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Michigan Probate Court Directory: Addresses, Fees & Filing Info for 13 Counties
Which court, which office, what it costs, and whether you can e-file — collected from each county's own probate court pages so you do not have to hunt for them.
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Part of the Michigan Probate series
This is a county-by-county reference. For how selling a house through probate actually works, see our main Selling a House in Probate in Michigan guide.
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Where Do You File a Michigan Estate?
In Michigan, a decedent's estate is opened in the probate court of the county where the person lived (or, for a non-resident with Michigan property, where the property is). The rules are statewide, but each county runs its own court: its own address, hours, counter or drop box, and local add-on fees. This page pulls those details together for 13 counties.
Verify Before You Rely On This
Courts change addresses, fees, and filing procedures. Treat this as a starting point and call the court before you drive there or mail a check. Anything marked (not confirmed) means we could not verify it from an official court or county page. Researched October 2026.
Statewide Facts
What's the Same in Every County
$175Typical cost to open a decedent estate ($150 + $25 e-filing fee)
$53,000Small-estate limit for deaths on or after Jan. 1, 2026 (confirm before relying)
3 of 13Counties here on the statewide MiFILE probate list
- Opening feeThe statewide fee schedule sets $150 to commence an estate, plus a $25 statewide e-filing system fee, which counties generally publish as $175. Reopening a closed estate is $150. Later petitions and motions are generally $20. State fee schedule
- Inventory feeSeparate from the opening fee and based on the value of the estate (MCL 600.871). It is not waivable and is due before the final account or within a year of opening. State inventory fee calculator
- Small estatesTwo routes exist: a court petition (MCL 700.3982), which can reach real property, and an affidavit of a decedent's successor (MCL 700.3983), which is not filed with the court and applies only when there is no real property and 28 days have passed since death. The dollar limit adjusts annually; the figure above comes from county probate pages and should be confirmed.
- E-filingMichigan's statewide system is MiFILE. Of the 13 counties below, only Livingston, Oakland, and Ottawa appear on the statewide probate list as of March 2026. Other probate courts still accept paper, email, or drop-box filing.
- Self-helpMichigan Legal Help has plain-language guides and forms.
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Jump To Your County
Counties Covered
County Details
Probate Courts, County by County
Wayne County
Court & Address
Wayne County Probate Court — 1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone & Website
(313) 224-5706 — wcpc.us
How to File
No walk-in counter model: filings go by email, fax, drop box, or mail (8:00–4:00). Original wills must be physically delivered. Case initiation: probateservice@wcpc.us.
Fees
Decedent estate $175 plus inventory fee. Small estate $25 plus inventory fee and $12 certification. Reopen $150. Letters $12.
E-filing / Case Search
Not an e-filing (MiFILE) probate court. Case search: public.wcpc.us/eservices
Notes
Hearings are held by Zoom. Notices publish through Detroit Legal News. The court's own small-estate checklist cites an outdated limit, so confirm the current figure.
Sources: wcpc.us/contact, wcpc.us/fees
Oakland County
Court & Address
Oakland County Probate Court — 1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Dept 457, Pontiac, MI 48341
Phone & Website
248-858-0260 (estates: ProbateDE@oakgov.com) — oakgov.com/probate-court
How to File
E-filing is the default, with few exceptions. Original wills are deposited in person. Hours 8:30–4:30.
Fees
Formal petition $175; informal application $175. Small estate $25 plus gross-estate fee. Letters $12.
E-filing / Case Search
On MiFILE; mandatory for attorneys and other filers. Case search: Probate Access
Notes
County website is moving to oaklandcountymi.gov. One source suggested informal estates carry no fee; the county fee table shows $175.
Sources: oakgov.com/fees
Macomb County
Court & Address
Macomb County Probate Court — 40 N. Main, 5th floor (Area B counter), Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
Phone & Website
586-469-5290 — macombgov.org/probate-court
How to File
All new matters, including decedent estates, go to the Area B counter on the 5th floor. Mailed packets go to the same address. Two death certificate copies required (one redacted, one not).
