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Michigan Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

Michigan PROBATE COURT FINDER:
- Probate Court for Wayne County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in Michigan) for Wayne County.
How Probate Works in Michigan: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Wayne County's probate court.
- Here are links to:
  - Michigan Probate Forms and the
  - Michigan State Probate Court Website.
Small Estates Procedures in Michigan: Learn how to use Michigan's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.
- In Michigan you can use an Affidavit if the estate does not include real property and the value of the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances, is less than $24,000 (adjusted for inflation). There is a 28-day waiting period.
  
  Mich. Comp. Laws 700.3983.
  
  There is also a summary probate procedure for estates with a value of $15,000 or less, after payment of funeral and burial costs, or if the value of the entire estate, less liens or encumbrances, doesn't exceed the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, and costs of administration, funeral expenses, and last illness expenses.
  
  Mich. Comp. Laws 700.3987.
Michigan Estate Taxes:
- Michigan, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.
Avoiding Probate in Michigan. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
- Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

Bankruptcy & Debt

MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
- for Wayne County, Michigan (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
Michigan BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Michigan law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy.
- Federal Exemptions available in Michigan?:
  - Yes. Michigan residents can use the Federal or State exemption systems.
    
    Michigan has passed a special set of exemptions designed only to be used in bankruptcy cases (found in Section 600.5451). Although debtors can use the the exemptions in Michigan's "bankruptcy only" exemption statute, as well as ANY OTHER exemptions found in other Michigan statutes, such as exemptions for life insurance. (See In re Sasasak, 426 B.R. 680.)
- Michigan Homestead Exemption
  - Real property including condo to $46,125, $69,200 if over 65 or disabled; property cannot exceed 1 lot in town, village, city, or 40 acres elsewhere; spouse or children of deceased owner may claim homestead exemption. Spouses or unmarried co-owners may not double.
- Michigan Vehicle Exemption
  - Motor vehicle to $4,250 (adjusted for inflation, April 1, 2023).
Michigan BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
Michigan is divided into 2 federal districts with main cities in
- Detroit, Flint, Bay City (Eastern District)
- Grand Rapids, Marquette (Western District)
FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

Michigan Unemployment Benefits

Benefit Amounts in Michigan: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
- Minimum:
  - $157 per week
- Maximum:
  - $362 per week
- Duration:
  - In Michigan, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 20 weeks. This was extended to 26 weeks for a period of time during the pandemic, but has since reverted to 20 weeks.
Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Michigan.
- Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
  - 866-500-0017
Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.
Michigan Wage & Hour Law
- Michigan Minimum Wage:
  - The minimum wage in Michigan is $10.33 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Wolverine State must be paid at least $10.33 an hour.
    
    Wayne County Minimum Wage
    
    The minimum wage in Wayne County is $10.33 an hour, the state minimum wage. Michigan law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage.
- Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Michigan and whether they apply to you.
- Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Michigan.
- Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Michigan.
  - In Michigan, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $3.93 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $10.33 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.