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Barry County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Barry County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Barry County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Barry County Courts & Law Building, 206 W. Court St., Ste. 302, Hastings, MI 49058 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is listed for the Probate Court. |
| Phone | (269) 945-1390 |
| Fax | (269) 948-3322 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., closed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. |
| Local filing note | Valid photo ID is required for all petitioners. |
| Filing fee | To open a decedent estate in 2026, $175.00, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 plus $25.00 under MCL 600.1986, plus an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A 2026 petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No Barry-specific decedent estate cover sheet or local form is published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing | Barry County Probate Court is not on MiFILE for probate. The county's MiFILE page is for 56-B District Court civil cases, not probate matters. |
| Case search | No online probate case search is published for Barry County Probate Court. Call (269) 945-1390 about a filed probate case. |
| Online payment | No probate-specific online payment option is listed on the county payment page. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested decedent estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court controls the hearing format for each case. |
| Website | Barry County Probate Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Barry County, make a practical list of the assets, debts, titled property, beneficiary designations and expected creditors. The right filing depends on what must pass through the estate, whether real property is involved and whether someone needs letters of authority to act for the estate.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 institutions, then organizes what you find into the information needed for Michigan probate forms, attorney review and next steps at the Barry County Probate Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Barry County Probate Court in Hastings serves probate matters venued in Barry County. File at the probate counter in the Barry County Courts & Law Building, 206 W. Court St., Ste. 302, Hastings, MI 49058.
Michigan venue for the first informal or formal probate proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, a county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Michigan path before filing. If the estate needs a personal representative, use the informal or formal SCAO opening forms. If the estate may qualify for assignment of property for a 2026 death, review the $53,000 limit under MCL 700.3982. If the estate may qualify for transfer by affidavit for a 2026 death, review the $53,000 limit under MCL 700.3983.
- Prepare the statewide SCAO forms for the chosen path. Barry County Probate Court does not publish a Barry-specific decedent estate cover sheet or local probate form.
- File at the Barry County Courts & Law Building, 206 W. Court St., Ste. 302, Hastings, MI 49058. Go during the court's public hours and avoid the 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. lunch closure.
- Bring valid photo ID if you are the petitioner. Barry County Probate Court requires valid photo ID for all petitioners.
- Pay the required court cost. To open a decedent estate in 2026, the cost is $175.00, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 and $25.00 under MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A 2026 assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee.
- Use paper filing for Barry probate matters unless the court gives you a different instruction in your case. Barry County Probate Court is not on MiFILE for probate, and the county's MiFILE information applies to 56-B District Court civil cases.
- Give notice as required by the form, statute or court order. For informal probate, Michigan requires written information of the probate to be given to interested persons within 28 days after informal probate is granted (MCL 700.3306).
- If the court sets a hearing, follow the notice you receive. Barry County Probate Court does not list a fixed probate hearing day for decedent estates. Uncontested decedent estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court may require a different format.
- After appointment, obtain certified letters of authority for the personal representative if needed. Certified copies in 2026 cost $10.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, handles creditor notice, files inventory information, pays the inventory fee, distributes property and closes the estate using the appropriate Michigan closing procedure.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Barry County
Barry County Probate Court uses the statewide Michigan SCAO probate forms and does not publish a Barry-specific decedent estate cover sheet, checklist or local form. For an informal estate, the usual opening form is PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. For a formal estate, the usual opening form is PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative.
For a 2026 assignment of property under MCL 700.3982, use PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment, and file it with the court. Barry's own information also notes that a death certificate and funeral-expense receipts are part of that filing. For a 2026 transfer by affidavit under MCL 700.3983, use PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent, which is presented to the asset holder rather than filed with the court.
Find the statewide form set at the SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms index. Do not put Social Security numbers or financial account numbers on public PC forms. Use Michigan's protected personal identifying information forms when needed.
