Should You Get a Trust or a Will in Michigan?

In Michigan, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.7% to 2.7% of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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General information about the cost of probate against the cost of a trust, not legal or financial advice. Probate fees are computed on gross estate value before debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions. Data verified Sep 8, 2026

In Michigan, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.7% to 2.7% of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee. The trust also distributes assets faster than the 5 months to 7 months probate timeline a simple estate takes.

Probate in Michigan runs about $25,430 on a $500,000 estate in combined attorney, executor, and court fees. A revocable trust has a one-time setup cost and no probate fees. See a detailed breakdown with the Michigan probate calculator.

No. A will must go through probate in Michigan. A small estate may qualify for a simplified route: In Michigan, estates with personal property of $53,000 or less skip probate with the Affidavit of Decedent's Successor, 28 days after death. 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.

Simple estates in Michigan typically take 5 months to 7 months through probate; average estates 7 months to 12 months, and contested estates longer. A funded revocable trust avoids probate entirely; distributions follow the trustee's administration rather than a court timeline.

Yes. A will becomes a public court record once it enters probate in Michigan: the will, the inventory, the beneficiaries and the distributions. A revocable trust is a private document that does not go through probate, so the terms, beneficiaries, and asset details remain confidential.

Trust vs Will in Michigan

The will route in Michigan pays attorney fees on a reasonable-compensation basis, typically 1.7% to 2.7% of the estate. There's negotiation room, but probate still takes time. The trust route is a higher upfront effort (the trust has to be funded), in exchange for skipping that fee entirely. The Michigan probate calculator shows the dollar gap on your estate size; the Michigan will cost calculator covers what each provider charges to draft the will itself.

If the estate stays under $53,000 in Michigan, the will-only path is short and inexpensive — a small-estate affidavit handles the transfer without formal probate. The trust route only pulls ahead at higher estate values where probate's cost and timeline start to bite.

Beyond cost, Michigan probate is a public proceeding: the will, asset inventory, beneficiary identities, and distribution amounts all become court records. A trust keeps the same information private. For some families that's the deciding factor regardless of dollar math.

If the trust route fits, the Michigan revocable trust form handles the document. If you want a quick gut-check first, the trust need assessment walks through the size, complexity, and family-structure factors that swing the answer.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated September 8, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Michigan statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Michigan Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Michigan probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

Should You Get a Trust or a Will in Michigan?

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Is this your situation?

New Home

Marriage

New Baby or Adoption

Serious Diagnosis

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Michigan

Last Will and Testament

Pour-Over Will

Revocable Living Trust

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Financial Power of Attorney

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Michigan

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

How Much Does a Will Cost?

How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?

How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

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Michigan Estate Planning Resources

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