Michigan Last Will and Testament

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Michigan Last Will and Testament

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Last updated June 2nd, 2026

A Michigan last will and testament states an individual’s final wishes for their estate’s distribution after they pass away. It appoints the personal representative responsible for carrying out the will’s instructions, including settling the estate’s debts, resolving claims, and distributing assets. A will allows the testator to avoid having their estate subjected to state intestate succession laws and helps reduce disputes among heirs.

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A Michigan last will and testament states an individual’s final wishes for their estate’s distribution after they pass away. It appoints the personal representative responsible for carrying out the will’s instructions, including settling the estate’s debts, resolving claims, and distributing assets. A will allows the testator to avoid having their estate subjected to state intestate succession laws and helps reduce disputes among heirs.

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State Laws

  • Minimum Age – 18[1]
  • Signing Requirements – Testator and two witnesses[2]
  • How to Revoke – If destroyed by the testator (or at their direction) or if a new will is drafted.[3]

Probate in Michigan

An interested person (heir, beneficiary, creditor, or nominated personal representative) may file an application to start informal probate. If no application has been made within 28 days of the testator’s death, then other parties with a claim or issue with the estate will become eligible to file.[4]

Application for Informal Probate

To begin informal probate and appoint a personal representative, an interested person must file the following with the probate court of the county where the decedent lived[5]:

When appointed, the personal representative will complete and file the Acceptance of Appointment form. The court will issue Letters of Authority of Personal Representative, providing the appointee full authority to administer the estate.

The personal representative will need to prepare and file an inventory, notify creditors, provide various notices to interested parties, pay taxes, bills, claims, and fees, and distribute assets to the appropriate parties.

The estate may be closed when at least five months have passed since its opening and the time limit for creditors to present claims has expired.

Small Estates

Estates with a total value of $15,000 or less (as of this writing) do not need to go through probate; eligible estates may be distributed with an Affidavit of Decedent’s Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent.[8]

Sources

  1. § 700.2501(1)
  2. § 700.2502
  3. § 700.2507
  4. § 700.3301(1)
  5. § 700.3201(1)
  6. Rule 5.302(B)
  7. Rule 5.302(A)(1)
  8. § 700.3983