How Does the Michigan Probate Court Work?

The Michigan Probate Court is established under Article VI § 15 as one of the state’s three trial courts. The court has limited jurisdiction, hearing all civil cases regarding disputes in probate matters. There are 78 Probate Courts in the state, one located in each county. Five of these courts, however, serve two counties each. The court’s procedures are regulated by the Michigan Supreme Court as directed in Chapter 5, Michigan Court Rules (MCR), and the Local Court Rules - Probate Courts.

Probate matters that are under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Probate Court include:

• Wills
• Administration of decedent estates and trusts
• Guardianship
• Conservatorship
• Mental illness cases
• Developmental disability cases

A civil case that falls under the probate Court’s authority must be filed in the county where the probate issue arises. The court generally follows the same methods as civil cases in the state’s other trial courts. As usual, a plaintiff files a complaint, and a defendant answers the complaint (or risks facing a default judgment). Consequently, the case may proceed to pre-trial and be settled by mediation or other conflict-resolution methods or proceed to trial.

Detailed information on how the Probate Courts conduct trial proceedings may be read in the Civil Rules of Procedure. After a trial, which may be by judge or jury, and after judgment has been entered, an individual who believes an error may have occurred the court’s final decision may appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Individuals may appeal by right, as given by law (MCR 5.801), or by leave, with the Court of Appeals’ permission.

All trial court judges in Michigan are elected at non-partisan elections and serve 6-year terms including the Michigan Probate Court judges. Qualifications for a judgeship in the courts are by the same requirements as the Circuit and District Courts. Prospective candidates are required to be under the age of 70, be registered and qualified voters, be licensed to practice law in Michigan, and must have been practicing law for a minimum of 5 years in the state. Judges are also expected to comply with the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct or face penalties such as suspension, removal, or retirement.

Cases handled by the Michigan Probate Court do not have a specific time limit as several factors may lengthen the time frame from filing to disposition. These factors may include the time taken to locate will or heirs, creditor disputes, contests by heirs or their representatives, missed deadlines, and assets appraisals. As a result of these factors, probate cases may take months or years to finalize.

Docket information for the Michigan Probate Courts may be viewed by clicking the docket search button or link on the courts’ websites. The courts’ websites may be obtained through the Trial Court Directory. Note, however, that some courts, including the Oakland, Cass, Livingston, and Newaygo County Probate Courts use the MiCourt platform to host their dockets while others, including the Wayne County Probate Courts, provide individual websites. Parties who do not have login details (OneCourtID email address and password) for MiCourt are advised to visit the respective court websites and click on the provided links to view court dockets. Case information obtainable from these dockets includes the party’s name, time of the hearing, hearing information(courtroom locations, attorney), and case number.

The Michigan Probate Courts hear probate matters and administer unbiased judgments at the following court locations:

Alcona County Probate Court
P.O. Box 385
Alcona County Building
106 Fifth Street
Harrisville, MI 48740
Phone: (989) 724–9490

Alger County
Alger/Schoolcraft Probate District 5
Alger County Courthouse Complex
101 Court Street
Munising, MI 49862
Phone: (906) 387–2080

Allegan County
Allegan County Probate Court
Allegan County Building
113 Chestnut Street
Allegan, MI 49010
Phone: (269) 673–0250

Alpena County
Alpena County Probate Court
719 West Chisholm Street
Alpena, MI 49707
Phone: (989) 354–9650

Antrim County
Antrim County Probate Court
P.O. Box 130
Antrim County Building
205 Cayuga
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533–6681

Arenac County
Arenac County Probate Court
P.O. Box 666
Arenac County Courthouse
120 North Grove
Standish, MI 48658
Phone: (989) 846–6941

Baraga County
Baraga County Probate Court
Baraga County Courthouse
16 N. Third
L’Anse, MI 49946
Phone: (906) 524–6390

Barry County
Barry County Probate Court
Barry County Courts & Law Building
206 West Court Street
Hastings, MI 49058
Phone: (269) 945–1390

Bay County
Bay County Probate Court
1230 Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: (989) 895–4205

Benzie County
Benzie County Probate Court
P.O. Box 377
Benzie County Gov’t Center
448 Court Place
Beulah, MI 49617
Phone: (231) 882–9675

Berrien County
Berrien County Probate Court
Berrien County Courthouse
811 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: (269) 983–7111 ex. 8365

Branch County
Branch County Probate Court
Branch County Courthouse
31 Division Street
Coldwater, MI 49036
Phone: (517) 279–4318

Calhoun County
Calhoun County Probate Court
Calhoun County Justice Center
161 East Michigan Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49014
Phone: (269) 969–6794

Cass County
Cass County Probate Court
Law and Courts Building
60296 M–62
Cassopolis, MI 49031
Phone: (269) 445–4454

Charlevoix County
Charlevoix/Emmet Probate District 7
Charlevoix County Building
301 State Street
Charlevoix, MI 49720
Phone: (231) 547–7214

