Michigan Living Trust Template

A living trust created in Michigan allows the grantor to transfer assets into a trust during their lifetime, naming a trustee to manage those assets and a successor trustee to distribute them to beneficiaries after death, all without going through Michigan's probate process. Under Michigan Trust Code (MCL §700.7101 et seq.), Michigan governs the creation, administration, and termination of revocable living trusts. Michigan is a common-law property state, dividing marital property by equitable distribution rather than as community property, a distinction that directly affects how marital assets are titled in the trust. In Michigan, estates at or below roughly $53,000 in 2026 can pass by small-estate affidavit, a ceiling Michigan raises each year for inflation, making a living trust particularly valuable for estates that exceed this limit. Regarding taxation, Michigan has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax.

Without a living trust, Michigan estates may face a lengthy and expensive probate process. Probate in Michigan can cost 3-7% of the estate's value and take 6-18 months. Check whether Michigan requires trust registration with a local court. Every asset must be formally re-titled in the trust's name, an unfunded living trust provides no probate avoidance. A complete estate plan pairs a living trust with a pour-over will and a power of attorney for lifetime incapacity protection.