Michigan Probate Forms: The Complete Guide for Executors (2026)

Most executors start the Michigan probate process by Googling a form name, landing on the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) website, and then staring at a 40-item list with no idea what to file, in what order, or to which office. The forms themselves are free — but figuring out which packet applies to your situation, and when each piece is due, is where people spend hours they don't have.

This guide maps every major SCAO form to its function, filing sequence, and the exact stage of probate it belongs to.

The Two Tracks: Small Estate vs. Formal Probate

Before pulling any forms, you need to know which track applies. Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC) provides two completely separate procedural pathways.

Small estate track: If the estate's net value — after subtracting actual funeral and burial expenses — is $53,000 or less (2026 threshold), you can use one of two expedited procedures:

• PC 598 (Affidavit of Decedent's Successor): Used when the estate has no real property. File this with the bank or financial institution directly — it never goes to court. No filing fee. Must wait 28 days after death.
• PC 556 (Petition and Order for Assignment): Used even when real estate is involved, as long as the net value stays under $53,000. Filed with the probate court. $25 filing fee plus the statutory inventory fee based on estate value.

Formal probate track: Estates above $53,000, or those with complexity requiring a court-appointed personal representative, use the informal probate forms below.

The Informal Probate Opening Packet

Informal probate runs before the Probate Register — not a judge — and is the standard pathway for most Michigan estates that don't need court supervision. Filing happens at the probate court in the county where the decedent was domiciled (or where their property was located if they were not a Michigan resident).

The $175 filing fee covers the opening. Letters of Authority cost an additional $12 each.

All six forms are available at courts.michigan.gov under the SCAO-approved forms section.

Post-Opening Administration Forms

Once the estate is open and you hold Letters of Authority, the administration phase begins. These forms handle the operational duties of an executor.

PC 577 (Inventory): The personal representative must file a complete inventory of all estate assets, valued as of the date of death, within 91 days of appointment. The inventory value drives the probate inventory fee calculation under MCL 600.871. Note: recorded mortgages and liens on real property must be deducted from the property's value before calculating the fee — an underwater property contributes $0 to the fee base.

Notice to Creditors: Michigan law requires publishing a notice to creditors in a local newspaper and providing direct notice to known creditors. The creditor claim period runs for five months from the date of first publication. The estate cannot be closed until this period expires and all valid claims are resolved.

PC 587 (Notice of Continued Administration): If the estate remains open beyond one year from the date of appointment, you must file this form with the court. It signals that administration is still active and explains why closing has been delayed.

Closing the Estate

After the five-month creditor period has expired, all taxes are paid (including the final MI-1040 and any required MI-1041 fiduciary return), and the inventory fee is settled, you can close.

PC 591 (Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration): The personal representative signs this under oath, certifying that all creditor claims, taxes, and fees have been paid and that assets have been distributed. After a 28-day waiting period for objections, the Register issues a Certificate of Completion.

If any heir or interested party objects within that 28 days, the estate may convert to supervised administration and require a court hearing — which is one reason executors pay careful attention to notice and creditor procedures.

Real Estate and Property-Related Forms

Real estate transactions during probate require coordination between the probate court and an entirely separate county office: the Register of Deeds. Do not send deeds to the probate court.

• Property Transfer Affidavit (Form 2766): Must be filed with the local assessor within 45 days of any real estate transfer. This is how you claim the family exemption from property tax uncapping under MCL 211.27a(7)(u). Missing this deadline does not forfeit the exemption permanently, but it does create an argument with the assessor.
• Form 4640 (Conditional Rescission of PRE): If the decedent's home was their principal residence and is now vacant and listed for sale, file this with the local assessor to preserve the Principal Residence Exemption for up to three years. Deadlines are May 1 or June 1 (summer tax roll) and November 1 (winter tax roll).
• Recording a death certificate at the Register of Deeds: For jointly held real estate with right of survivorship, recording a certified death certificate at the county Register of Deeds clears the deceased owner's name from the title. The flat recording fee is $30 per document under MCL 600.2567, regardless of page count.

Vehicle Transfer Forms (Secretary of State)

Vehicle transfers after death use the TR-40 form suite from the Michigan Secretary of State — not probate court forms:

• TR-40a: Used by the surviving spouse or closest heir to claim the vehicle.
• TR-40b: Used when multiple heirs have a claim but one wishes to surrender their interest to another.
• TR-40c: Transfers the vehicle directly from the estate to a third-party buyer without titling it in the heir's name first.

These forms are available at michigan.gov/sos. No probate court involvement is needed if total vehicle value stays below the 2026 inflation-adjusted threshold (base: $100,000 indexed from 2026 onward).

Tax Forms: Separate from Probate Court

Michigan probate forms handle the court administration. Tax obligations run through different agencies entirely:

• MI-1040 (final individual income tax return): Filed with the Michigan Department of Treasury by April 15 of the year following death.
• MI-1041 (fiduciary income tax return): Required if the estate generates Michigan-taxable gross income exceeding $600 during administration. Also filed by April 15. Must be mailed with a physical check and the MI-1041-V payment voucher — Treasury does not accept electronic fiduciary payments.
• MI-1041ES: Quarterly estimated payments if the estate is expected to owe more than $500 in Michigan tax.

If the estate is large enough to trigger the federal estate tax (gross estate plus taxable gifts exceeds $15 million in 2026), IRS Form 706 is due nine months after the date of death — filed with the IRS, not a Michigan court.

Getting the Forms

All SCAO probate forms are free at courts.michigan.gov. Search for the PC number directly or browse under "Decedent Estate" in the forms library. Michigan Department of Treasury forms (MI-1040, MI-1041, MI-1041ES) are at michigan.gov/taxes. The TR-40 vehicle suite is at michigan.gov/sos.

County probate courts may have local supplemental forms or cover sheets — check the specific county's website before filing.

For a complete estate settlement workflow with all deadlines mapped in sequence — including the probate inventory fee calculation for your specific estate value — the Michigan Final Tax & Estate Tax Guide covers every form, every deadline, and every fee in the order they arise.

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