Michigan Form PC 565 is the Inventory that every personal representative of a decedent’s estate must file with the probate court to list, value, and disclose every asset the deceased person owned at death. The form is published by the State Court Administrative Office and is required under MCL 700.3706 and MCR 5.307.
The 91-day filing window starts the moment the court issues your Letters of Authority, and missing it can suspend your power to act for the estate. According to the Michigan State Court Administrative Office’s annual caseload report, Michigan probate courts process more than 45,000 decedent estate cases each year, and inventory-related deficiencies are among the top three reasons probate registers reject filings.
- 📋 How to fill out every box on PC 565 line by line, including the inventory fee calculation
- 🏠 How to value real property, vehicles, bank accounts, and business interests for date-of-death reporting
- 💵 How to compute and pay the inventory fee under MCL 600.871 without overpaying
- 📬 How to file by mail, in person, or electronically through the MiFILE portal
- ⚠️ How to avoid the 10 most common mistakes that get inventories bounced or trigger surcharge claims
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Michigan SCAO Form PC 565 is the official Inventory used in decedent estate proceedings in every Michigan probate court. The form lists every asset the decedent owned on the date of death, the fair market value of each asset, and any encumbrance (such as a mortgage) attached to that asset. The current SCAO revision is dated 6/23 and is printed at the bottom-left corner of the form, so confirm that footer before you start typing.
The personal representative named in the Letters of Authority is the person who must sign and file PC 565. This is true whether the appointment is formal under MCL 700.3402 or informal under MCL 700.3308. Co-personal representatives must each sign. If a conservator (not a personal representative) is filing for a living protected person, the correct form is PC 674, not PC 565.
The probate court uses PC 565 to set the inventory fee, give beneficiaries and creditors a sworn snapshot of the estate, and create a baseline for the later Account of Fiduciary (PC 583 or PC 584). The Michigan Probate Code at MCL 700.3706 requires the inventory within 91 days of appointment, and MCR 5.307(A) repeats that deadline. Skipping the filing exposes you to suspension of your letters, removal as personal representative, and personal surcharge for losses caused by the delay.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every piece of paperwork before opening the form so you can fill it in one sitting. A pre-filing checklist saves return trips to the bank and the register of deeds.
- Certified death certificate. You will need the exact date of death because every value reported is a date-of-death value, and a missing certificate stalls bank confirmations.
- Letters of Authority (PC 572). The issue date on the letters starts your 91-day clock, and you must list the file number from those letters at the top of PC 565.
- Recent bank and brokerage statements covering the date of death. Each account’s date-of-death balance must be reported, and statements that bracket the death date are the cleanest proof.
- Real estate deeds and the most recent property tax assessment. You need legal descriptions and parcel numbers, plus a fair market value, not the State Equalized Value.
- Vehicle titles and Kelley Blue Book or NADA values. The state will compare titles against your inventory, and missing a titled trailer or boat is a common omission.
- Life insurance and retirement account beneficiary designations. These usually pass outside probate, but you still need them on hand to confirm whether they belong on PC 565.
- Appraisals for jewelry, art, collectibles, firearms, or business interests. Personal property worth more than a few thousand dollars needs a written appraisal, and unsupported values invite objections.
- Outstanding mortgage and lien payoff statements as of the date of death. Encumbrances reduce the inventory fee base, so getting the exact payoff saves real money.
- Any prior partial inventory or supplemental inventory already filed. PC 565 has a checkbox for Supplemental or Amended, and prior filings must be reconciled.
- The probate court’s local fee schedule and accepted payment methods. Counties vary on whether they take credit cards, e-checks, or only certified funds.
The single biggest time-saver is requesting date-of-death letters from every financial institution as soon as you receive your Letters of Authority. Banks issue these confirmations on letterhead, and they substitute for monthly statements during audits.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official PDF lives on the Michigan Courts SCAO forms library under the Probate category. You can also download it directly from the PC 565 fillable PDF, which lets you type values into each field and save the file. Always pull a fresh copy each time you file because SCAO revises forms without sending notices.
