What steps do I need to take when the original estate administrator has died before completing the probate? (MI)
Disclaimer: This article is educational only and is not legal advice. Laws change and every case differs. Consult a Michigan probate attorney or your local probate court for advice tailored to your situation. Detailed Answer — Steps to take if the original estate administrator died during probate in Michigan If the personal representative (often called […]
Read article →How can I reopen my father's closed estate in Michigan so I can be appointed as administrator?
FAQ: Reopening a Closed Estate in Michigan to Be Appointed Administrator Short answer If your father’s Michigan probate estate was closed but you now need the court to reopen it so you can be appointed administrator, you must file a petition with the probate court that closed the estate (or the probate court in the […]
Read article →How long does it usually take to get an out-of-state will approved in Michigan (MI) probate?
Detailed Answer Quick answer: In Michigan, admitting an out-of‑state will to probate usually takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months. If the will is complete, uncontested, and the probate court can process the paperwork informally, you can often receive authority to act in 2–8 weeks. If the will is contested, witnesses are unavailable, […]
Read article →What happens if the survey shows the property was conveyed out of my mother’s estate decades ago and I have no interest? – MI
Detailed Answer Short answer: if a recorded survey and deed chain show the property was validly conveyed out of your mother's estate decades ago, you most likely no longer have a property interest — but a few exceptions might let you challenge that transfer. Below is a plain-language explanation of how Michigan law treats these […]
Read article →How do I get the probate court’s permission to sell the property when the clerk’s office won’t explain the filing requirements (MI)
Getting Probate Court Permission to Sell Real Property in Michigan When the Clerk Won’t Explain Filing Requirements Short answer: Identify whether the estate is supervised or unsupervised and whether a personal representative (executor) already has authority. If the representative lacks authority or no representative is appointed, file the correct probate petition with the probate court […]
Read article →What steps do I need to follow as executor to sell real property to pay estate debts in MI?
How an executor (personal representative) can sell estate real property in Michigan to pay debts: step-by-step FAQ Hypothetical: Jane owned a single-family home in Michigan valued at $250,000. She died leaving $60,000 in medical bills and few liquid assets in the estate. As the court-appointed personal representative, you need to sell the house to pay […]
Read article →Can I recover personal items that heirs removed from the house before I took possession and enforce the court’s order? (MI)
Detailed answer — what you can do under Michigan law Short answer: Possibly. If heirs removed personal property from the decedent’s home before you took possession, you may be able to recover the items and enforce a court order under Michigan law. Which remedy is best depends on whether a personal representative (executor/administrator) has been […]
Read article →Can heirs of a deceased sibling be included in a partition action, and how do I add them? (MI)
Detailed Answer Short answer: Yes. Under Michigan law, heirs of a deceased co‑owner can and generally must be included in a partition action if they acquired legal title or an interest in the property when the co‑owner died. To add them, you identify who holds the decedent’s interest (heirs or a personal representative), then amend […]
Read article →What Happens to a Safe Deposit Box After Someone Dies in MI?
What happens to a safe deposit box after someone dies in Michigan? Short answer: In Michigan a safe deposit box does not automatically pass outside the decedent’s estate unless it was jointly held with a right of survivorship. Banks generally will restrict access at the decedent’s death, and the box’s contents usually become property of […]
Read article →When Can an Executor Be Removed in Michigan (MI)?
Detailed Answer — When a Personal Representative (Executor) Can Be Removed Under Michigan Law Short answer: In Michigan, the probate court may remove a personal representative (commonly called an executor in informal terms) when the representative fails to perform duties, abuses the position, becomes incapacitated, has a conflict of interest or engages in misconduct that […]
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