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Michigan Probate Timeline Calculator

Skip publishing the creditor notice in Michigan, and the clock doesn't stop at four months — it can run for three full years after death instead.

Based on MCL 700.3706, 700.3801, 700.3803 FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Your Michigan probate

Pick the options that match your estate — the estimate updates instantly.

Estimated timeline in Michigan
7–12 months
Informal administration, cooperative heirs, no real estate sale
Informal vs supervised? →
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Michigan's probate timeline, at a glance

MilestoneMichigan ruleSource
Notice to creditors publishedPromptly after appointmentMCL 700.3801
Notice to known creditorsWithin 4 months of publication (or 28 days of learning of them)MCL 700.3801(2)
Inventory dueWithin 91 days of appointmentMCL 700.3706
Creditor claim deadline (unknown)4 months from publicationMCL 700.3803(1)(a)
Creditor claim deadline (known)Later of 1 month from notice, or 4 months from publicationMCL 700.3803(1)(b)
If notice never given3 years from date of deathMCL 700.3803(1)(c)
Suit after a disallowed claimWithin 63 daysMCL 700.3806

Michigan probate timeline — frequently asked questions

How long does probate take in Michigan?

Most Michigan estates take about 7 to 12 months, set by the 4-month creditor claim period after publication. Simple, uncontested informal estates can close closer to 5 to 7 months; if the notice requirements are never met at all, creditors can have up to 3 years after death to present a claim.

How long do Michigan creditors have to file a claim?

Unknown creditors have 4 months from the date of publication. A known creditor who receives individual notice has the later of 1 month after that notice, or 4 months from publication. If notice was never properly given at all, creditors have up to 3 years after death.

What happens if a Michigan personal representative never publishes notice?

The 4-month claim window never starts running, and creditors instead have up to 3 years from the date of death to present a claim under MCL 700.3803(1)(c) — among the longest exposure windows of any state that uses a publication-based system.

When is the Michigan Inventory due?

Within 91 days of the personal representative's appointment, under MCL 700.3706 — separate from Michigan's statutory inventory fee, which is calculated on the same inventory but is a cost, not a filing deadline.

Michigan probate tools & guides

Michigan Probate DeadlinesEvery statutory date, with citations What Delays Probate in MichiganThe real causes, beyond the baseline Informal vs SupervisedWhich one applies to your estate Michigan Probate vs Living TrustWould a trust have avoided this?

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on Michigan statute (MCL 700.3706, 700.3801, 700.3803, 700.3806). Actual timelines depend on the specific Probate Court's calendar, whether the estate is contested, and how quickly the personal representative files. Confirm current timelines with the county Probate Court or a licensed Michigan attorney before acting.