If you are filing electronically, the form is built into the MiFILE e-filing system for counties that have rolled out e-filing in probate. Wayne, Oakland, Kent, Macomb, and Genesee counties have probate e-filing live, and the Michigan One Court of Justice e-filing schedule lists current rollout status. For paper filing, the probate register at your county courthouse keeps a stack of blank PC 565 forms, and most county probate court websites mirror the SCAO PDF.
You can fill out the form three ways: print and complete by hand in black ink, type into the fillable PDF and print, or complete inside MiFILE. Handwritten entries must be legible block printing because illegible inventories are routinely rejected at the register’s counter. The Michigan Legal Help self-help center walks pro se filers through the broader probate process if PC 565 is your first probate form.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 565 Line by Line
The form has a caption block, six inventory schedules (Items 1–6), totals and fee computation lines, and a signature block. Work top to bottom and do not skip schedules even when they will be zero.
Caption: Court Name, County, and File Number
The caption tells the court which probate division has jurisdiction and ties this inventory to the correct estate file. You will see three header fields: STATE OF MICHIGAN — JUDICIAL CIRCUIT — COUNTY — PROBATE, FILE NO., and CASE NAME (In the matter of).
Write the county name in all capitals (for example, WASHTENAW) on the COUNTY line. Enter the file number exactly as it appears on the Letters of Authority, including the dash and -DE suffix (for example, 2025-1234-DE). In the In the matter of field, write the decedent’s full legal name as it appears on the death certificate (for example, Estate of MARIA ELENA LOPEZ, Deceased).
A common edge case is a hyphenated or changed surname. Use the name on the death certificate, then add also known as and the alternate name so beneficiaries searching the docket can find it.
The most common mistake here is copying the file number from a different SCAO form filed earlier, like the Application (PC 558). A wrong file number routes your inventory to the wrong case and forces a re-file. A misconception filers carry is that the caption is a formality; in reality, the register uses it to index your filing, and a single transposed digit can delay processing by weeks.
Heading Checkboxes: Inventory, Supplemental, or Amended
Right below the caption are three checkboxes that classify your filing: Inventory, Supplemental Inventory, or Amended Inventory. Each has a distinct legal effect under MCR 5.307.
Check Inventory for your first filing. Check Supplemental when you discover an asset later that was not known when you filed the original. Check Amended when you are correcting a value or description on an asset that was previously listed.
For example, if Marcus Bell, personal representative of his father’s estate, finds a forgotten brokerage account three months after filing, he files a new PC 565 with the Supplemental box checked and lists only the new asset.
The edge case is a value change after a professional appraisal comes in later. That is an amendment, not a supplement, because the asset was already listed. A common mistake is checking Supplemental when you should have checked Amended, which can confuse the inventory fee recalculation and leave the estate paying twice. The misconception is that you can simply file a new inventory without checking any box; the court treats unchecked filings as duplicate originals, which can void your earlier filing.
Item 1: Real Estate
Item 1 captures every parcel of real property the decedent owned, in whole or in part, on the date of death. List each parcel separately with the street address, legal description, parcel identification number, fair market value, and encumbrance.
Enter the street address as it appears on the deed (for example, 1422 Maple Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104). Pull the legal description from the recorded deed at the county register of deeds, not from the tax bill, because tax bills use abbreviated descriptions. Use the fair market value as of the date of death — typically an appraisal or comparative market analysis — and not the State Equalized Value, which is half of assessed value.
For example, Maria Lopez enters the family home: 1422 Maple Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, parcel 09-09-22-100-015, fair market value $310,000, mortgage balance $112,400. The net equity figure she carries to the totals line is $197,600.
The edge case is real property owned as joint tenants with rights of survivorship or as tenants by the entirety with a surviving spouse — those parcels pass outside probate and do not belong on PC 565. The most common mistake is listing the SEV instead of fair market value, which understates the estate and triggers a register inquiry. The misconception is that out-of-state real property must be listed; under Michigan law it does not, because Michigan probate jurisdiction stops at the state line, and out-of-state parcels go through ancillary probate where they sit.
