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How Much Does Probate Cost in Michigan?
Typical total: $400 – $1,200 in hard costs for a simple informal Michigan estate
Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.
Quick Answer
How Much Does Probate Cost in Michigan?
Opening a Michigan probate estate costs $175 in court filing fees, plus a sliding-scale inventory fee based on estate value, plus roughly $75–$150 to publish the notice to creditors. A simple informal estate commonly totals $400 to $1,200 in hard costs. Small estates under the statutory threshold can often be settled with a much cheaper assignment petition.
Line-by-line cost breakdown
Court and state fees are set by the government and change periodically. Clear Path prices are starting estimates — every matter is reviewed before a final quote and invoice.
| Cost | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petition to open an estate | $175 | Paid to the probate court | — |
| Inventory fee | Sliding scale | Paid to the probate court | Calculated on the value of estate assets after you file the inventory |
| Publication of notice to creditors | $75 – $150 | Paid to a local newspaper | — |
| Certified letters of authority | $12 each | Paid to the probate court | Banks usually want their own certified copy |
| Small estate assignment petition (PC 556) | $25 | Paid to the probate court | Only when the court-filed assignment procedure applies |
| Small estate affidavit preparation | Starting at $199 | Clear Path document preparation | — |
| Informal probate document preparation | Starting at $495 | Clear Path document preparation | — |
| Attorney-administered probate | $2,500 – $6,000+ | Paid to a law firm | Often billed hourly or as a percentage of the estate |
How to spend less
- Ask the probate register whether the PC 556 assignment procedure is available. Its filing fee is $25 plus any applicable inventory fee.
- Remember what skips probate entirely: jointly owned property, payable-on-death accounts, life insurance with a named beneficiary, and properly funded trusts.
- Order the right number of certified letters of authority up front instead of making repeat trips at $12 each.
- For the future: a lady bird deed or living trust avoids probate on the biggest assets, which is far cheaper than administering them later.
Timeline and when each cost hits
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| File the application and get letters of authority | 1–3 weeks |
| Publish notice to creditors | Within a few weeks of appointment |
| File the estate inventory | Typically within 91 days of appointment |
| Creditor claim period | 5 months from publication (statutory minimum) |
| Distribute assets and close the estate | Usually 7–12 months total |