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Small Estate Affidavit Limits in Michigan

In Michigan, a successor can collect personal property by sworn statement 28 days after the death if the estate has no real property and is worth no more than $53,000 for deaths in 2026.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Michigan at a glance

Maximum estate value
$53,000 (deaths in 2026)
The statute sets $50,000 adjusted yearly for inflation; the figure was $51,000 for 2025 deaths.
Waiting period after death
28 days
Real estate can pass
No
The sworn statement must say the estate does not include real property.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Michigan

What is the maximum estate value for a small estate affidavit in Michigan?

Maximum estate value in Michigan: $53,000 (deaths in 2026). The statute sets $50,000 adjusted yearly for inflation; the figure was $51,000 for 2025 deaths.

How long after the death must you wait to use a small estate affidavit in Michigan?

Waiting period after death in Michigan: 28 days.

Can real estate pass by small estate affidavit in Michigan?

No. Real estate can pass in Michigan: no. The sworn statement must say the estate does not include real property.

Where do the Michigan small estate affidavit limits come from?

The rules above come from Mich. Comp. Laws 700.3983 and Mich. Comp. Laws 700.1210. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

2024 PA 1 raised the base amount from $15,000 to $50,000, effective February 21, 2024. The Treasury notice lists $51,000 for 2025 deaths and $53,000 for 2026 deaths.

What this means in practice

Check how the estate value is counted before relying on the shortcut. States differ on whether the limit covers all property or only probate property, and whether assets such as jointly owned accounts, life insurance with a named beneficiary or property in a living trust are left out of the total.

Gather the documents a holder is likely to ask for: a certified copy of the death certificate, the signed and often notarized affidavit, and proof of your identity and relationship to the person who died. Some holders use their own affidavit form, so ask before you prepare one.

A person who collects property with a small estate affidavit usually takes on duties to others with a claim to it, such as creditors and other heirs. Paying valid debts and distributing the rest correctly matters, because a successor who takes more than their share can be held liable for it later.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.