Cheboygan County
Cheboygan County Probate Court
P.O. Box 70
Cheboygan County Courthouse
870 South Main Street
Cheboygan, MI 49721
Phone: (231) 627–8823

Chippewa County
Chippewa County Probate Court
Chippewa County Courthouse
319 Court Street
Sault Suite
Marie, MI 49783
Phone: (906) 635–6314

Clare County
Clare/Gladwin Probate District 17
P.O. Box 96
Clare County Courthouse
225 West Main Street
Harrison, MI 48625
Phone: (989) 539–7109

Clinton County
Clinton County Probate Court
P.O. Box 430
Clinton County Courthouse
100 East State Street
St. Johns, MI 48879
Phone: (989) 224–5190

Crawford County
Crawford County Probate Court
Crawford County Courthouse
200 West Michigan Avenue
Grayling, MI 49738
Phone: (989) 344–3237

Delta County
Delta County Probate Court
Delta County Building
310 Ludington Street
Escanaba, MI 49829
Phone: (906) 789–5114

Dickinson County
Dickinson County Probate Court
P.O. Box 609
Dickinson County Courthouse
705 South Stephenson
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
Phone: (906) 774–1555

Eaton County
Eaton County Probate Court
Eaton County Courthouse
1045 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: (517) 543–7500

Emmet County
Emmet/Charlevoix Probate District 7
Emmet County Courthouse
200 Division Street
Petoskey, MI 49770
Phone: (231) 348–1765

Genessee County
Genesee County Probate Court
900 South Saginaw Street
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 257–3528

Gladwin County
Gladwin/Clare Probate District 17
Gladwin County Courthouse
401 West Cedar Street
Gladwin, MI 48624
Phone: (989) 426–7451

Gogebic County
Gogebic County Probate Court
Gogebic County Courthouse
200 North Moore Street
Bessemer, MI 49911
Phone: (906) 667–0421

Grande Traverse County
Grand Traverse County Probate Court
Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice
280 Washington Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: (231) 922–6862

Gratiot County
Gratiot County Probate Court
P.O. Box 217
Gratiot County Courthouse
214 East Center Street
Ithaca, MI 48847
Phone: (989) 875–5231

Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County Probate Court
Hillsdale County Courthouse
29 North Howell
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone: (517) 437–4643

Houghton County
Houghton County Probate Court
Houghton County Courthouse
401 East Houghton Avenue
Houghton, MI 49931
Phone: (906) 482–3120

Huron County
Huron County Probate Court
Huron County Building
250 East Huron Avenue
Bad Axe, MI 48413
Phone: (989) 269–9944

Ingham County
Ingham County Probate Court
Veterans Memorial Courthouse
313 West Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 483–6300

Ionia County
Ionia County Probate Court
Ionia County Courthouse
100 West Main Street
Ionia, MI 48846
Phone: (616) 527–5326

Iosco County
Iosco County Probate Court
P.O. Box 609
Iosco County Building
422 Lake
Tawas City, MI 48764
Phone: (989) 362–3991

Iron County
Iron County Probate Court
Iron County Courthouse
2 South Sixth Street
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
Phone: (906) 875–0659

Isabella County
Isabella County Probate Court
Isabella County Building
300 North Main Street
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 772–0911

Jackson County
Jackson County Probate Court
312 South Jackson Street
Jackson, MI 49201
Phone: (517) 788–4290

Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County Probate Court
1536 Gull Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Phone: (269) 383–8666

Kalkaska County
Kalkaska County Probate Court
Kalkaska County Governmental Center
605 North Birch Street
Kalkaska, MI 49646
Phone: (231) 258–3330

Kent County
Kent County Probate Court
Kent County Courthouse
180 Ottawa Avenue, NorthWest
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 632–5440

Keweenaw County
Keweenaw County Probate Court
Keweenaw County Courthouse
5095 Fourth Street
Eagle River, MI 49950
Phone: 906) 337–1927

Lake County
Lake County Probate Court
800 Tenth Street
Baldwin, MI 49304
Phone: (231) 745–4614

Lapeer County
Lapeer County Probate Court
Lapeer County Complex
255 Clay Street
Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667–0261

Leelanau County
Leelanau County Probate Court
8527 East Government Center Drive
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
Phone: (231) 256–9803

Lenawee County
Lenawee County Probate Court
Rex B Martin Judicial Building
425 North Main Street
Adrian, MI 49221
Phone: (517) 264–4614

Livingston County
Livingston County Probate Court
Livingston County Courthouse
204 South Highlander Way
Howell, MI 48843
Phone: (517) 546–3750

Luce County
Luce/Mackinac Probate District 6
Luce County Government Building
407 West Harrie Street
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: (906) 293–5601

Mackinac County
Mackinac/Luce Probate District 6
Mackinac County Courthouse
100 South Marley Street
St. Ignace, MI 49781
Phone: (906) 643–7303

Macomb County
Macomb County Probate Court
40 North Main Street
Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
Phone: (586) 469–5290|(586) 469–5240