Local nuance
Barry County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Lunch closure | The probate office is closed from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Plan filings, payment questions and pickup of certified copies outside that hour. |
| Photo ID for petitioners | Bring valid photo ID if you are the petitioner. The court posts this requirement for all petitioners. |
| No probate MiFILE | Do not use the county's 56-B District Court MiFILE page for a probate estate. Barry County Probate Court is not on MiFILE for probate matters. |
| No online probate case search | Barry publishes online search links for other courts, but not for probate. Call the Probate Court at (269) 945-1390 about a filed probate case. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled before filing. If the home passes outside probate, the Barry filing may focus on remaining probate assets. If the estate still needs a personal representative, file the appropriate SCAO opening forms at the Hastings probate counter and bring valid photo ID. | Sunset helps identify accounts, confirm which assets may need probate and organize the estate settlement packet before the spouse goes to the Barry County Probate Court. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Review whether assignment of property or transfer by affidavit fits the 2026 $53,000 limit under MCL 700.3982 or MCL 700.3983. If PC 556 is used, file by paper with Barry County Probate Court and plan around the lunch closure. If PC 598 is used, present it to the asset holder instead of filing it with the court. | Sunset helps gather institution details, prepare the right small-estate materials and flag when travel can be avoided by mailing or by using an affidavit path that does not require a court filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a home must be sold through the estate, a personal representative may need letters of authority from Barry County Probate Court. A formal proceeding may be needed if heirs disagree, title is unclear or a judge must decide an issue. | Sunset helps build the asset list, identify documents needed for sale authority and connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney when the home sale makes legal help important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Barry County Probate Court | The local filing counter for Barry County estates. Staff cannot give legal advice. | 206 W. Court St., Ste. 302, Hastings, MI 49058. Phone (269) 945-1390. Fax (269) 948-3322. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., closed 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. |
| Inventory fee calculator | State tool for estimating the inventory fee owed under MCL 600.871. | Online calculator |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Statewide Michigan probate form index for decedent estate filings. | Online forms index |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate information and guided tools, including small-estate materials. | Online self-help resource |
| Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Battle Creek office | Free civil legal help for eligible residents of Barry, Branch and Calhoun counties. Ask intake whether an estate question fits the services available. | 123 West Territorial Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015. Phone (269) 965-3951. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Michigan probate attorney for a Barry County estate when real property must be sold or retitled through the estate, the estate exceeds the small-estate options, heirs disagree, a will is challenged, creditors are active or a formal proceeding before a judge is needed. Sunset connects the family to a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property that may affect estate settlement in Barry County.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the asset list and family information into an organized probate packet, including the information needed for Michigan SCAO forms and the Barry County Probate Court filing counter.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate involves a home sale, a dispute, creditor issues or a formal court proceeding, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The platform helps organize the work, reduce uncertainty and make the next estate settlement step clearer before anyone files in Hastings.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Barry County?
File Barry County probate papers at Barry County Probate Court, Barry County Courts & Law Building, 206 W. Court St., Ste. 302, Hastings, MI 49058. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and closes for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Do I need photo ID to file as a petitioner in Barry County Probate Court?
Yes. Barry County Probate Court states that valid photo ID is required for all petitioners. Bring ID when you file or appear at the probate counter.
Can I e-file a Barry County probate case through MiFILE?
No. Barry County Probate Court is not on MiFILE for probate. Barry County's MiFILE information applies to 56-B District Court civil cases, not decedent estate filings in the Probate Court.
Can I look up a Barry County probate case online?
No online probate case search is published for Barry County Probate Court. Call the Probate Court at (269) 945-1390 to ask about a filed probate case.
Does Barry County have its own probate forms?
No Barry-specific decedent estate form or cover sheet is published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms, including PC 558 for informal probate, PC 559 for formal probate, PC 556 for assignment of property and PC 598 for transfer by affidavit.
How much does it cost to open probate in Barry County in 2026?
Opening a decedent estate in 2026 costs $175.00, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 plus $25.00 under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A 2026 assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee.
Are Barry County probate hearings remote?
Barry County Probate Court does not publish a separate decedent estate remote-hearing rule. Under Michigan court rules, uncontested decedent estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court decides the format for each hearing.
Do I have to travel to Hastings for every probate step?
Not necessarily. Some steps may be handled by mail, by asset-holder affidavit or by a hearing format set by the court, depending on the case. Because Barry County Probate Court is not on MiFILE for probate and does not publish an online probate case search, call (269) 945-1390 before traveling if you need to ask how to submit a particular paper or check a case status.
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.