Michael was born into the gens (clan) Szentemágócs, which possessed lands throughout Hungary, for instance in Baranya, Tolna, Szabolcs and Zemplén counties.
[1] Albert appears in contemporary records in 1264, when – as an influential local lord – mediated a dispute between the nobles of Gerenás in Tolna County and the Knights Hospitaller.
[2] In November 1291, Michael acted as ad-litem judge in a lawsuit between the Szakadáti family and the sons of Matthew Szentemágócs over the estate Bika in Baranya County.
[2] According to historian Attila Zsoldos, Michael held the dignity until late 1292, when Andrew III was liberated from the Kőszegis' captivity.
[3] Historian Tamás Kádár considered the 1291 single document styles Michael as palatine retrospectively, and he possibly held the dignity in the late 1280s (mostly 1288 or 1289), when the politically isolated Ladislaus IV of Hungary appointed officials from the minor nobility.