Item 2: Mortgages, Notes, and Cash
Item 2 covers cash on hand, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and any promissory notes payable to the decedent. List each account on its own line with the institution name, last four digits of the account number, date-of-death balance, and any accrued interest through the date of death.
Write the bank name in plain English (for example, Chase Bank — checking ending 4471). Use the exact date-of-death balance from the bank’s date-of-death letter, not the next monthly statement. Round to the cent because banks issue figures to the penny.
For example, Aisha Carter, personal representative for her mother, lists Huntington Bank savings ending 2210 — $14,872.43 and Cash found in safe deposit box — $1,200.00.
The edge case is a payable-on-death (POD) account or a joint account with rights of survivorship; those pass outside probate and are excluded. The common mistake is including a POD account because the personal representative saw it on a statement, which inflates the inventory fee and forces an amended filing. The misconception is that cash in a safe deposit box can be skipped; it cannot, because the box itself is in the decedent’s sole name and the contents are probate property until proven otherwise.
Item 3: Stocks and Bonds
Item 3 lists publicly traded stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and brokerage accounts. Report each holding with the issuer name, number of shares or face value, CUSIP or ticker symbol if available, and date-of-death market value.
Use the mean between the high and low trading price on the date of death for publicly traded equities, which is the standard the IRS and Michigan probate registers expect. For bonds, use date-of-death market value including accrued but unpaid interest. Brokerage statements often print a date-of-death valuation summary on request.
For example, Marcus Bell enters Apple Inc. (AAPL) — 150 shares — $28,450 and Vanguard Total Bond Index — 412 shares — $9,803.
The edge case is a stock that was delisted or in bankruptcy on the date of death; report the actual trading value, even if it is pennies, and attach a brokerage confirmation. A common mistake is using the closing price instead of the high-low mean, which can shift the inventory fee bracket. The misconception is that retirement-account holdings (IRAs, 401(k)s) belong here; they almost always pass by beneficiary designation outside probate, so they belong on PC 565 only if the estate is the named beneficiary.
Item 4: Insurance Payable to the Estate
Item 4 captures life insurance proceeds only if the estate is the named beneficiary or if no beneficiary survives. List the insurer, policy number, face amount, and proceeds payable to the estate.
Write the insurer name and policy number as printed on the policy (for example, Prudential — Policy #LP-228941). Enter the proceeds payable to the estate, not the gross face amount if part of the proceeds went to other beneficiaries.
For example, Janet Park, personal representative for her late husband, lists State Farm Life — Policy 5572118 — proceeds to estate $50,000 because her husband had no surviving named beneficiary.
The edge case is a policy with a lapsed primary beneficiary and the estate as contingent; the proceeds belong on PC 565. The most common mistake is listing every policy on the decedent’s life regardless of beneficiary, which inflates the inventory and the fee. The misconception is that all life insurance is probate property; under MCL 500.2207, insurance payable to a named living beneficiary is not part of the probate estate.
Item 5: Other Personal Property
Item 5 is the catch-all for tangible personal property and miscellaneous intangibles: vehicles, boats, jewelry, household goods, firearms, livestock, collectibles, business interests, partnership shares, and money owed to the decedent. Group similar items (for example, household furnishings) but separate items worth more than $1,000.
For each high-value item, write a short description, the date-of-death fair market value, and the valuation method (appraisal, KBB, dealer quote). Vehicles need year, make, model, VIN, and value (for example, 2019 Honda CR-V, VIN 5J6RW1H85KL000123, $18,200 (NADA)).
For example, Carlos Rivera, personal representative for his uncle’s estate, lists 2017 Ford F-150 — VIN 1FTFW1EF7HKE12345 — $22,500, Coin collection appraised by Heritage Auctions — $11,400, and Household furnishings — $3,500.
