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Alger County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Alger County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Alger/Schoolcraft Probate District 5, Alger County probate counter |
| Courthouse address | Alger County Courthouse Complex, 101 Court Street, Munising, MI 49862 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address. |
| Phone | (906) 387-2080 |
| Fax | (906) 387-4134 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No separate probate counter hours or lunch closure are published. |
| Filing fee | In 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the probate filing fee under MCL 600.880 and the electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. In 2026, an assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus the inventory fee. |
| Local forms | The Alger court page does not publish a separate local decedent estate packet, cover sheet, or checklist. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms. |
| E-filing | MiFILE is live for Alger County Probate Court as PD5-1. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to use it. |
| Case search | No Alger County probate case lookup is published on the county court pages. Ask the probate register whether a specific estate can be viewed through MiCOURT or at the courthouse. |
| Remote appearance | No Alger-specific Zoom link or standing remote instructions are published. Uncontested decedent estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconference under MCR 5.140, subject to the court's instructions. |
| Online payment | The county payment page does not list a probate payment destination. |
| Website | https://www.algercounty.gov/courts/probate_court/index.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Alger County, identify the assets, debts, beneficiaries, and whether any property is already passing outside probate. That first inventory shapes whether you need a full estate, an assignment of property, or a non-court transfer by affidavit.
Sunset's estate settlement process can help organize the financial picture before you contact the Munising probate counter. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then helps turn that information into a probate-ready packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Alger County probate counter at the Alger County Courthouse Complex in Munising serves estates for people domiciled in Alger County, including Munising, Au Train, Chatham, Trenary, Grand Marais, and Wetmore. Alger is paired with Schoolcraft County in the 5th Probate District, but Alger filings stay in Munising.
Michigan venue for the first informal or formal probate proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a nonresident decedent, a Michigan county where the decedent left property (MCL 700.3201). For an Alger County decedent, file in Alger County, not at the Schoolcraft County courthouse in Manistique.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing path. For an informal estate, use PC 558. For a formal estate that needs a judge, use PC 559. For an assignment of property, use PC 556. Transfer by affidavit uses PC 598 and is presented to the asset holder rather than filed with the court.
- Prepare the opening packet. Typical Alger County estate filings use the statewide SCAO forms, including testimony to identify heirs, acceptance of appointment, and any bond or protected personal identifying information form that applies.
- File with the Alger probate register in Munising or through MiFILE if you are using e-filing. Attorneys must use MiFILE for Alger County Probate Court. Self-represented filers may file through MiFILE but are not required to do so.
- Pay the required court charges. In 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. In 2026, an assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus the inventory fee.
- Handle notices. If informal probate is granted, give the required written information to interested persons within 28 days (MCL 700.3306). If a personal representative is appointed, publish and send creditor notices as required by Michigan law.
- Attend any hearing if the court sets one. Informal appointments can be handled by the probate register when the papers are complete. Formal, contested, or judge-handled matters follow the court's hearing notice.
- Follow the remote appearance instructions in the notice. Uncontested decedent estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconference under MCR 5.140, but the court can require an in-person appearance under MCR 2.407.
- Obtain certified letters of authority if a personal representative is appointed. In 2026, certified copies cost $10.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer the estate. Collect assets, keep records, address creditor claims, distribute property, and file the inventory information within 91 days after letters of authority under MCR 5.307.
- Close the estate. When administration is complete, use the appropriate statewide closing form, such as PC 591 for unsupervised administration or PC 590 for a summary proceeding.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Alger County
Michigan uses statewide SCAO PC forms for decedent estates. The Alger court page does not publish a separate local decedent estate packet, cover sheet, or checklist. In an informal, unsupervised estate, the Probate Court may not require extra documents beyond those required by statute or court rule, except as allowed by MCR 5.307(E).
| Form | Use in Alger County |
|---|---|
| PC 558 | Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. This is the common starting form when the probate register can act without a judge. |
| PC 559 | Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. Use this when a formal court order is needed. |
| PC 556 | Petition and Order for Assignment. In 2026, this is the court-filed assignment of property path for qualifying estates under MCL 700.3982. |
| PC 598 | Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent. This transfer by affidavit is not filed with the Probate Court. |
| PC 565 | Testimony to Identify Heirs. |
| PC 571 | Acceptance of Appointment. |
| PC 572 | Letters of Authority for Personal Representative. |
| PC 577 | Inventory, due within 91 days after letters of authority under MCR 5.307. |
| MC 97 | Protected Personal Identifying Information, used when sensitive numbers must be supplied without placing them on the public form. |
Use the SCAO Estates, Trusts, and Miscellaneous Probate Forms index for the current versions of these forms.
