Quick answer: Michigan sets no statutory percentage. Under MCL § 700.3719(1), a personal representative is entitled to "reasonable compensation for services performed," and can pay themselves periodically as earned, without needing the court's prior approval. Courts weigh the estate's complexity, the time actually spent, and whether litigation was necessary. Get an illustrative estimate with the Michigan executor fee calculator.
Reasonable compensation, paid without asking first
MCL § 700.3719(1): "A personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation for services performed. A personal representative may pay the personal representative's own compensation periodically as earned without prior court approval." Michigan is genuinely self-administered on this point — the personal representative doesn't need to petition the court before taking their fee, though every payment still has to be accounted for eventually.
A transparency duty for attorney personal representatives
§ 700.3719(2): "If an attorney serves as personal representative, the attorney shall maintain time records that state the identity of the person performing personal representative services, the date the services are performed, the amount of time expended in performing the services, and a brief description of the services." On request of an interested person affected by the fee, the attorney must send those records over.
A decedent's own contract is binding
§ 700.3719(3): if the will sets compensation and there's no separate contract with the decedent about it, the personal representative may renounce that provision before qualifying and get reasonable compensation instead. But "a written contract between the decedent and the personal representative regarding compensation for estate settlement services is binding on the personal representative" — an actual signed agreement isn't something the personal representative can simply walk away from the way a will's provision can be renounced.
Renunciation must reach everyone affected
§ 700.3719(4): a personal representative may also renounce all or part of the compensation generally. A written renunciation of fee may be filed with the court, and must be served on all affected interested persons — a real notice requirement, not a silent filing.
What courts actually consider
With no statutory formula, Michigan courts and practitioners commonly reference the nature and complexity of the work (time, effort, difficulty, and skill required) and the compensation customarily charged in the community for similar services, along with whether litigation was necessary during administration. Since the Estates and Protected Individuals Code took effect on April 1, 2000, Michigan courts have built up a body of case law specifically addressing what counts as reasonable fiduciary compensation in practice.
A sense of typical figures
Because there's no statutory number, hourly rates for a family representative's own time in Michigan vary by county and complexity; illustrative estimates commonly fall in the $30-$60/hr range for non-professional, family-member administration, with professional fiduciaries charging considerably more. These aren't statutory figures — only the reasonableness standard is.
Facing probate in Michigan?A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
Talk to a Michigan attorneyEstimate for general guidance only, not legal advice. Based on MCL ยง 700.3719. Michigan sets no statutory percentage or fixed hourly rate; illustrative rate ranges are not set by law. Verify with the probate court or a licensed Michigan attorney.