Fees
Decedent estate $175 plus inventory fee (the $25 e-filing fee is included). Small estate $25 plus inventory fee. Letters $12.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list. Probate case search not confirmed.
Notes
Macomb County Self Help Center is in the Old County Building, Mt. Clemens.
Sources: macombgov.org/fees
Genesee County
Court & Address
Genesee County Probate Court — 900 S. Saginaw St, Room 502 (5th floor, west side), Flint, MI 48502
Phone & Website
(810) 257-3528 — geneseecountymi.gov
How to File
Register contact not confirmed.
Fees
County fee not confirmed. State baseline is $150 + $25 e-filing = $175.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list. Case search not confirmed.
Notes
Address and phone come from an older county page; verify before visiting. The county lists a probate fee page and an inventory-fee calculator.
Sources: geneseecountymi.gov
Washtenaw County
Court & Address
Washtenaw County Trial Court, probate division — 101 E. Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone & Website
Probate phone not confirmed from an official page. washtenaw.org/probate-court
How to File
Estates are handled as formal, informal, and small estates. Register contact not confirmed.
Fees
County fee amounts not confirmed. State baseline $175.
E-filing / Case Search
County e-filing page says e-filing is “coming.” Name search: washtenaw.org/name-search
Notes
The county page lists an inventory-fee calculator.
Livingston County
Court & Address
Livingston County Probate Court — Judicial Center, 204 S. Highlander Way, Suite 2, Howell, MI 48843
Phone & Website
(517) 546-3750 — livgov.com/courts/probate
How to File
Accepts a secure mailbox, email (probatecourt@livgov.com), and fax (517) 552-2510. Phone payment is available for faxed or emailed filings.
Fees
Informal (unsupervised) $175 plus $13 certified letters. Copies $1.50/page. Formal and inventory fees not confirmed on the page.
E-filing / Case Search
On MiFILE (attorneys required; others optional). Case search not confirmed.
Notes
The court's own page had announced MiFILE for Nov. 2025; the state list now shows it live.
Sources: livgov.com
Ingham County
Court & Address
Ingham County Probate Court — Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 W. Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48933
Phone & Website
(517) 483-6300 — pr.ingham.org
How to File
In-person filings are accepted only at the Probate Register's Office. Public hours 8:30–4:30.
Fees
Opening an estate $175. Small estate $25 plus $14.50 certified copy plus inventory fee. Letters $13.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list. Case search not confirmed.
Notes
An older Ingham fee schedule marked “until 12-31-23” is outdated; use the current decedent-estate and small-estate pages.
Eaton County
Court & Address
Eaton County Probate Court — 1045 Independence Blvd, Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone & Website
517-543-4185 — eatoncounty.org/probate-court
How to File
Informal filings can be emailed as PDFs to probateoffice@eatoncounty.org. Hours 8:30–12:00 and 1:00–4:30.
Fees
Open an estate $175. Reopen $150. Small estate $25 plus inventory fee and $12 certified copy. Certified copies $12 per set.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list; online payment page available. Case search not confirmed.
Notes
Informal estates have no hearing and are run by the Register. The county's published register name was dated; call to confirm.
Monroe County
Court & Address
Monroe County Probate Court — Monroe County Courthouse, 125 E. Second St, Monroe, MI 48161
Phone & Website
734-240-7346 — co.monroe.mi.us/probate-court
How to File
Probate Register and Chief Deputy Probate Register are listed in the county staff directory. A drop box is at the courthouse entrance.
Fees
County opening fee not confirmed. State baseline $175. The county posts an inventory-fee calculator.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list. Case search not confirmed.
Notes
The county's Estates page notes an attorney is not legally required.
