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Guide · Probate · Updated June 2026
How to Avoid Probate in Michigan
Probate is public, slow, and can be costly. Here are the most common ways Michigan families keep assets out of it.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling an estate. It’s not always a disaster — but it’s public, can take months to over a year, and adds cost. Many families plan ahead to avoid it.
Common ways to avoid probate in Michigan
- A funded revocable living trust — the most comprehensive option; assets titled in the trust pass outside probate.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship — property passes automatically to the surviving owner.
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, and “payable-on-death” accounts skip probate.
- A Lady Bird (enhanced life estate) deed — a Michigan favorite for passing a home outside probate while keeping control.
- Small-estate procedures — Michigan offers simplified options for modest estates.
Which method is right for you?
It depends on what you own and your goals. A trust offers the most control and privacy; deeds and beneficiary designations can be simpler for specific assets. Often the best plan combines several.
The wrong tool — or a trust that’s never funded — can leave assets in probate anyway. An attorney makes sure your plan actually works.
Keep your estate out of court
Get matched with a Michigan attorney who can build a probate-avoidance plan that fits — free.