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

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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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