How Long Does Michigan's Small Estate Affidavit Take?
The only fixed period is the 28 days after the death before a holder has to act. After that, no source reviewed states how long a bank or other holder takes to process the affidavit, and the statutes read for this guide set no deadline for the holder, so this guide does not give a total. Because the affidavit is not filed with a court, there is no court calendar; the pace is each holder's own. For comparison, the court assignment (Petition for Assignment) adds a court review and a 63-day debt period after the order. This is informational only and is not legal advice.
Last reviewed
The short answer
The only fixed period is the 28 days after the death before a holder has to act. After that, no source reviewed states how long a bank or other holder takes to process the affidavit, and the statutes read for this guide set no deadline for the holder, so this guide does not give a total. Because the affidavit is not filed with a court, there is no court calendar; the pace is each holder's own. For comparison, the court assignment (Petition for Assignment) adds a court review and a 63-day debt period after the order.
What slows families down
- The estate includes real property. The sworn statement must say the estate does not include real property. A house or land owned in the decedent's own name that is part of the estate disqualifies the affidavit; the court assignment (PC 556) or a full estate is the route.
- The estate is over the limit for the year of death. The value of the entire estate, wherever located, net of liens and encumbrances, must not exceed $50,000 adjusted under MCL 700.1210 — $53,000 for a death in 2026, $51,000 for 2025, $50,000 from February 21, 2024. Use the figure for the year the person died.
Why the delay matters: a probate attorney typically charges $1,500–$4,200+ to handle this instead, and every week spent re-filing after an avoidable rejection is a week the estate's accounts stay frozen. The next step is the step-by-step filing sequence.
The asset holder is why this takes longer than it should
It's the #1 reason a quick process turns into a multi-week one. Free one-pager: what to bring and say before you present it, so a first visit doesn't turn into a second — emailed now. Then a few short follow-ups over the next few weeks — then we stop.