Michigan Probate Inventory Fee Calculator

The Inventory Fee Calculator is presented by The Probate Pro — (833) PROBATE as a simple-to-use calculator for Michigan probate court inventory fees.

To use the Inventory Fee Calculator, enter the total inventory value from your completed Petition and Order for Assignment or Inventory. The calculator estimates the fee under MCL 600.871.

Michigan Probate Inventory Fee Calculator

Inventory Fee Amount: $0

Watch: How Michigan Probate Inventory Fees Work

In this video, The Probate Pro explains how Michigan probate inventory fees are calculated, when the fee must be paid, and why accurately identifying and valuing probate assets matters.

Michigan Probate Inventory Fee Guide

What is a Michigan Probate Inventory Fee?

In a Michigan decedent’s estate, the probate court charges an inventory fee based on the value of assets subject to probate as of the decedent’s date of death. The fee is required by MCL 600.871 and is treated as an expense of estate administration.

The inventory fee is separate from the filing fee paid to begin a probate proceeding. The opening filing fee starts the court case. The inventory fee is a separate, value-based charge calculated during administration of the estate.

The calculator does not determine whether a particular asset is a probate asset. Before calculating the fee, the personal representative must determine:

  • Who legally owned the asset at the time of death
  • Whether the asset passes through the probate estate
  • The decedent’s ownership percentage
  • The asset’s fair market value as of the date of death
  • Whether a permitted deduction applies to debt secured by real property

Accurately identifying and valuing probate assets is important because the inventory can affect the court fee, estate accounting, creditor administration, distributions, tax reporting, and the closing of the estate.

The Probate Pro assists personal representatives, trustees, beneficiaries, and families throughout Michigan with probate administration, inventory preparation, asset-valuation issues, and court filings.

When must a Michigan Probate Inventory be Prepared?

Under MCL 700.3706, a personal representative generally must prepare an inventory within 91 days after appointment, unless another time is specified by court rule or court order.

The inventory must list estate property with reasonable detail and identify:

  • The fair market value of each asset as of the decedent’s date of death
  • The type and amount of any encumbrance affecting an asset
  • The total value used to determine the probate inventory fee

The personal representative’s official Letters of Authority, Form PC 572, describes additional inventory duties. In supervised administration, the inventory generally must be filed with the probate court. In unsupervised administration, the personal representative generally must prepare the inventory, provide it to the required interested persons, and submit to the court the information needed to calculate the inventory fee within 91 days.

A copy of the Michigan decedent-estate Inventory form, PC 577, is available through The Probate Pro.

Which Assets are Included in the Michigan Probate Inventory?

The inventory generally includes property owned by the decedent at death that must be administered through the probate estate. Depending on ownership, title, beneficiary designations, and other circumstances, probate assets may include:

  • Real estate titled solely in the decedent’s name
  • Bank accounts without an effective surviving joint owner or beneficiary
  • Investment and brokerage accounts payable to the estate
  • Vehicles, boats, and other titled property
  • Household goods, jewelry, collections, and other personal property
  • Business ownership interests
  • Money, refunds, or claims owed to the decedent
  • Settlement proceeds or other rights belonging to the estate
  • Other property that must pass through probate

Possession or use of an asset does not necessarily establish probate ownership. Deeds, account agreements, beneficiary designations, trust documents, business records, and other ownership documents may need to be reviewed.

Which Assets may Pass Outside Probate?

Assets that transfer by trust, beneficiary designation, contract, deed, or survivorship rights may pass outside probate and may not be included in the probate inventory. Examples may include:

  • Property validly owned by a funded trust
  • Life insurance payable to a surviving named beneficiary
  • Retirement accounts payable to a surviving named beneficiary
  • Payable-on-death or transfer-on-death accounts
  • Jointly owned property with effective survivorship rights
  • Real estate transferred through an effective nonprobate deed

These are general examples rather than automatic rules. A deceased beneficiary, ineffective beneficiary designation, incomplete trust transfer, ownership dispute, or defective deed may change whether an asset must pass through probate.

How does the Inventory Fee Calculator Determine the Fee?

