A Michigan small estate affidavit is a legal form that enables heirs and beneficiaries to collect a deceased person’s estate assets without court involvement, thus bypassing the probate process. Application of this form is limited to estates that contain no real estate and hold a total value not exceeding the statutory maximum (see Laws section below).

The small estate affidavit, referred to in Michigan as the “Affidavit of Decedent’s Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent (PC 598),” must be completed by the successor of the asset being claimed. If additional successors stand to inherit a portion of the asset in question, the other individuals must be identified in the affidavit alongside a listing of their ownership share (%).

How to Record (3 Steps)

• Step 1 – Small Estate Qualifications
• Step 2 – Draft Affidavit
• Step 3 – Collect Assets

Step 1 – Small Estate Qualifications

Certain statutory requirements must be met in order for an estate to qualify for distribution by affidavit. The conditions are as follows:

• The value of the estate cannot exceed the statutory limit, the amount of which is adjusted annually. For deaths occurring in 2021, the maximum is $24,000, excluding liens and encumbrances.
• At least twenty-eight (28) days must pass after the decedent’s death.
• No application or petition for the appointment of a personal representative has been made.
• The affiant must be entitled to the assets being claimed.
• The estate cannot include real property.

Note: If the decedent owned real property, a simplified probate process is available in which a petitioner files a Petition for Assignment with the Probate Court.

Step 2 – Draft Affidavit

An affiant who claims assets must fill out the Affidavit of Decedent’s Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent (PC 598). The affidavit must be signed in the presence of a notary public, and a copy of the death certificate must be attached.

Step 3 – Collect Assets

Michigan statute § 700.3983(1) states that any person possessing the decedent’s assets must relinquish the property upon being presented with a valid affidavit and death certificate. Therefore, all that’s needed to obtain the assets in a small estate are those two (2) documents. However, if the decedent left a motor vehicle, the affiant must take additional action in order to transfer the vehicle’s title to their name; more information on the topic can be found on the Secretary of State webpage.