Detailed answer — what you must know and the usual steps

1. Terminology and legal basis

Michigan no longer uses the old term “administrator” as the only label — the person appointed to manage a decedent’s estate is called a personal representative. The rules that control appointment, duties, and how property passes are in Michigan’s Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), primarily MCL chapter 700. The statute text for EPIC is available from the Michigan Legislature (Public Act 288 of 2012): EPIC (PA 288 of 2012).

2. Who has priority to be appointed?

The probate court will consider who has the best claim to appointment. When no will names a representative, the court typically gives priority to people with the greatest interest in the estate — most commonly the surviving spouse, then adult children, then other next of kin. The court also considers whether a proposed appointee is willing and able to serve, lives nearby or can perform duties, is of good character, and whether interested persons object. If multiple people with equal priority want the job, the court resolves conflicts and may appoint the person who the court finds best suited to administer the estate.

3. Where to file

File in the probate court of the county where your father was domiciled (his main residence) at death. The state trial courts (probate division or probate court) maintain local rules and forms. Find the local probate court web page on the Michigan Courts site for specific filing addresses and hours: Michigan Courts.

4. Documents you will normally need to file

• Petition for appointment of personal representative (probate court form or locally required petition).
• Certified copy of the death certificate.
• Proof of your relationship to the decedent (birth certificate, marriage certificate, or family tree/affidavit listing heirs).
• A list of known assets and likely creditors (bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, insurance, retirement accounts).
• A proposed bond (insurance protecting the estate) or waiver of bond signed by heirs if the court allows no bond.
• Filing fee (varies by county) and, if required, a local form for notice to creditors or publication request.

5. The court process — what happens after you file

1. The court reviews the petition for completeness and may schedule a brief hearing or approve by filing if no one objects.
2. The court orders notice to creditors and interested persons. You may need to publish a notice in a local paper and serve written notice to known creditors and heirs.
3. If approved, the court issues Letters of Authority (sometimes called Letters of Personal Representative). These documents let banks and property holders recognize your authority to act for the estate.
4. As personal representative you inventory assets, collect and manage them, pay valid debts and taxes, and distribute what remains according to Michigan’s intestacy rules.

6. Small-estate alternatives and timing

If the estate is small, Michigan provides simplified procedures in many cases that let heirs collect certain assets without full probate. Whether you qualify depends on the type and value of assets and how title is held. Check the local probate court’s small-estate procedures or the Michigan Legal Help guide on dying without a will for simplified options: Michigan Legal Help.

7. Duties and liabilities you should expect

Once appointed, the personal representative has fiduciary duties to the estate and heirs: act in the estate’s best interest, avoid self-dealing, keep accurate records, file inventories and accountings if required, and timely notify creditors. The court can hold a personal representative accountable for negligence or misconduct. The court may require a bond to secure faithful performance unless heirs waive bond.

8. Intestate distribution (how property will pass)

When someone dies without a will, Michigan’s intestacy laws determine who gets what. Typically, assets pass to the surviving spouse and children, or to next of kin if there is no spouse or children. The specific shares depend on the family structure. See EPIC for the intestacy rules and distribution priorities in MCL 700.2101 et seq. (EPIC contains the intestacy provisions; consult the statute text in the EPIC act linked above).

9. Common timelines and costs

Costs include filing fees, possible attorney fees, bond premiums, publication fees, and routine estate expenses. A simple appointment can take a few weeks if uncontested; administration and final distribution often take many months depending on creditor claims, tax matters, and asset sales. Complex estates can take a year or more.

10. When to get help from a lawyer

Consider hiring a probate lawyer if the estate contains real estate, business interests, significant debts, family disputes, potential creditor litigation, or tax issues. An attorney can prepare petitions, represent you at hearings, advise on bond and notice requirements, and help with accounting and closing the estate.

Statute references and official resources:

• Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), Public Act 288 of 2012 (MCL chapter 700): Full text of PA 288 of 2012 (EPIC).
• Michigan Courts — probate court information, local contacts, and forms: Michigan Courts.
• Practical how-to and small-estate information: Michigan Legal Help (self-help guides and checklists).

Helpful Hints — practical checklist to prepare now

• Find and save the death certificate early — you’ll need several certified copies.
• Gather documents that show assets: bank statements, deeds, vehicle titles, insurance policies, retirement statements.
• Prepare a simple family tree or heir list with contact info (spouse, children, parents, siblings) to help the court and to serve notice.
• Call the local probate court clerk before you go to learn exact filing steps and forms for your county.
• Ask heirs in writing whether they will waive bond — a waiver can avoid the expense of a bond.
• Keep careful records and receipts — you will need those if the court requires an inventory or final accounting.
• If the estate looks small, ask the probate clerk about summary or small-estate procedures before filing full probate paperwork.
• If family members disagree about appointment, request a short consultation with a probate attorney to understand likely court outcomes and how to reduce conflict.
• Don’t distribute assets until you have authority and have addressed creditor notices — premature distribution can create personal liability.