MCL 600.871 establishes the following fee schedule for Michigan decedent estates:

  1. For an estate valued at less than $1,000, the fee is $5 plus 1% of the amount over $500.
  2. For an estate valued at $1,000 or more but less than $3,000, the fee is $25.
  3. For an estate valued at $3,000 or more but less than $10,000, the fee is $25 plus 5/8 of 1% of the amount over $3,000.
  4. For an estate valued at $10,000 or more but less than $25,000, the fee is $68.75 plus 1/2 of 1% of the amount over $10,000.
  5. For an estate valued at $25,000 or more but less than $50,000, the fee is $143.75 plus 3/8 of 1% of the amount over $25,000.
  6. For an estate valued at $50,000 or more but less than $100,000, the fee is $237.50 plus 1/4 of 1% of the amount over $50,000.
  7. For an estate valued at $100,000 or more through $500,000, the fee is $362.50 plus 1/8 of 1% of the amount over $100,000.
  8. For each additional $100,000 of value, or larger fraction of $100,000, over $500,000 through $1,000,000, an additional $62.50 is charged.
  9. For each additional $100,000 of value, or larger fraction of $100,000, over $1,000,000, an additional $31.25 is charged.

Important: The brackets above $500,000 use $100,000 increments or any larger fraction of an increment. They are not calculated as a continuous percentage.

Rounding rule: Michigan inventory fees are rounded to the nearest whole dollar. A fee ending in 1 through 49 cents is rounded down. A fee ending in 50 through 99 cents is rounded up.

Michigan Probate Inventory Fee Examples

Example: $8,000 Inventory Value

The fee is $25 plus 5/8 of 1% of the amount over $3,000:

$25 + ($5,000 × 0.00625) = $56.25

The estimated fee is rounded to $56.

Example: $75,000 Inventory Value

The fee is $237.50 plus 1/4 of 1% of the amount over $50,000:

$237.50 + ($25,000 × 0.0025) = $300

The estimated fee is $300.

Example: $300,000 Inventory Value

The fee is $362.50 plus 1/8 of 1% of the amount over $100,000:

$362.50 + ($200,000 × 0.00125) = $612.50

The estimated fee is rounded to $613.

Example: $750,000 Inventory Value

The fee at $500,000 is $862.50. The additional $250,000 represents three additional $100,000 increments or larger fractions:

$862.50 + (3 × $62.50) = $1,050

The estimated fee is $1,050.

When must the Inventory Fee be Paid?

Under MCL 600.871, the inventory fee must be paid:

  • On or before the closing of the estate; or
  • Within one year after the commencement of the probate proceeding;

whichever occurs first.

The probate court may not accept the final accounting until the inventory fee has been paid in full and shown as part of the final accounting. The court must issue an official receipt when the fee is collected.

Can the Michigan Probate Inventory Fee be Waived?

Michigan’s probate court fee guidance states that inventory fees imposed under MCL 600.871 cannot be waived under the ordinary indigency fee-waiver rule.

The Michigan State Court Administrative Office’s probate fee table cites In re DeCoste, 317 Mich App 339 (2016). In that decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals addressed the inventory fee as an obligation imposed on the estate and paid from estate assets, even when liquidation of estate property may be required.

Personal representatives who are concerned that the estate lacks sufficient cash should not assume the fee can be waived. The estate may need to address how the inventory fee and other administration expenses will be paid before closing.

Who Pays the Michigan Probate Inventory Fee?

The inventory fee is an expense of estate administration and is generally paid from estate assets. It is not ordinarily a personal expense of the personal representative merely because that person was appointed to administer the estate.

A personal representative should retain the court’s official receipt and report the inventory-fee payment in the estate’s accounting records.

How do I Handle Liens and Loans on the Inventory?

For real property included in the estate, if the decedent died on or after March 28, 2013, indebtedness secured by that real property is deducted from the value of the parcel for inventory-fee purposes.

For example, if an estate includes a house with a date-of-death value of $300,000 and a $175,000 mortgage secured by the house, the parcel’s value for the inventory-fee calculation may be reduced to $125,000.

