Quick answer: Michigan's headline court cost is the probate inventory fee under MCL 600.871 — a fee that scales with the estate's value ($362.50 at $100,000, $862.50 at $500,000). It's a court charge, not compensation, it can't be waived for indigency, and it must be paid before the estate closes. On top there's a modest filing fee (~$175) and publication.
The MCL 600.871 inventory fee scale
Michigan probate is filed with the county Probate Court — Wayne (Detroit), Oakland, Macomb, Kent (Grand Rapids) and the state's 83 counties. The inventory fee is set statewide by statute on the value of all assets at the date of death:
| Estate value | Inventory fee (MCL 600.871) |
|---|---|
| $1,000 – $3,000 | $25 |
| $3,000 – $10,000 | $25 + 5/8% over $3,000 |
| $10,000 – $25,000 | $68.75 + 1/2% over $10,000 |
| $25,000 – $50,000 | $143.75 + 3/8% over $25,000 |
| $50,000 – $100,000 | $237.50 + 1/4% over $50,000 |
| $100,000 – $500,000 | $362.50 + 1/8% over $100,000 |
| over $500,000 | +$62.50 per additional $100,000 |
| over $1,000,000 | +$31.25 per additional $100,000 |
Per MCL 600.871, rounded to the whole dollar. Since March 28, 2013, a lien or debt secured by real estate in the estate is deducted from that property's value. Use the county Probate Court's inventory fee calculator for the exact figure.
Other court-related costs
- Filing fee — about $175 to commence a decedent's estate (includes the e-filing surcharge).
- Publication to creditors — ~$150–$250 (MCL 700.3801); the 4-month creditor claim period runs from publication.
- Certified Letters of Authority — needed by banks and title; a few dollars each.
- Bond — not required by default (MCL 700.3603), unless the court or will requires it.
Where the fees sit in the total
Even the inventory fee is modest — under $900 on a $500,000 estate — so the reasonable executor and attorney fees dominate the total. And Michigan has no estate or inheritance tax. See the whole picture in the Michigan probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the Michigan probate cost calculator.