Revocable Living Trust
Set up a revocable living trust to avoid probate, stay in control of your assets, and protect your family without court involvement.
Free consultation · No pressure · Most plans complete in two sessions
Assets transfer directly to your family instead of through a 12 to 18 month court process.
You are your own trustee. Manage, change, or revoke the trust any time while you are alive.
No public court filings. Your assets and beneficiaries stay out of the public record.
A living trust is the centerpiece of most strong estate plans in Michigan. It lets you keep complete control of everything you own while you are alive, then transfers those assets directly to the people you choose when you pass, privately and without probate. Our attorneys build and fund the trust for you, and we stay available to update it as your life changes.
A revocable living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and passes them to your beneficiaries when you pass, without going through probate court. You keep full control while you are alive and can change or revoke the trust whenever you want. When you pass, the trustee you named distributes everything according to your instructions, privately and efficiently.
That privacy and control are the main reasons most Michigan families choose a trust. Assets held in trust transfer directly to your beneficiaries with no court supervision, so there are no public filings and far less delay for the people you leave behind.
This is the question we hear most often. For most Michigan families, the honest answer is that both work best together.
A will is a written document that says who gets what when you die. What it does not do is keep your estate out of probate. In Michigan, probate usually takes 12 to 18 months, requires public court proceedings, and creates legal fees that can reach into the thousands. Everything in your will becomes part of the public record, including your assets, your debts, and who received them.
A revocable living trust does everything a will does and more. It keeps you out of probate, keeps your estate private, and gives you control over exactly when and how your beneficiaries receive their inheritance. For parents with young children that control matters, because a will alone would hand everything to your children the moment they turn 18. A trust lets you release distributions over time, which protects an inheritance from inexperience, creditors, or divorce.
A will still has a role. It fills any gaps the trust does not cover and names guardians for minor children. Your attorney will help you decide on the right combination based on your assets, your family, and your goals.
A revocable living trust is usually included as part of a complete estate plan. Plans start at $3,000, and your attorney gives you a custom quote during your free consultation based on your specific needs.
It helps to compare that to the alternative. A Michigan probate proceeding commonly runs $3,000 to $15,000 in attorney and court fees, on top of the 12 to 18 months of delay your family would face. Setting up the trust now is almost always the less expensive path.
By the Numbers
In Michigan, a properly funded living trust is a one-time cost. Probate is a recurring tax on your family's time and money, paid at the worst possible moment.
On a $400,000 Michigan estate, the court process can cost $12,000–$32,000 in fees before your family receives a dollar. A trust avoids it entirely.
Will vs. Trust
This is the question we hear most often. The honest answer: most Michigan families benefit from having both. Understanding the difference changes everything.
A will and a trust work best together. The trust handles the bulk of your estate and keeps your family out of court. The will fills in any gaps, including formally naming a guardian for your minor children. Your estate planning attorney will help you determine the right combination based on your specific situation, assets, and family.
Takes about 2 minutes · Get a personalized recommendation for your family
Your family's plan starts with one call.
How We Set Up Your Trust
Most families complete their entire estate plan in two sessions and two to three weeks.
We listen to your goals, your family situation, and your assets, then explain your options in plain language.
Your trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and healthcare directive, all tailored to Michigan law.
You review every document with your attorney, by Zoom or in person, then sign at your second session.
We guide retitling your home and accounts into the trust so it actually protects what you own.
Common Questions
It is a legal document that holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries when you pass, without probate. You keep full control while you are alive and can update or revoke it at any time. When you pass, your trustee distributes the assets according to your instructions.
Yes. A revocable living trust is built to be updated. As life changes through marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or new assets, your plan should change with it. Most of our clients revisit their plans after major life events, and we keep that process simple.
A standard revocable living trust does not. If Medicaid asset protection is a concern, your attorney may suggest an irrevocable trust or a Medicaid asset protection trust, which work differently and have specific timing rules. We cover this directly during your consultation.
Free Consultation
Your free consultation is the easiest first step. We listen to your situation, explain your options in plain language, and there is no pressure and no obligation.
Plans start at $3,000 · Full quote provided during your free consultation
Our Locations
17 Michigan locations: Wayne, Oakland & Macomb Counties. Remote consultations available.
Main Office
Serving estate planning clients in Southfield, Detroit, Troy, Sterling Heights, Warren, Dearborn, Livonia, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Clinton Township, Ann Arbor, and communities throughout Wayne, Oakland & Macomb Counties.
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