Michigan residents shopping for a will face price options ranging from $0 (handwrite it yourself) to $5,000+ (custom attorney plan). Choosing wisely requires knowing what you actually get at each price point and which Michigan-specific features matter. This guide covers every legitimate Michigan will option in 2026 - the free routes, the national online services (LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, Trust & Will), our own attorney-drafted Michigan-specific kits, Michigan solo attorney pricing, and full-service estate plans. No sales fluff - just what each price actually delivers and who it's right for.
The 30-Second Answer
- $0: Handwritten (holographic) will under Michigan MCL 700.2502(2). Legally valid if requirements met, but ~15-25% probate failure rate.
- $39-$199: National online services (LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, Trust & Will). Convenient but often generic - not Michigan-optimized.
- $89: CreateMIWill Will Kit - Michigan-specific attorney-drafted template.
- $349: CreateMIWill Complete Bundle - will + trust + POA + Patient Advocate + HIPAA + Lady Bird deed.
- $500-$1,500: Michigan solo attorney simple will.
- $1,500-$3,500: Michigan full-service estate plan (attorney).
- $5,000+: Michigan high-net-worth trust planning.
$0 - The Handwritten Route
Michigan is one of about 25 US states that recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills under MCL 700.2502(2). Requirements:
- Written entirely in the testator's own handwriting
- Signed and dated
- Testamentary intent clear
- No witnesses required
Pros
- Truly $0
- No witnesses to coordinate
- Can be signed anywhere, anytime
- Better than no will at all
Cons
- 15-25% probate failure rate (see our Michigan holographic will guide)
- Requires handwriting authentication after death
- Testator may not know all necessary clauses
- Higher contest risk
- Contested probate can cost $8,000-$25,000 in attorney fees
Verdict: acceptable for emergency use only. Do not rely on for a permanent Michigan estate plan.
$39-$199 - National Online Services
The three largest national online will services all serve Michigan residents at various price points.
LegalZoom
- Basic will: $89-$139
- Estate plan bundle (will + POA + healthcare directive): $189-$249
- Custom Michigan-compliant clauses often require the higher tier
- Optional attorney help ($40-$100 add-on)
Rocket Lawyer
- Membership model: $39.99/month or $200-$400/year, unlimited documents
- Non-member single will: $39.99
- State-specific templates but often less Michigan-detailed than local
Trust & Will
- Individual will: $199
- Married couple will: $269
- Trust package: $499
- Better UX than LegalZoom, cleaner Michigan-compliant defaults
- Some Michigan-specific limitations on trust language
General Pros of Online Services
- Fast (15-45 minute completion)
- Web-based, no PDF handling
- Some attorney access available
General Cons
- National templates - not always optimized for Michigan MCL requirements
- Michigan Patient Advocate language may not fully comply with MCL 700.5506-5515 (see our Michigan living will guide)
- Lady Bird deeds (Michigan real-estate probate avoidance) rarely included
- Ongoing subscription fees for some (Rocket Lawyer)
- Customer service via chat/email, not phone
$89 - CreateMIWill
CreateMIWill was built specifically for Michigan residents by a Michigan estate planning attorney. Not a national template applied to Michigan - a Michigan template from the ground up.
Will Kit - $89
- Michigan MCL 700.2502(1) compliant will template
- Michigan MCL 700.2504 self-proving affidavit
- Executor nomination with successor
- Guardian nomination for minor children
- Optional disinheritance and no-contest clause language
- Specific bequest section
- Residuary clause with per stirpes/per capita election
- Signing-ceremony script (see our signing guide)
- 17-page Michigan-specific instruction guide
- Michigan execution requirements guide
Complete Bundle - $349
Adds:
- Michigan revocable living trust template
- Michigan durable financial POA (MCL 556.201)
- Michigan Patient Advocate Designation (MCL 700.5506)
- HIPAA release
- Michigan Lady Bird deed template
- Digital assets planner
- Location statement template
Pros
- Attorney-drafted specifically for Michigan
- Includes Michigan-specific documents national services skip (Lady Bird deed)
- Fully complies with Michigan MCL statutes
- Plain-English instructions
- One-time payment, no subscription
- Downloadable Word documents (editable)
- PDF instruction guides
Cons
- Not appropriate for high-net-worth Michigan families ($5M+ estates)
- No live attorney chat
- Requires DIY signing (find your own witnesses)
$500-$1,500 - Michigan Solo Attorney Simple Will
Many Michigan solo practitioners and small firms offer "simple will" packages at fixed prices.
What's Typically Included
- Initial consultation (30-60 min)
- Attorney-drafted will
- Self-proving affidavit
- Signing ceremony at attorney's office
- Storage of original (typically)
Pros
- Attorney reviews your specific situation
- In-person signing supervised by attorney
- Michigan attorney is licensed and can be sued for malpractice
- Michigan-specific expertise
Cons
- 5-15x the cost of DIY Michigan-specific templates
- Requires appointments and travel
- Turnaround: 2-6 weeks
- Amendments cost additional fees
$1,500-$3,500 - Michigan Full-Service Estate Plan
A comprehensive Michigan estate plan from a licensed attorney typically includes:
- Will
- Revocable trust
- Financial POA
- Patient Advocate Designation
- HIPAA release
- Lady Bird deed (may be extra)
- Trust funding assistance
Typical Michigan pricing:
- Individual: $1,500-$2,500
- Married couple: $2,000-$3,500
- Complex (blended family, business interests): $3,500-$6,500
$5,000+ - Michigan High-Net-Worth Planning
For Michigan estates exceeding roughly $5 million or with complex assets:
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT): $2,500-$5,000
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT): $3,000-$6,000
- Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT): $3,000-$6,000
- Family Limited Partnership: $5,000-$15,000
- Asset protection trust (Michigan DAPT): $5,000-$15,000
- Business succession plan: $5,000-$25,000
This is where DIY tools stop being appropriate. Consult a Michigan estate planning attorney if your estate exceeds federal gift tax exemption levels ($13.61M in 2026).