The calculation is made separately for each parcel. A parcel’s inventory value cannot be reduced below zero.

A lien on personal property should be disclosed on the Inventory, but it is not deducted from the personal property’s gross value when calculating its inventory value.

Do not automatically subtract every estate debt. Credit-card balances, funeral expenses, medical bills, unsecured loans, attorney fees, and other administration expenses do not reduce the inventory value merely because the estate must pay them. The statutory deduction specifically concerns indebtedness secured by real property.

Unsure which assets belong on the Inventory or how a lien affects the calculation? Call (833) PROBATE or contact The Probate Pro for help with a Michigan probate estate.

How are Probate Assets Valued?

The inventory generally reports each asset’s fair market value as of the decedent’s date of death. The appropriate valuation method depends on the type of asset.

  • Real estate: An appraisal or other reliable market evidence may be appropriate.
  • Bank accounts: Obtain a date-of-death statement or written balance from the financial institution.
  • Stocks and investments: Use the appropriate date-of-death account and market values.
  • Vehicles: Consider age, mileage, condition, and reliable resale-value information.
  • Household property: Use reasonable resale value rather than replacement cost or the original purchase price.
  • Business interests: A professional valuation may be appropriate depending on the nature and value of the business.

The instructions accompanying the Michigan decedent-estate Inventory form, PC 577, explain the information needed to identify estate property, report date-of-death values, disclose encumbrances, and calculate the inventory-fee value.

The court may require additional information supporting a reported value. Each parcel of real property should be reported separately, and personal property should be described with enough detail to identify the asset and support its value.

Personal representatives should retain appraisals, account statements, loan statements, deeds, vehicle valuations, business records, and other documents used to prepare the inventory.

Should Property-Tax Values be Used for Real Estate?

A property’s assessed value, taxable value, or state equalized value may be useful information, but it does not necessarily establish the property’s fair market value on the date of death.

The appropriate valuation evidence may include an appraisal, comparative market analysis, recent arm’s-length sale, broker opinion, or other reliable market information. The most appropriate method depends on the property and circumstances.

How is a Partial Ownership Interest Reported?

If the decedent owned less than 100% of an asset, the personal representative should identify the decedent’s legal ownership interest rather than automatically reporting the entire asset value.

For example, if the decedent owned a one-half tenancy-in-common interest, the inventory should identify that ownership interest. Determining its fair market value may require review of the deed, restrictions on transfer, market evidence, and, when appropriate, a qualified appraisal.

What if an Asset is Discovered after the Inventory is Prepared?

An amended inventory or corrected inventory information may be required if the personal representative discovers an omitted asset, receives a more accurate valuation, corrects an ownership interest, or learns that information in the original inventory was incomplete.

A change in the total inventory value may also change the inventory fee. The personal representative should address newly discovered property before completing the final accounting or closing the estate.

What Records Should the Personal Representative Keep?

The personal representative should keep records supporting both the classification and value of every reported asset. Depending on the estate, useful records may include:

  • Date-of-death bank and investment statements
  • Deeds, titles, and account agreements
  • Beneficiary-designation records
  • Trust documents and asset-transfer records
  • Real-estate appraisals and market analyses
  • Mortgage and lien payoff statements
  • Vehicle and personal-property valuations
  • Business financial statements and valuation reports
  • Copies of the original and amended inventories
  • The probate court’s official inventory-fee receipt

These records may be relevant to the inventory, accounting, distributions, tax reporting, and review by interested persons or the probate court.

Common Michigan Probate Inventory Mistakes

  • Including assets that validly pass outside probate
  • Excluding an asset without reviewing its title or beneficiary designation
  • Using the current value instead of the date-of-death value
  • Using a property-tax assessment as the only evidence of fair market value
  • Subtracting unsecured debts from the inventory value
  • Deducting liens from personal-property values
  • Failing to account for the decedent’s actual ownership percentage
  • Combining multiple parcels of real estate without calculating each parcel separately
  • Failing to prepare the inventory within the applicable deadline
  • Failing to correct the inventory after discovering an additional asset
  • Misapplying the $100,000 increments for estates exceeding $500,000
  • Failing to retain records supporting reported values
  • Waiting until closing to address an unpaid inventory fee

Frequently Asked Questions about Michigan Probate Inventory Fees

Is the Inventory Fee the same as the Probate Filing Fee?