The edge case is a closely held business interest (LLC member units, S-corp shares); these require a business valuation by a CPA or appraiser, and a placeholder figure invites objections from beneficiaries. The common mistake is lumping a $9,000 ring into household goods to avoid valuation work, which understates the estate and can lead to a surcharge if a beneficiary later proves the value. The misconception is that firearms can be left off because they are sensitive; firearms are probate property and must be listed and transferred under ATF rules when applicable.
Item 6: Causes of Action and Other Assets
Item 6 lists legal claims the decedent could have brought (wrongful death is separate under MCL 600.2922), refunds owed, tax refunds, unpaid wages, and any unusual asset that does not fit Items 1–5. Each goes on its own line with a description and a good-faith estimated value.
Write the claim or asset description in plain English (for example, Unpaid wages from Acme Manufacturing — $4,212). If value is uncertain, write Unknown and explain in a brief note. Tax refunds for the year of death are reported here when known.
For example, Aisha Carter enters 2025 federal income tax refund (estimated) — $1,840 and Class-action settlement claim, In re XYZ Securities Litigation — Unknown.
The edge case is a pending personal injury lawsuit; the cause of action survives under MCL 600.2921 and belongs on Item 6 with a value estimate. The common mistake is writing None when a tax refund is pending; that becomes a supplemental inventory once the refund arrives, which is extra work. The misconception is that unknown-value claims do not need to be listed; they do, because the existence of the claim — not its value — triggers disclosure under MCR 5.307.
Total Value Lines and Inventory Fee Computation
Below the schedules, you compute the gross value, subtract encumbrances listed on Item 1, and arrive at the inventory fee base. The fee schedule lives in MCL 600.871, and the Michigan Courts inventory fee calculator is available on most county probate court sites.
Add Items 1 through 6 to get gross value. Subtract only the real estate encumbrances disclosed on Item 1 (not credit card debt, not funeral bills) to get the fee base. Apply the statutory bracket: for example, an estate base of $250,000 pays $305 plus 0.001 of the excess over $150,000, which equals $405.
For example, if Maria Lopez reports gross assets of $360,000 and a $112,400 mortgage, her inventory fee base is $247,600, and the fee is $305 + ($247,600 − $150,000) × 0.001 = $402.60.
The edge case is an estate base under $1,000, which pays a flat $5. A common mistake is subtracting funeral bills, credit cards, or income taxes from the fee base; only Item 1 encumbrances reduce the base, and over-reducing triggers a register correction and a make-up payment. The misconception is that the fee is paid on net value after all debts; it is paid on gross value less only real estate encumbrances under the statute.
Signature, Date, and Verification
The bottom of the form has a verification block where the personal representative signs under penalty of perjury that the inventory is true and complete to the best of their knowledge. Each co-personal representative signs separately, and an attorney may sign as preparer but not as the verifying party.
Sign in blue or black ink. Print your name, address, telephone number, bar number (if an attorney), and the date of signing. The date of signing should match the date you file or be no more than a few days earlier.
For example, Marcus Bell signs Marcus J. Bell, Personal Representative, prints his address, dates the form 06/14/2026, and files the same day.
The edge case is a personal representative who lives out of state; you must have a resident agent for service, and the resident agent’s address goes on the verification block. The common mistake is signing without re-checking the totals; once you sign, you have sworn to the figures, and a math error becomes a sworn misstatement that requires an amended filing. The misconception is that the verification is a formality; it is a sworn statement that can support a perjury or surcharge claim if you knowingly omitted assets.
Proof of Service
PC 565 must be served on every interested person before or when it is filed. Many filers attach a separate Proof of Service (SCAO Form PC 564 or a custom proof) listing every interested person and the method of service.
List each interested person by name and address, the date served, and the method (first-class mail, personal service, or email if consented). Use the interested persons list filed earlier with your Application or Petition (PC 558 or PC 559).
For example, Carlos Rivera serves the inventory by first-class mail on his three siblings and the decedent’s surviving spouse, then files the Proof of Service with PC 565.
