In Michigan, estate planning typically costs anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a simple will and power of attorney to around $1,000 for a basic package, while a comprehensive, trust-based plan generally runs from about $1,500 to $5,000 or more. At Simasko Law, these plans are offered as flat-fee packages, so you know the full price before any work begins, and whatever you invest now is almost always a fraction of what your family would pay in probate costs and delays without a plan.
That last point is the one most people miss. The real question isn’t only how much does estate planning cost, but how that cost compares to the alternative. A well-built plan is one of the few legal investments that tends to save your family far more than it costs.
Michigan Estate Planning Costs: A Quick Breakdown
Here are typical price ranges for the most common Michigan estate planning documents and packages. Individual documents almost always cost less when bundled into a package, and exact pricing depends on the complexity of your estate.
- Simple/basic will: $200 – $1,000
- Durable Power of Attorney: $100 – $300
- Patient Advocate Designation (Michigan’s healthcare proxy): $100 – $300
- Lady Bird deed (Michigan’s enhanced life-estate deed): $200 – $600
- Basic estate planning package (will + POA + patient advocate): $500 – $1,500
- Revocable living trust / full trust-based plan: $1,500 – $5,000+
These figures reflect common market ranges across Michigan, not fixed quotes. Because Simasko Law works on a flat-fee basis, you’ll receive an exact price for your specific plan during your free initial consultation, with no estimates that creep upward, and no surprises on the final bill.
What Affects the Cost of Your Estate Plan
Two people who both want “an estate plan” can end up with very different price tags, because cost tracks complexity. The biggest factors include:
- The size and complexity of your estate – more accounts, real estate, and assets generally mean more planning.
- The number and type of documents you need – a single will costs far less than a full trust-based plan.
- Blended families – second marriages, stepchildren, and children from prior relationships require careful drafting to protect everyone you intend to.
- Business interests – succession planning for a company adds complexity.
- Multi-state or out-of-state property – real estate in more than one state can require additional planning to avoid probate in each.
- Special needs trusts – protecting a loved one with disabilities without jeopardizing their government benefits calls for specialized documents.
One of the most valuable estate planning tips is to be upfront about these details from the start. The clearer your attorney is on your family and finances early on, the more accurate your flat-fee quote will be, and the less likely you are to need costly revisions later.
Flat Fee vs. Hourly: How Estate Planning Attorneys Charge
Estate planning attorneys generally bill one of two ways: a flat fee for a defined package of work, or an hourly rate that accrues as the matter progresses.
Hourly billing can leave you staring at an open-ended bill, unsure whether a phone call or a round of edits will cost you another few hundred dollars. Flat-fee pricing removes that uncertainty entirely. You agree on the price before any drafting begins, and that’s what you pay – period.
Simasko Law uses flat-fee estate planning packages specifically so families can plan with confidence. You’ll know the full cost of your will, trust, or complete plan up front, which makes it far easier to budget for something this important without second-guessing the price along the way.
DIY and Online Services vs. Hiring a Michigan Attorney
Online will kits and DIY templates are inexpensive – often around $100 – and for some very simple situations, they’re better than having nothing at all. But “cheap” and “valid in Michigan” don’t always go hand-in-hand.
Generic online documents aren’t written for Michigan’s Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), the law that governs how estates are handled here. A form built for a national audience may use the wrong terminology, miss Michigan-specific tools like the Patient Advocate Designation or the Lady Bird deed, or fail to meet the state’s signing and witnessing requirements. The danger is that these errors usually surface only after death, when no one can go back and fix them. A document that doesn’t hold up can send your family straight into the probate process you were trying to avoid, wiping out any savings several times over.
For most Michigan families, the modest cost of doing it right the first time is far cheaper than unwinding a flawed DIY plan.
The Cost of Not Having an Estate Plan
The cost of creating a plan is small next to the cost of not having one.
When someone dies without proper planning, their estate often goes through probate, which is a public, slow, and expensive court-supervised process. Beyond the statutory court inventory fee that Michigan probate courts must collect, families typically face attorney fees, personal representative compensation (often in the range of 2–3% of the estate), appraisal and publication costs, and more. Added together, total probate costs commonly run several percent of an estate’s value, and formal probate frequently takes seven months to a year or longer to complete.
Without the right documents, the picture gets worse:
- No will means Michigan decides who inherits. Under EPIC’s intestate succession rules, the state distributes your property according to a rigid formula, which may not match your wishes at all, especially in blended families or for unmarried partners, who inherit nothing.
- No Patient Advocate Designation means no automatic authority for healthcare decisions. If you become incapacitated, your family may have to petition the court for guardianship – an ongoing, attorney-driven process with filing fees, possible bond requirements, and annual reporting that can cost thousands of dollars and recur year after year.
- Probate is a matter of public record, so the details of your estate become available to anyone who looks.
Viewed this way, “cost” isn’t really an expense, but the difference between a manageable, planned investment today and a much larger, involuntary liability for the people you love.
What’s Included in a Michigan Estate Plan
A complete Michigan estate plan usually combines a will, a durable power of attorney, a Patient Advocate Designation, and, depending on your goals, a revocable living trust and a Lady Bird deed to keep your home out of probate. Together, these documents control how your assets pass, who manages your affairs if you can’t, and who makes your medical decisions.
For a full walk-through of everything a thorough plan should cover, see our Michigan estate planning checklist.
Estate Planning Costs at Simasko Law
For over 30 years, Simasko Law has helped Michigan families build estate plans that hold up when it matters most. Here’s what makes the cost easy to plan for:
- Free initial consultation – we’ll review your situation and give you a clear, flat-fee quote before you commit to anything.
- Flat-fee packages – you know the full price up front, with no hourly surprises.
- Free estate-planning seminars – attend one and receive a complimentary Power of Attorney.
- Decades of Michigan elder law experience – serving Macomb, Wayne, Oakland, St. Clair, and Sanilac Counties from our office in Mt. Clemens.
Ready to find out exactly what your plan would cost? Call Simasko Law at (586) 468-6793 to schedule your free consultation, or learn more about our estate planning services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does estate planning cost in Michigan?
Estate planning in Michigan typically ranges from a few hundred dollars for a simple will and power of attorney to $1,500–$5,000 or more for a comprehensive trust-based plan. Simasko Law offers flat-fee packages, so you’ll know your exact cost before any work begins.
How much does a will cost in Michigan?
A simple will in Michigan generally costs between $200 and $1,000, depending on complexity. Wills are usually most affordable when included in a complete estate planning package alongside a power of attorney and patient advocate designation.
Is a living trust worth the extra cost?
For many families, yes. A revocable living trust costs more up front than a basic will, but it can keep your estate out of probate entirely, saving your heirs the court fees, delays, and public exposure that often cost far more than the trust itself.
Do estate planning attorneys charge flat fees or hourly?
Both approaches exist, but flat-fee billing gives you cost certainty because you agree on the price before any work starts. Simasko Law uses flat-fee packages specifically so clients never face an open-ended bill.
How much does probate cost in Michigan?
Total probate costs in Michigan – including the statutory inventory fee, court filing fees, personal representative compensation, and attorney fees – commonly add up to several percent of an estate’s value, and the process often takes seven months to a year or more. A well-built estate plan is designed to avoid most of these costs.
Do I need an attorney for estate planning in Michigan?
You aren’t legally required to use an attorney, but Michigan has state-specific rules under EPIC that generic online templates often miss. An experienced Michigan attorney helps ensure your documents are valid and that errors don’t surface after death, when they can no longer be corrected.