No. The filing fee is paid to begin the probate proceeding. The inventory fee is a separate court charge based on the value of assets subject to the probate inventory fee.

Is the Inventory Fee based on the Estate’s Current Value?

Generally, no. The inventory reports the fair market value of estate property as of the decedent’s date of death.

Can Funeral Expenses and Credit-Card Debt be Deducted?

Those expenses generally do not reduce the inventory value merely because the estate must pay them. Michigan law specifically addresses qualifying debt secured by real property.

Are Trust Assets Included?

Property validly owned by a trust is generally administered under the trust rather than as a probate asset. An incomplete transfer to a trust or an ownership dispute may change the result.

Are Jointly Owned Assets Included?

It depends on the form of ownership and whether enforceable survivorship rights apply. The deed, account agreement, title, and applicable Michigan law should be reviewed.

Is Life Insurance Included?

Life-insurance proceeds paid directly to a surviving named beneficiary generally pass outside probate. Proceeds payable to the estate, or proceeds without an effective surviving beneficiary, may become probate assets.

Are Retirement Accounts Included?

A retirement account payable directly to a surviving designated beneficiary generally passes outside probate. A retirement account payable to the estate, or one without an effective surviving beneficiary, may require probate administration.

Who Pays the Inventory Fee?

The inventory fee is an expense of estate administration and is generally paid from estate property.

Can the Inventory Fee be Waived?

Michigan’s current probate court fee guidance states that inventory fees under MCL 600.871 cannot be waived under the ordinary indigency fee-waiver rule.

Can an Estate Close without Paying the Inventory Fee?

No. The probate court may not accept the final accounting until the inventory fee is paid in full and shown as part of the final accounting.

Does the Inventory have to be Filed with the Court?

The requirements depend in part on whether the estate is under supervised or unsupervised administration. In supervised administration, the inventory generally must be filed with the court. In unsupervised administration, the personal representative generally prepares the inventory, provides it to required interested persons, and submits the information needed to calculate the fee.

Where can I find the Michigan Decedent-Estate Inventory Form?

The Probate Pro provides a downloadable copy of Michigan Form PC 577, Inventory, for a decedent’s estate.

What if the Estate does not have Enough Cash to Pay the Fee?

The lack of immediately available cash does not necessarily eliminate the inventory-fee obligation. The personal representative may need to determine how administration expenses will be paid from estate assets before the estate can be closed.

Does this Calculator Determine which Assets Belong in Probate?

No. The calculator estimates the fee after the correct inventory value has been determined. Questions involving title, joint ownership, trusts, beneficiary designations, secured debt, partial ownership, and asset valuation may require legal or professional review.

Michigan Probate Inventory Laws, Forms, and Official Resources

How this Resource is Maintained

The Probate Pro reviews this resource when Michigan’s inventory-fee statute, probate forms, probate court fee tables, or official inventory-calculator guidance changes. Readers should confirm that they are using the current version of all Michigan court forms and should compare calculator results with the official Michigan Courts Inventory Calculator.

Update policy: The “last legally reviewed” date is changed only after the page’s legal content, links, examples, and calculator information have been reviewed.

Get Help with a Michigan Probate Inventory

Correctly calculating the fee begins with correctly identifying, classifying, and valuing the estate’s assets. Errors involving real estate, joint ownership, beneficiary designations, trusts, secured debt, business interests, partial ownership, or omitted property can affect the inventory, accounting, distributions, and closing of the estate.

The Probate Pro assists personal representatives and families with probate administration throughout Michigan. Call (833) PROBATE or contact The Probate Pro.

Prepared by: The Probate Pro legal team
Last legally reviewed: July 20, 2026

Legal notice: This calculator and page provide general educational information about Michigan probate inventory fees. They are not legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. The probate court determines the fee actually owed. Laws, forms, court procedures, ownership records, and individual circumstances may affect the proper treatment of an asset.