The edge case is a beneficiary whose address is unknown; you must show diligent search and may serve by publication in limited circumstances. The common mistake is skipping service to a contingent beneficiary, which can void the inventory’s effect for limitation periods. The misconception is that service is optional because the inventory is “internal”; under MCR 5.307(C), service on interested persons is mandatory.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1 — Maria Lopez: Modest Estate With Home and One Bank Account
Maria’s mother died owning a paid-down house and a single checking account. The estate is straightforward and triggers a small inventory fee.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption / File No. | WASHTENAW — 2026-0145-DE — Estate of Elena Vasquez Lopez, Deceased |
| Heading Checkbox | Inventory |
| Item 1 — Real Estate | 1422 Maple Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104; parcel 09-09-22-100-015; FMV $310,000; mortgage $112,400 |
| Item 2 — Cash & Bank | Chase checking ending 4471 — $9,322.18 |
| Item 3 — Stocks & Bonds | None |
| Item 4 — Insurance to Estate | None |
| Item 5 — Other Personal Property | 2016 Toyota Corolla, VIN JTDBR32E160000111, $7,400; household goods $2,500 |
| Item 6 — Causes of Action | 2025 federal tax refund (estimated) — $640 |
| Gross Value | $329,862.18 |
| Encumbrances (Item 1) | $112,400.00 |
| Inventory Fee Base | $217,462.18 |
| Inventory Fee | $305 + ($217,462.18 − $150,000) × 0.001 = $372.46 |
| Signature & Date | Maria E. Lopez, PR — 06/14/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Marcus Bell: Mid-Sized Estate With Brokerage and Vehicles
Marcus’s father left a brokerage account, a vehicle, and a paid-off cottage on a small inland lake. The estate has more line items, but the structure is still standard.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption / File No. | OAKLAND — 2026-0788-DE — Estate of Harold R. Bell, Deceased |
| Heading Checkbox | Inventory |
| Item 1 — Real Estate | Primary: 88 Birch Lane, Royal Oak; FMV $420,000; mortgage $98,000. Cottage: 12 Loon Rd, Lake Orion; FMV $185,000; no mortgage |
| Item 2 — Cash & Bank | Comerica checking ending 0921 — $18,755.04; Ally savings ending 6630 — $42,310.22 |
| Item 3 — Stocks & Bonds | Fidelity brokerage ending 1188 — date-of-death value $214,600 |
| Item 4 — Insurance to Estate | Prudential Policy LP-228941 — proceeds to estate $50,000 |
| Item 5 — Other Personal Property | 2019 Honda CR-V VIN 5J6RW1H85KL000123 — $18,200; firearms collection (appraised) — $6,400; household furnishings — $4,800 |
| Item 6 — Causes of Action | Unpaid wages from Acme Manufacturing — $4,212 |
| Gross Value | $964,277.26 |
| Encumbrances (Item 1) | $98,000 |
| Inventory Fee Base | $866,277.26 |
| Inventory Fee | $905 + ($866,277.26 − $500,000) × 0.0025 = $1,820.69 |
| Signature & Date | Marcus J. Bell, PR — 07/02/2026 |
Scenario 3 — Carlos Rivera: Larger Estate With Business Interest and Out-of-State Property
Carlos’s uncle owned a Michigan home, a Michigan-based LLC interest, and a Florida condo. The Florida condo does not appear on PC 565 because Michigan has no jurisdiction over it.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption / File No. | WAYNE — 2026-1102-DE — Estate of Antonio J. Rivera, Deceased |
| Heading Checkbox | Inventory |
| Item 1 — Real Estate | 3300 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201; FMV $265,000; mortgage $46,500 (Florida condo excluded — ancillary probate) |
| Item 2 — Cash & Bank | PNC checking ending 7012 — $33,415; PNC CD ending 7299 — $80,000 |
| Item 3 — Stocks & Bonds | Schwab brokerage ending 4055 — date-of-death value $612,300 |
| Item 4 — Insurance to Estate | None (named beneficiary is spouse, excluded) |
| Item 5 — Other Personal Property | 2017 Ford F-150 VIN 1FTFW1EF7HKE12345 — $22,500; coin collection (Heritage appraisal) — $11,400; 25% LLC interest in Rivera Holdings LLC (CPA valuation) — $325,000 |
| Item 6 — Causes of Action | Class-action settlement claim, In re XYZ Securities — Unknown |
| Gross Value | $1,349,615 |
| Encumbrances (Item 1) | $46,500 |
| Inventory Fee Base | $1,303,115 |
| Inventory Fee | $1,905 + ($1,303,115 − $1,000,000) × 0.00125 = $2,283.89 |
| Signature & Date | Carlos M. Rivera, PR — 08/05/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Michigan probate courts accept PC 565 through three channels, and the channel you pick affects timing, proof of filing, and payment options. Confirm your county’s preference on the Michigan One Court of Justice probate court directory before you head to file.
