Do I need a will or a trust in Michigan?
Here's the short answer: most people benefit from at least a will. Whether you also need a trust depends mostly on whether avoiding probate and keeping your affairs private are worth the extra upfront cost to you.
What a will actually does
A will names who receives your assets, who cares for your minor children, and who's in charge of carrying out your wishes (your "personal representative"). But a will has to go through probate — a Michigan court process that validates the will, oversees the distribution of assets, and can take a year or more. Probate records are also public.
What a trust adds
A revocable living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and passes them to your beneficiaries directly when you die — without probate. That typically means your family gets access to assets faster, your affairs stay private, and if you own property in more than one state, you avoid a separate probate process in each one.
A simple way to think about it
If you own a home, have young children, or have accounts across multiple states, a trust is usually worth a serious look. If your estate is simple and your assets are entirely account-based with beneficiaries already named, a will alone may be enough. Every situation is different, which is exactly what the free consultation is for.