Sources: co.monroe.mi.us, co.monroe.mi.us/estates
Ottawa County
Court & Address
Ottawa County Probate Court — 414 Washington Ave, Room 200, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Phone & Website
(616) 786-4110 — miottawa.org/courts/probate
How to File
Email probatecourt@miottawa.org. Closed 12–1 daily. The state MiFILE list shows help at the West Olive office while the county page lists Grand Haven; check which office to use.
Fees
$175 for a supervised petition ($150 + $25 e-fee).
E-filing / Case Search
On MiFILE (attorneys required). Case search not confirmed.
Notes
Ottawa County Legal Self Help Center: 414 Washington Ave, Grand Haven. Fax (616) 738-4624.
Sources: miottawa.org/estate, miottawa.org/other
Kent County
Court & Address
Kent County Probate Court — Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone & Website
616-632-5440 — kentcountymi.gov/probate-court
How to File
Counter takes filings 9–4. Email probatecourt@kentcountymi.gov.
Fees
$187 for a formal or informal petition (includes one certified copy); small estate $37 plus inventory fee. Higher than the $175 most counties charge; confirm with the court.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list. Case search not confirmed.
Notes
Fee figures come from a county fee-schedule excerpt that did not fully load; verify before paying.
Sources: kentcountymi.gov
Allegan County
Court & Address
Allegan County Probate Court — 113 Chestnut St, Allegan, MI 49010
Phone & Website
(269) 673-0250 — allegancounty.org/probate-court
How to File
Accepts email and fax filing: probatecourt@allegancounty.org, fax (269) 686-5157. Fees are still due.
Fees
$175 for a formal or informal petition. Letters $12. Small estate $25 plus $12 certified plus inventory fee.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list. Case search not confirmed.
Notes
The county posts a fee schedule calculator. Older county pages list different officials; ignore them.
Sources: allegancounty.org, fee calculator
Jackson County
Court & Address
Jackson County Probate Court — 312 S. Jackson St, 1st floor, Jackson, MI 49201
Phone & Website
517-788-4290 — mijackson.org/probate-court
How to File
Probate window on the first floor. Hours 8:00–4:00, closed 11:30–12:00. Exact cash required for payments. Paper packets $2 at the window.
Fees
County opening fee not confirmed. State baseline $175. Accounts $20.
E-filing / Case Search
Not on the MiFILE probate list. The county points to the state case search at micourt.courts.michigan.gov.
Notes
The county posts an inventory-fee calculator.
Sources: mijackson.org, forms
Common Probate Filing Mistakes
- Filing in the wrong county — the decedent's county of residence generally controls.
- Showing up in person at a court that only accepts email, fax, or drop-box filings.
- Forgetting the inventory fee, which is separate from the opening fee and is not waivable.
- Assuming the small-estate limit still matches a number printed on an old court checklist.
- Selling or listing the house before anyone has legal authority to sign for the estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county's probate court do I use? ⌄
Generally the county where the person lived at death. If they were not a Michigan resident but owned Michigan property, the county where the property sits.
Do I need a lawyer to open an estate? ⌄
Not always. Michigan allows self-help filing for many estates, and some counties say so directly. A lawyer is wise for contested estates, real property questions, or complicated family situations.
Can I sell the house before probate is finished? ⌄
You generally need legal authority to sell. That usually comes from Letters of Authority issued by the probate court. See our main probate guide for how sales work during an estate.
What is the small-estate limit? ⌄
For deaths on or after January 1, 2026, county probate pages cite $53,000. The figure adjusts annually, so confirm it with your court. Real property usually changes which route applies.
A listing says “not confirmed.” Why include it? ⌄
Because a clearly marked gap is more useful than a guess. It tells you which office to call.
Related Michigan Probate Guides
- Selling a House in Probate in Michigan (main guide)
- Michigan Property Tax Hardship Exemption by County
- Michigan Foreclosure Process by County
- Michigan Home Selling Resources
Selling a House Through an Estate? Let's Talk.
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