Michigan allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Midland 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, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Midland 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.
FirmBay City, MI
Since 1945 · Serves 3 counties
Downtown Bay City firm serving the Tri-Cities of Bay City, Saginaw and Midland since 1945. Probates decedents' estates, handles conservatorships and guardianships, and represents trustees and beneficiaries in trust administration, alongside wills, trusts and estate tax planning. Its attorneys belong to the Bay County Bar Association and the Northeastern Michigan Estate Planning Council.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 3 more
- Office
- 703 Washington Avenue, Suite 200Bay City, MI 48708
FirmSaginaw, MI
Serves 8 counties
Saginaw firm on Court Street serving Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and Flint along with Saginaw, Bay, Isabella, Tuscola, Huron, Genesee and Shiawassee counties. Manages the distribution of assets in Michigan probate estates, with fees based on probatable assets. Its probate litigation attorneys handle will contests, power-of-attorney abuse and disputes among beneficiaries or heirs.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationMedicaid PlanningWills Trusts
- Office
- 902 Court StreetSaginaw, MI 48602
FirmSaginaw, MI
Since 1939 · Serves 17 counties
Saginaw firm founded by Albert A. Smith in 1939, with offices in Saginaw, Frankenmuth and Alma serving Mid-Michigan and the Thumb. Handles probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and probate litigation, and drafts wills, living trusts, special needs trusts and Medicaid and long-term-care plans for aging clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
- Office
- 200 St. Andrews RoadSaginaw, MI 48638
Solo PracticeOkemos, MI
Serves 9 counties
Okemos estate planning and elder law office of attorney Tara Peterson, meeting clients from Ingham, Clinton, Eaton and six other mid-Michigan counties in person or by Zoom. Handles estate administration in and out of probate court, including formal and informal probate and trust administration. Also plans for Medicaid and VA benefits when a family faces long-term care costs.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning
- Office
- 2157 Commons ParkwayOkemos, MI 48864
FirmEast Lansing, MI
Since 2002 · Serves 8 counties
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
- Office
- 1019 Trowbridge RoadEast Lansing, MI 48823
FirmEast Lansing, MI
Serves 10 counties
East Lansing firm with a second office in Mt. Pleasant, practicing in the probate courts of Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Isabella and other mid-Michigan counties. Represents personal representatives, trustees and beneficiaries in probate and trust administration, from marshalling assets to notice to creditors and estate taxes. Also litigates will contests, trust disputes and undue influence claims.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
- Office
- 6025 N. Hagadorn RoadEast Lansing, MI 48823
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.