Manistee County
Manistee County Probate Court
Manistee County Courthouse
415 Third Street
Manistee, MI 49660
Phone: (231) 723–3261

Marquette County
Marquette County Probate Court
Marquette County Courthouse Annex
234 West Baraga
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906) 225–8300

Mason County
Mason County Probate Court
Mason County Courthouse
304 East Ludington Avenue
Ludington, MI 49431
Phone: (231) 843–8666

Mecosta County
Mecosta/Osceola Probate District 18
P.O. Box 820
Mecosta County Courthouse
400 Elm Street
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: (231) 592–0136

Menominee County
Menominee County Probate Court
Menominee County Courthouse
839 10th Avenue
Menominee, MI 49858
Phone: 906) 863–2634

Midland County
Midland County Probate Court
Midland County Courthouse
301 West Main Street
Midland, MI 48640
Phone: (989) 832–6880

Missaukee County
Missaukee County Probate Court
P.O. Box 800
Missaukee County Courthouse
111 South Canal Street
Lake City, MI 49651
Phone: (231) 839–4967

Monroe County
Monroe County Probate Court
Monroe County Courthouse
106 East First Street
Monroe, MI 48161
Phone: (734) 240–7346

Monroe County Probate Court
Monroe County Youth Center
3600 South Custer Road
Monroe, MI 48161
Phone: (734) 240–7160

Montcalm County
Montcalm County Probate Court
Montcalm County Courthouse
625 North State Street
Stanton, MI 48888
Phone: (989) 831–7316

Montmorency County
Montmorency County Probate Court
P.O. Box 789
Montmorency County Courthouse
M–32
Atlanta, MI 49709
Phone: (989) 785–8064

Muskegon County
Muskegon County Probate Court
Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice
990 Terrace Street
Muskegon, MI 49442
Phone: (231) 724–6241

Newaygo County
Newaygo County Probate Court
P.O. Box 885
1092 Newell Street
White Cloud, MI 49349
Phone: (231) 689–7270

Oakland County
Oakland County Probate Court
Courthouse Tower
1200 North Telegraph Road
Pontiac, MI 48341
Phone: (248) 858–0260

Oceana County
Oceana County Probate Court
Oceana County Building
100 South State Street
Hart, MI 49420
Phone: (231) 873–3666

Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County Probate Court
Ogemaw County Building
806 West Houghton Avenue
West Branch, MI 48661
Phone: (989) 345–0145

Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County Probate Court
Ontonagon County Courthouse
725 Greenland Road
Ontonagon, MI 49953
Phone: (906) 884–4117

Osceola County
Osceola/Mecosta Probate District 18
410 West Upton Avenue
Reed City, MI 49677
Phone: (231) 832–6125

Oscoda County
Oscoda County Probate Court
311 Morenci Avenue
Mio, MI 48647

Otsego County
Otsego County Probate Court
Alpine Center
800 Livingston Boulevard
Gaylord, MI 49735
Phone: (989) 731–0204

Ottawa County
Ottawa County Probate Court
12120 Fillmore Street
West Olive, MI 49460
Phone: (616) 786–4110

Presque Isle County
Presque Isle County Probate Court
P.O. Box 110
Presque Isle County Courthouse
151 East Huron Avenue
Rogers City, MI 49779
Phone: (989) 734–3268

Roscommon County
Roscommon County Probate Court
Roscommon County Building
500 Lake Street
Roscommon, MI 48653
Phone: (989) 275–5221

Saginaw County
Saginaw County Probate Court
Saginaw County Building
111 South Michigan
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone: (989) 790–5320

St. Clair County
St. Clair County Probate Court
St. Clair County Building
201 McMorran Boulevard
Port Huron, MI 48060
Phone: (810) 985–2066

St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County Probate Court
P.O. Box 190
St. Joseph County Courthouse
125 West Main
Centreville, MI 49032
Phone: (269) 467–5538

Sanilac County
Sanilac County Probate Court
Sanilac County Courthouse
60 West Sanilac Avenue
Sandusky, MI 48471
Phone: (810) 648–3221

Schoolcraft County
Schoolcraft/Alger Probate District 5
Schoolcraft County Courthouse
300 Walnut Street
Manistique, MI 49854
Phone: (906) 341–3641

Shiawassee County
Shiawassee County Probate Court
Shiawassee County Courts Building
110 East Mack Street
Corunna, MI 48817
Phone: (989) 743–2211

Tuscola County
Tuscola County Probate Court
Tuscola County Courthouse
440 North State Street
Caro, MI 48723
Phone: (989) 672–3850

Van Buren County
Van Buren County Probate Court
Van Buren County Courthouse Annex, 2nd Floor
212 Paw Paw Street
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: (269) 657–8225

Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County Probate Court
P.O. Box 8645
Washtenaw County Courthouse
101 East Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone: (734) 222–3072

Wayne County
Wayne County Probate Court
1307 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224–5706

Wexford County
Wexford County Probate Court
Wexford County Courthouse
437 East Division Street
Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: (231) 779–9510