Electronic filing through MiFILE. Open the MiFILE portal, select your county’s probate court, upload your completed PC 565 PDF and Proof of Service, and pay the inventory fee plus the small e-filing surcharge by credit card or e-check. Processing time is typically 1–3 business days. Your proof of filing is the timestamped MiFILE receipt emailed to you.
Filing by mail. Print and sign the form, then mail to the probate register at your county courthouse — for example, the Wayne County Probate Court at 1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit, MI 48226. Include a check or money order made payable to the county probate court for the inventory fee, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope so the register can return a date-stamped copy. Processing time is typically 5–10 business days, and your proof of filing is the date-stamped returned copy.
In-person filing. Bring the original and one copy to the probate register’s counter. Pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card (where accepted — Oakland and Kent take cards; some smaller counties do not). Processing is immediate, and your proof of filing is the date-stamped copy handed back across the counter.
Pay the inventory fee at the same time you file the inventory under MCL 600.871. If you cannot pay, you may request a fee deferral, but the deferral does not extend the 91-day filing deadline.
What Happens After You File
The probate register reviews PC 565 for facial completeness, confirms the inventory fee math, and dockets the filing. If the fee math is off, the register issues a deficiency notice — usually within two weeks — and you must correct or supplement within the time the notice states.
Interested persons have the right to object to valuations, request appraisals, or petition for a more detailed inventory under MCR 5.307. Objections trigger a hearing in front of the probate judge, and the personal representative carries the burden of defending the values.
The filed inventory also starts several practical clocks: creditors’ claims continue under MCL 700.3801, the Michigan Department of Treasury may flag estates for income or estate tax review, and beneficiaries may begin pressing for distributions. Keep the filed inventory close — your eventual Account of Fiduciary (PC 583 or PC 584) must reconcile back to it line by line.
If you discover an omitted asset after filing, you have an affirmative duty under MCL 700.3706 to file a Supplemental Inventory and pay any additional fee. Sitting on a known omission can support a surcharge claim against you personally.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Inventory mistakes show up in nearly every contested estate, and most are preventable.
- Using SEV instead of fair market value for real estate. The register flags the inventory, and you must amend with an appraisal.
- Subtracting non–real estate debts from the fee base. You overpay (or underpay) the fee and must reconcile.
- Listing POD or jointly owned accounts. These pass outside probate, and including them inflates the fee.
- Forgetting the 91-day deadline. The court can suspend your letters under MCR 5.307(A).
- Skipping the verification signature. An unsigned inventory is treated as not filed.
- Lumping high-value personal property into “household goods.” Beneficiaries can object and force a re-inventory.
- Omitting a known cause of action. Failure to disclose can later bar the estate from pursuing the claim.
- Using the wrong file number in the caption. The filing is docketed to the wrong case.
- Ignoring Proof of Service. The inventory’s limitation effects do not run against unserved interested persons.
- Failing to file a Supplemental Inventory after finding new assets. You face personal surcharge for the omission.
Do’s and Don’ts
A short list of guardrails will keep your inventory clean and your fiduciary record intact.
Do’s:
- Pull the current SCAO revision because outdated versions are rejected at the counter.
- Use date-of-death values across every schedule for consistency with federal estate tax rules.
- Get written appraisals for any single item worth more than a few thousand dollars because unsupported values invite objections.
