.
