How to Get a Death Certificate in Michigan & the Michigan Small Estate Limit
Sorting out a loved one's affairs in Michigan usually starts with two practical questions: where do I order death certificates, and do we really need probate? This guide answers both for Michigan, links every figure to an official source, and points out where the rules have recently changed.
How to get a death certificate in Michigan
Certified copies in Michigan come from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Vital Records (and county clerks).
MDHHS charges $34 for the record search plus one certified copy, and $16 for each additional identical copy ordered at the same time. Rush processing adds $12.
County clerks in the county where the death occurred also issue certified copies and usually charge less, so for a recent death the county clerk is often the better first stop.
In most families the funeral home places the first order, so ask them to include enough copies up front. Additional copies ordered later cost the same or more and can take weeks by mail. See how many death certificates you need for a realistic count.
Michigan small estate procedure: Affidavit of decedent's successor (form PC 598)
For deaths in 2026, the PC 598 affidavit can be used when the estate, net of liens and encumbrances, is $53,000 or less. The base amount of $50,000 is adjusted for inflation each year.
The estate can include no real property, more than 28 days must have passed since the death, and no personal representative may be appointed or pending.
The notarized affidavit and a death certificate go to the bank or holder; it is not filed with the probate court. Very small estates can also be handled through a petition for assignment at the probate court.
What counts toward the limit
A common mistake is adding up every asset and concluding the estate is too big. In Michigan, as in other states, property that already has a beneficiary or co-owner (retirement accounts, life insurance, POD/TOD accounts, joint accounts with survivorship, trust property) typically passes outside probate. Only what is left counts toward the small estate limit. See how beneficiary designations work.
Step by step in Michigan
- Order certified death certificates from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Vital Records (and county clerks) (or through the funeral home).
- List every asset and note which ones have a beneficiary, a co-owner or a trust; those usually pass outside probate.
- Add up the remaining probate assets and compare them with the Michigan limit described above, using the official link to confirm the current figure.
- Check the waiting period and paperwork requirements, then prepare the Affidavit of decedent's successor (form PC 598) using the official form or court instructions.
- Give the paperwork to each bank or holder (or file it with the court, if Michigan requires that), keep copies, and pay valid debts before distributing anything.
When the small estate route doesn't fit
The small estate route is not a fit for every family. If the probate assets are over the Michigan limit, if there is real estate the procedure does not cover, if heirs disagree, or if there are significant debts or a lawsuit, regular probate (often with an executor or administrator appointed by the court) is usually the safer path. An estate attorney or the court's self-help center in your county can tell you which procedure applies. Our executor checklist covers the full process.
Quick answers
How much does a death certificate cost in Michigan?
MDHHS charges $34 for the record search plus one certified copy, and $16 for each additional identical copy ordered at the same time. Rush processing adds $12. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
What is the small estate limit in Michigan?
For deaths in 2026, the PC 598 affidavit can be used when the estate, net of liens and encumbrances, is $53,000 or less. The base amount of $50,000 is adjusted for inflation each year. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
After that
After the certificates and the small estate question, the rest is mostly administration: accounts, subscriptions, final bills and taxes. Keep going with who to call when someone dies, getting a free estate EIN and what not to do when someone dies.
Keep it all in one place
The After-Loss Admin Kit is a calm, printable executor workbook: the first 48 hours through closing the estate, a who-to-notify list, 12 letter templates (including bank and agency letters) and an estate tracker spreadsheet for every asset and debt. It works with the Michigan steps above.
See the After-Loss Admin Kit — $19Loss & planning bundle (4 kits) — $34