Quick answer: Michigan is a moderate-cost probate state with no percentage fee schedule. Costs are reasonable executor and attorney fees, a statutory inventory fee (about $863 on a $500,000 estate), and no state estate or inheritance tax. A simple estate often totals $10,000–$20,000. Get your own figure with the Michigan probate cost calculator.
The costs, line by line
1. Executor fee — reasonable, no %
Under MCL 700.3719, the PR gets "reasonable compensation" — no fixed percentage — judged on time, complexity and responsibility. In practice about 2%–4% of the estate.
2. Attorney fees — also reasonable
Same standard (MCL 700.3721), court-reviewed, no percentage. See Michigan probate attorney fees.
3. The probate inventory fee — MCL 600.871
A court charge scaled to the estate's value — not compensation. It's the Michigan cost people most often misunderstand:
| Estate value | Inventory fee |
|---|---|
| $25,000–$50,000 | $143.75 + 3/8% over $25k |
| $50,000–$100,000 | $237.50 + 1/4% over $50k |
| $100,000 | $362.50 |
| $500,000 | $862.50 |
| $1,000,000 | ~$1,175 |
Per MCL 600.871; liens on real estate are deducted from that property's value. It cannot be waived for indigency and must be paid before closing. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
Worked examples (informal administration)
| Estate value | Executor (3%) | Attorney | Inventory + fees | Approx. total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $913 | ≈ $6,913 |
| $500,000 | $15,000 | $5,000 | $1,413 | ≈ $21,413 |
| $1,000,000 | $30,000 | $7,000 | $1,725 | ≈ $38,725 |
Inventory + fees = MCL 600.871 fee + $175 filing + $200 publication + $175 misc. If the executor waives the fee, subtract that column. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
How to reduce Michigan probate costs
- Use a small estate affidavit or petition and assignment for estates up to ~$53,000 (2026) under MCL 700.3983/700.3982.
- Use informal (unsupervised) administration — Michigan's low-cost default.
- Executor waives the fee if a family member and beneficiary.
- A Lady Bird deed or living trust avoids probate entirely.