Michigan-Specific Features That Matter
When shopping for a Michigan will, verify the service includes:
1. MCL 700.2502(1) Witness Compliance
Two-witness requirement. Some out-of-state templates default to notarization only.
2. MCL 700.2504 Self-Proving Affidavit
Optional but valuable - eliminates witness testimony at probate.
3. MCL 700.5506 Patient Advocate Designation
Michigan requires this specific document, NOT a generic "living will" (see our Michigan living will guide).
4. MCL 700.5512 Explicit End-of-Life Authorization
Life-sustaining treatment withdrawal must be explicitly granted.
5. Lady Bird Deed Availability
Michigan-specific real estate probate avoidance tool - most national services don't offer.
6. MCL 700.7813 Trust Beneficiary Reporting
Michigan trust code has specific beneficiary notification rules.
7. Homestead Allowance, Family Allowance, Exempt Property
Michigan MCL 700.2402-2404 protections should be acknowledged in the plan.
8. MCL 700.2807 Divorce Revocation
Automatic ex-spouse revocation is Michigan law but doesn't cover ERISA plans (see our divorce guide).
Who Should Choose What
| Situation | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Emergency, no time, small estate | Handwritten holographic ($0) |
| Simple single-parent will, tight budget | CreateMIWill Will Kit ($89) |
| Young family with minor kids, modest estate | CreateMIWill Complete Bundle ($349) |
| Blended family, moderate assets | CreateMIWill Complete Bundle ($349) or Michigan solo attorney ($1,500-$2,500) |
| Business owner, moderate assets | Michigan solo attorney ($1,500-$3,000) |
| Special-needs beneficiary | Michigan attorney ($2,000-$3,500) |
| Estate over $5M | Michigan estate planning attorney ($5,000+) |
| Estate over federal gift-tax exemption ($13.61M in 2026) | Board-certified Michigan trust attorney ($10,000+) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are $89 attorney-drafted Michigan wills really as valid as $2,500 attorney wills?
Legally, YES. Both must comply with the same Michigan MCL statutes. The attorney's value at the higher price is (a) reviewing your specific situation, (b) hand-holding through signing, and (c) storage of original. For Michigan families with straightforward situations, the extra $2,411 doesn't buy additional legal validity.
Does the "attorney-drafted" claim mean anything if I don't work with the attorney directly?
Yes - it means the template itself was drafted by a licensed attorney who researched Michigan MCL statutes and drafted language that complies. Compare to non-attorney-drafted templates that may have generic clauses.
Should Michigan couples buy two separate wills or a joint one?
Michigan lets couples sign separate wills (typically mirror wills leaving everything to each other, then to the kids). Joint wills are legally possible but generally not recommended - they lock in dispositive provisions after the first spouse's death.
Do Michigan online services help with trust funding?
Most national services do not. CreateMIWill Complete Bundle includes trust funding instructions but does not personally retitle your assets. Trust funding is one reason some Michigan families choose a full-service attorney at higher price.
What's a "quiet will"?
Slang for a simple, plain-vanilla will with no unusual provisions. Michigan quiet wills are the sweet spot for $89 DIY templates like CreateMIWill.
Can I use online services to update my existing Michigan will?
Yes - Michigan will amendments (codicils) or full replacement wills can be created via any online service. Best practice: sign a completely new will that explicitly revokes prior wills.
Do Michigan attorneys give free consultations?
Many Michigan estate planning attorneys offer 15-30 minute free consultations. Good for a "should I DIY or hire?" question. See our probate avoidance guide for what to ask.
Does the Michigan State Bar accredit online will services?
No formal accreditation. Consumer reports and BBB ratings are your best proxies. CreateMIWill is a Michigan-attorney product; you can verify.
Should Michigan seniors get a will or a trust?
Both. A will alone leaves your estate to Michigan probate. A trust avoids probate but only for assets titled to it. See our Michigan living trust cost guide.
What about "will packages" that include life insurance?
Buy life insurance separately from your will. Combining them can create conflicts of interest. Cheapest term life on the market beats bundled products from most Michigan providers.
Michigan-Specific Attorney-Drafted Will for $89
CreateMIWill was built by a Michigan estate planning attorney for Michigan residents. The Will Kit ($89) beats national online services on Michigan-specific compliance for a fraction of the price. The Complete Bundle ($349) delivers the full Michigan attorney experience - will, trust, POA, Patient Advocate, HIPAA, and Lady Bird deed - for less than most Michigan attorneys charge for a will alone.
Michigan-Specific -- Not a National Template Applied to Michigan
Attorney-drafted Michigan will, trust, POA, Patient Advocate, HIPAA, and Lady Bird deed templates - all compliant with Michigan MCL statutes. Same legal validity as $2,500+ attorney work at a fraction of the price. Signing-ceremony instructions and Michigan witness rules included.