The Ultimate Michigan Wrongful Death Lawsuit Handbook

By Lawrence J. Buckfire, President, CEO and Lead Trial Attorney · Last reviewed October 2026 under our editorial and review process

Editor’s note: Read this book before you hire a lawyer, open a probate estate or speak with an insurance company.

Losing a family member to someone else’s negligence is devastating. Michigan law lets the family seek accountability and compensation, but the process runs through probate court, follows its own deadlines, and ends with a judge deciding how any recovery is shared. Few families know these steps in advance.

Lawrence J. Buckfire wrote The Ultimate Michigan Wrongful Death Lawsuit Handbook to explain that process in plain language. Wrongful death cases are a core focus of his practice, and he has represented Michigan families since 1989. The 44-page guide covers who can bring a claim, the deadlines, how compensation is determined and how it’s divided.

Book Details

What the book covers

• Choosing the right lawyer (pages 3–4): how a wrongful death lawyer differs from a general injury lawyer.
• Michigan’s Wrongful Death Act (pages 6–7): what the statute says and why it matters.
• Who can bring the lawsuit (pages 7–8): how a personal representative is appointed, what they do, and how a will or trust affects the case.
• Filing the lawsuit (page 8): pleadings and identifying the parties.
• Deadlines (page 9): how the time limits work for different kinds of cases.
• How compensation is determined (pages 13–14): the factors that drive value.
• Dividing the recovery among family (pages 18–19): each family member’s share, the judge’s role, and how disputes are resolved.
• Closing the estate (page 21): what happens after the settlement.

Michigan rules the book explains

• Who files: Only the estate’s personal representative, appointed by the probate court, can bring the claim (MCL 600.2922). The representative acts for all eligible family members.
• Deadlines: The claim generally follows the deadline for the underlying case: usually three years, or two for medical malpractice. A savings rule can give the personal representative up to two more years after being appointed, within limits (MCL 600.5852).
• What can be recovered: Medical and funeral expenses, the person’s conscious pain and suffering before death, lost financial support, and the family’s loss of society and companionship.
• Who shares the recovery: The spouse, children, parents, siblings and other close relatives who suffered a loss. The judge approves the division after a hearing.

Why a lawyer wrote a free book

Families shouldn’t have to learn probate procedure while grieving. This guide answers the questions we hear most, so you can make decisions without pressure, whoever you choose to represent you. Read our wrongful death FAQs, see what families say, and learn about our no-fee promise.

Many fatal cases begin as car or truck accidents, medical errors or nursing home neglect. Related free books: The Ultimate Michigan Medical Malpractice Handbook and The Michigan Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Handbook.

About the Author

Lawrence J. Buckfire is President, CEO and Lead Trial Attorney of Buckfire Law (Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.), the Michigan injury firm his father, David Buckfire, founded in Detroit in 1969.

• B.A. in Economics, University of Michigan (1986); J.D., Wayne State University Law School (1989)
• Licensed in Michigan (since 1989) and Ohio; U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
• Best Lawyers 2027 Lawyers of the Year, Medical Malpractice Litigation
• Best Lawyers 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation
• Michigan Super Lawyers, 2013-2026
• AV Preeminent peer rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2004-2026
• Contributing author, Forbes Legal Council and The National Law Review
• Author of more than ten Michigan personal injury guides. See all books.
• ORCID iD: 0009-0004-5471-7143
• ISNI: 0000 0005 3181 3589 

The firm was named Michigan Lawyers Weekly Best Family-Led Law Firm in 2024, 2025, and 2026. See awards and recognition.

Frequently asked questions

Is the book really free? Yes. The paperback sells on Amazon, but the PDF is free through the form on this page.

Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Michigan? Only the personal representative of the person’s estate, appointed by the probate court. The representative brings the claim on behalf of the whole family.

How long do we have to file? Usually, the deadline that applies to the underlying case, often three years (two for medical malpractice). Special rules can extend it after a personal representative is appointed. Talk to a lawyer early.

How is a wrongful death settlement divided? The judge approves how it’s shared among eligible family members, based on each person’s loss, after notice and a hearing.

Does the book replace talking to a lawyer? No. It explains Michigan law in general terms, and every case turns on its own facts. Request a free case review to discuss yours.

Request your free copy

Complete the form to get The Ultimate Michigan Wrongful Death Lawsuit Handbook by email.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.