Transferring a Car After Someone Dies in Michigan
How to transfer a vehicle title after the owner dies in Michigan, from the official motor vehicle agency.
Short answer: If the estate is not being probated and no other property requires letters, the surviving spouse, or if none the closest next of kin, can transfer the vehicles using the Secretary of State's TR-40 packet: TR-40a (Certification from the Heir, verified at a Secretary of State office)… MCL 257.236; Michigan Department of State form TR-40
| Transferring a car after death | If the estate is not being probated and no other property requires letters, the surviving spouse, or if none the closest next of kin, can transfer the vehicles using the Secretary of State's TR-40 packet: TR-40a (Certification from the Heir, verified at a Secretary of State office), TR-40b (Certification of No Interest, for other heirs who give up their claim) and TR-40c (transfer to someone else). Bring the title, the owner's death certificate, any lien termination and an odometer statement. This is allowed only if the total value of the deceased's vehicles does not exceed the limit in MCL 257.236 ($100,000 for 2024 and 2025, adjusted for inflation from 2026). If the estate is probated, the personal representative named in the Letters of Authority assigns the title. Statute: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-236 |
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FAQ
How do I transfer a car title after someone dies in Michigan?
If the estate is not being probated and no other property requires letters, the surviving spouse, or if none the closest next of kin, can transfer the vehicles using the Secretary of State's TR-40 packet: TR-40a (Certification from the Heir, verified at a Secretary of State office), TR-40b (Certification of No Interest, for other heirs who give up their claim) and TR-40c (transfer to someone else). Bring the title, the owner's death certificate, any lien termination and an odometer statement. This is allowed only if the total value of the deceased's vehicles does not exceed the limit in MCL 257.236 ($100,000 for 2024 and 2025, adjusted for inflation from 2026). If the estate is probated, the personal representative named in the Letters of Authority assigns the title.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.