Estate Planning · Michigan
Estate Planning for Michigan Families
60% of Americans die without a will. In Michigan, probate courts decide what happens to your home, your accounts, and your kids. Ten Point Financial Group helps Michigan families map the full estate plan — coordinated with the right estate attorneys, structured to skip probate where possible, and aligned with the insurance and retirement accounts they integrate with.
6 documents
Complete estate plan
3-7%
What MI probate eats
12-18 mo
Michigan probate timeline
Why Michigan
Michigan estate plans involve six core documents (will, revocable trust, durable POA, healthcare POA, living will, HIPAA), the right beneficiary designations on every account, and integration of life insurance + retirement accounts. Michigan probate eats 3-7% of an estate over 12-18 months — avoidable for most estates with the right structure. We don't draft documents (your Michigan attorney does) but we identify the gaps, model the strategy, and coordinate the team.
How we help
Will + Revocable Trust Coordination
Most Michigan homeowners need both. Will tells the court what to do; trust skips the court entirely. We map what's needed before any attorney engagement.
Michigan Probate Avoidance
Funding the trust (home, accounts), POD/TOD designations, vehicle titling — the structural steps that skip Michigan probate court entirely.
2026 Federal Estate Tax Sunset
If estate exceeds ~$5M per person, the 2026 exemption sunset opens a planning window. We model exposure and refer to estate attorneys for the right trust structures (SLAT, ILIT, IDGT).
Beneficiary Audit Across Accounts
Estate plans fail more often from a wrong 401(k) beneficiary than from a bad will. We audit life insurance, retirement, annuities, bank accounts, and brokerage accounts.
Coordinating With Your Michigan Attorney
We work alongside the Michigan estate attorneys you know and trust — or refer you to attorneys we've worked with if you don't have one.
Frequently asked questions
Do you draft the estate documents?+
No — we coordinate with Michigan-licensed estate attorneys. We identify what your estate needs, walk you through trade-offs, and refer to an attorney for drafting. Two-team approach with clearer accountability.
Do I need a trust if I have a will?+
If you own a Michigan home, have minor children, or want privacy, a revocable trust + pour-over will is usually the right combination. Wills go through probate; trusts skip it.
What does Michigan probate actually cost?+
Typically 3-7% of the estate (court fees, attorney fees, executor fees), 12-18 months in duration, and public record. For an average Michigan home + retirement accounts, that's $15K-$40K in process costs — money that doesn't reach heirs.
How does the 2026 federal estate tax sunset affect Michigan families?+
Michigan has no separate state estate tax. The federal exemption ($13.99M per person in 2025) is scheduled to drop in half on Jan 1, 2026 unless Congress acts. For Michigan families with $5M+ net worth, this is the planning window.
Learn more
Free Michigan estate planning consultation
Bring what you have today — current will, beneficiary forms, account list. We'll map the gaps and refer to a Michigan estate attorney for what's missing.
Educational content only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All services are provided by licensed professionals. Coverage decisions depend on individual circumstances.