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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
PO 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
PO Box 130
Antrim County Building
205 Cayuga
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: (231) 533–6681
Arenac County
Arenac County Probate Court
PO 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
PO 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
PO 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
PO Box 96
Clare County Courthouse
225 West Main Street
Harrison, MI 48625
Phone: (989) 539–7109
Clinton County
Clinton County Probate Court
PO 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
PO 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
PO 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
PO 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