Local nuance
Alger County-specific considerations
Alger County is part of the 5th Probate District with Schoolcraft County. The district structure means the counties share one probate judge, but Alger keeps its own courthouse filing counter and probate register in Munising.
Do not send an Alger County estate filing to Manistique just because Schoolcraft County is the district partner. Venue still follows the decedent's county of domicile under MCL 700.3201, so an Alger County estate starts at the Alger County Courthouse Complex.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Alger County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Confirm how title is held before filing. If the home passes outside probate, the Alger filing may focus on remaining probate assets. If an estate must be opened, file in Munising or through MiFILE if available to you. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues so the spouse can choose the right estate settlement path before preparing forms. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Check whether the estate can use transfer by affidavit or assignment of property. If a court filing is needed, use the Alger probate counter or MiFILE. Self-represented filers are not required to use MiFILE. | Sunset organizes asset information, creates a probate packet, and helps the child avoid unnecessary travel when filings can be prepared remotely. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of estate real property often requires authority from a personal representative. The parent should expect to open an estate in Alger County if the property is in the estate and cannot pass outside probate. | Sunset helps gather financial information, prepare the opening packet, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal guidance. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Alger County Probate Court | Local courthouse page for address, phone, fax, hours, and probate office information. | https://www.algercounty.gov/courts/probate_court/index.php, (906) 387-2080 |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State directory entry for the Alger/Schoolcraft Probate District 5 court location. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| SCAO Estates, Trusts, and Miscellaneous Probate Forms | Current statewide Michigan probate forms for decedent estates. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator | Calculates the inventory fee owed under MCL 600.871 using the estate's inventory value. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language probate information and guided help for small estate questions. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Marquette office | Legal aid office serving Alger County, along with Marquette, Dickinson, and Iron counties. | 2844 Venture Dr, Ste C, Marquette, MI 49855, (906) 228-5620, https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with a Michigan probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, creditors are active, the estate may need supervised administration, or you are unsure whether Alger County is the right venue. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help is the right next step.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets that may affect an Alger County probate filing.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to help assemble the statewide Michigan forms and supporting documents for the estate settlement path you are taking.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a real estate sale, contested proceedings, or court strategy, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize an estate, understand next steps, and move through probate with fewer missed tasks and less uncertainty.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for an Alger County resident?
File at the Alger County probate counter in the Alger County Courthouse Complex, 101 Court Street, Munising, MI 49862. Alger is in the 5th Probate District with Schoolcraft County, but an Alger County estate is filed in Munising under the Michigan venue rule (MCL 700.3201).
Is Alger County Probate Court on MiFILE?
Yes. Alger County Probate Court is live on MiFILE as PD5-1. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to use it.
Can I file paper probate documents in Alger County if I am representing myself?
Yes, self-represented filers are not required to use MiFILE in Alger County. You can use the Alger probate counter in Munising unless the court gives different instructions for your case.
How much does it cost to open probate in Alger County?
In 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the probate filing fee under MCL 600.880 and the electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871, which depends on the inventory value.
Does Alger County have its own probate forms?
The Alger court page does not publish a separate local decedent estate packet, cover sheet, or checklist. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms, including PC 558 for informal probate, PC 559 for formal probate, and PC 556 for assignment of property.
Can I look up an Alger County probate case online?
No Alger County probate case lookup is published on the county court pages. Ask the probate register whether the estate can be viewed through MiCOURT or at the courthouse.
Can an Alger County probate hearing be remote?
Uncontested decedent estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconference under MCR 5.140, but the court can require an in-person hearing under MCR 2.407. Alger County does not publish a standing Zoom link on its probate page, so follow the hearing notice or call the probate register.
Do I have to travel to Munising for every step?
Not always. Attorneys must use MiFILE, and self-represented filers may use MiFILE. Some matters may also be handled by mail, by e-filing, or through a remote hearing if the court allows it. For a specific estate, call the Alger probate register at (906) 387-2080 before making travel plans.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.