This toolkit tells you how to distribute someone’s property after they have died when there is a small amount of property to distribute. For general information, and to figure out if an estate is “small,” read the Articles. Read the Common Questions if you have a specific question. If you want to settle a small estate, use the Forms link to prepare your forms. The Checklists below have step-by-step instructions for transferring property after someone dies. Go to Courts & Agencies for information about the court or agency that will handle your case.
You'll find links to legal aid offices and lawyer referral services under Find A Lawyer. If there is a Self-Help Center in your area you can get more help there. If you need something other than legal help, look in Community Services. If you need a fee waiver, an interpreter, a court to accommodate your disability, or more information about going to court, visit Going to Court.
Common Questions
You will need to make sure the property gets distributed according to Michigan law. Read the article An Overview of Small Estate Processes or An Overview of Informal Probate to learn about your options.
Whether an estate is small depends on the value of the property in it. Michigan law raises the small estates cut-off amount every few years. For a person who died in 2023, an estate must be valued at $27,000 or less to be small.
The Do-It-Yourself Settling a Small Estate tool can help you determine if an estate qualifies.
When a person dies, they are called a decedent.