- Reconcile your inventory totals with the bank’s date-of-death letters before you sign because once signed, the numbers are sworn.
- Serve every interested person on the list filed with your Application because unserved persons are not bound by the inventory’s effects.
- Keep a clean working file with every supporting document because you will need it for the Account of Fiduciary later.
Don’ts:
- Do not include non-probate assets (POD accounts, jointly held real estate with survivorship) because they inflate the fee and the inventory.
- Do not subtract funeral bills, credit cards, or income taxes from the inventory fee base because only Item 1 encumbrances qualify.
- Do not estimate when an actual statement is available because estimates create unnecessary objections.
- Do not sign blank or partially completed forms because the verification covers everything above it.
- Do not file by personal email to court staff because that is not a recognized filing channel.
- Do not wait past day 60 to start because last-minute filings rarely reconcile cleanly.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
A personal representative may file PC 565 pro se or through an attorney, and the right choice depends on the estate’s complexity.
Pros of filing pro se:
- You save attorney fees on a routine task because simple estates rarely need legal drafting.
- You learn the estate’s assets in detail because you have to touch every account.
- You move on your own timeline because you do not wait on counsel’s calendar.
- You maintain privacy because fewer professionals review the file.
- You build a clean paper trail because you organized it yourself.
Cons of filing pro se:
- You bear personal liability for omissions because the verification is your sworn statement.
- You can miscalculate the inventory fee because the bracket math trips up most non-lawyers.
- You may miss non-probate vs. probate distinctions because they are nuanced under Michigan law.
- You face the full burden of objections at a hearing because you have no counsel to argue valuation.
- You can miss the 91-day deadline because the calendar slips while you research.
FAQs
Do I have to file PC 565 if the estate has no assets?
Yes. You still file a zero-asset inventory showing the estate is empty, which protects you from a later allegation that you concealed property.
Can I list the State Equalized Value for the house instead of an appraisal?
No. PC 565 requires fair market value as of the date of death, and SEV is roughly half of assessed value and will be rejected.
What if I find an asset after I file?
Yes, you must file a Supplemental Inventory promptly under MCL 700.3706 and pay any additional inventory fee on the new asset.
Do payable-on-death accounts go on Item 2?
No. POD accounts pass outside probate and stay off PC 565, even if you saw them on a bank statement.
Do I list a jointly titled house with my surviving stepmother?
No, not if it is held with rights of survivorship or as tenants by the entirety, because title passes outside probate at death.
Is the inventory fee based on the gross value or net value of the estate?
No, it is not net of all debts. The fee is based on gross value minus only the real estate encumbrances listed on Item 1, under MCL 600.871.
Can the attorney for the estate sign PC 565 instead of me?
No. Only the personal representative signs the verification, because it is a sworn statement under penalty of perjury.
Do I write the SEV or the appraised value in Item 1?
No to SEV — write the appraised fair market value as of the date of death, because the SEV is not an accepted valuation method.
Should I include the decedent’s IRA on Item 3?
No, not unless the estate is the named beneficiary, because IRAs normally pass by beneficiary designation and stay out of probate.
Do I check “Supplemental” or “Amended” when I correct a value?
No to Supplemental — check Amended, because the asset was already listed and you are correcting a value, not adding a new asset.
How do I value a closely held LLC interest for Item 5?
Yes, you need a written business valuation by a CPA or appraiser, and a placeholder figure invites objections from beneficiaries and the court.
Can I file PC 565 electronically?
Yes, through the MiFILE portal in counties where probate e-filing is live, including Wayne, Oakland, Kent, Macomb, and Genesee.
What happens if I miss the 91-day deadline?
Yes, the court can suspend or revoke your Letters of Authority under MCR 5.307(A), and you can be personally surcharged for losses caused by the delay.
Do I have to serve PC 565 on every beneficiary?
Yes. Service on every interested person is required under MCR 5.307(C), and unserved persons are not bound by the inventory’s effects.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 577 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 53 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 670 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 560 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 566 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 581 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 570 (w/Examples) + FAQs