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Benzie County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Benzie County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Government Center, Upper Level, 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617 |
| Mailing address | Same as courthouse address |
| Phone | (231) 882-9675. The court also publishes toll-free phone (800) 315-9852. |
| Fax | (231) 882-0022 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except major holidays. The court asks callers to call ahead to schedule a time for consultation. |
| Filing fee | For 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment uses the separate statewide small-estate fee. |
| Local forms | No Benzie County probate cover sheet, checklist or local estate packet is published. The court directs filers to the Michigan Courts forms site. |
| E-filing | Benzie County Probate Court is not listed on MiFILE. Use the local court's published filing location and ask the probate register how to submit papers if you cannot appear in Beulah. |
| Case lookup | MiCOURT case search for Benzie County Probate Court, public cases only: https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P10 |
| Remote appearance | No local Zoom or videoconference instructions are published on the court page. Statewide court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions when allowed under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407. |
| Online payment | The court publishes a GovPros probate payment link: https://pay.govpros.us/mi/benzie/probatecourt |
| Website | https://www.benzieco.gov/government/probate_court.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Benzie County, list the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, possible creditors and any real estate. The right local filing path depends less on family labels and more on what property needs a Michigan personal representative, whether the estate can use a small-estate option and whether anyone is likely to object.
Sunset can support estate settlement before the first court filing by helping families identify accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions. That asset picture helps you decide what to ask the Benzie County Probate Court for and what information belongs in the probate forms.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Benzie County Probate Court serves probate matters venued in Benzie County from the Government Center, Upper Level, 448 Court Place in Beulah. Benzie County is not part of a two-county probate district.
For a Michigan decedent estate, venue is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, venue may be in a county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the local court. For a Benzie County decedent or a nonresident decedent with property in Benzie County, start with Benzie County Probate Court at the Government Center, Upper Level, 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617.
- Choose the Michigan filing path. Use the statewide SCAO forms for the path that fits the estate, such as informal probate, formal probate, assignment of property or another Michigan procedure. Benzie County does not publish a county cover sheet or local estate packet.
- Prepare the opening papers. Informal proceedings generally use the application handled by the probate register, while formal proceedings go before a probate judge. If financial account numbers are needed, use Michigan's protected personal identifying information form rather than putting full account numbers on public probate forms.
- File with the Benzie County Probate Court. Benzie County Probate Court is not on MiFILE, so do not plan on MiFILE submission for this court. If you need time with court staff, call ahead because the court asks callers to schedule a time for consultation.
- Pay the required court costs. For 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, and the estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. The court also publishes a GovPros probate payment link.
- Give required notices. After appointment, the personal representative gives notices required by Michigan law, including notice to interested persons and creditor notice where the chosen procedure requires it.
- Follow the hearing instructions if a hearing is set. Benzie County does not publish a local hearing-day calendar for decedent estates. If the court sets a hearing, use the notice from the court for the date, time and appearance method.
- Ask about remote appearance if travel is difficult. Statewide rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions when allowed under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but Benzie County does not publish standing local Zoom instructions.
- Obtain letters of authority when appointment is granted. The personal representative uses certified letters of authority to deal with banks, title companies and other institutions.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory information on time, handle creditor issues, distribute property, keep receipts and use the proper Michigan closing procedure when estate settlement is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Benzie County
Benzie County Probate Court does not publish a county-specific probate cover sheet, checklist or local estate packet for decedent estates. Its probate page directs filers to the Michigan Courts forms site and says court personnel can provide forms and routine filing information but cannot give legal advice.
Michigan uses statewide SCAO probate forms. Common decedent-estate forms include PC 558 for informal probate or appointment, PC 559 for formal probate or appointment, PC 556 for assignment of property, PC 598 for transfer by affidavit, PC 565 for testimony to identify heirs, PC 571 for acceptance of appointment, PC 572 for letters of authority, PC 577 for the inventory and PC 591 for closing an unsupervised administration. Use the Michigan Courts forms index rather than a Benzie County packet: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/
Local nuance
Benzie County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Call-ahead consultation note | The court's page asks callers to call ahead to schedule a time for consultation. Treat that as a practical step before going to the Government Center for help with routine filing questions. |
| Not on MiFILE | Benzie County Probate Court is not listed on MiFILE, so local filing is not handled through MiFILE for this court. |
| MiCOURT public case lookup | The court links directly to MiCOURT for Benzie County Probate Court public cases at court code P10. |
| Online payment link | The court publishes a GovPros probate payment link for Benzie County Probate Court. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets, if any, actually need Benzie County Probate Court. A jointly owned home may not be the asset that drives the filing, but other accounts or property may still require a personal representative or a Michigan small-estate option. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize the asset list and prepare the probate packet for the Beulah court if a filing is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check whether a Michigan small-estate path fits before opening a full estate. Because Benzie County Probate Court is not on MiFILE, plan ahead for how to submit signed papers to the Beulah court if a court filing is required. | Sunset helps compare the asset list to the available Michigan paths and can help assemble the forms so an out-of-state family member is not starting from a blank packet. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home must be sold through the estate, a Benzie County filing may be needed so a personal representative has authority to work with the title company, buyer and creditors. | Sunset helps build the asset inventory, generate the probate paperwork and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal support. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Benzie County Probate Court | Local filing location, hours, phone numbers, case-search link, payment link and the court's call-ahead consultation note. | https://www.benzieco.gov/government/probate_court.php, (231) 882-9675, toll-free (800) 315-9852 |
| Michigan Courts SCAO forms | Statewide probate forms for decedent estates, including opening, inventory, notice and closing forms. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan Courts inventory fee calculator | Helps calculate the inventory fee owed under Michigan's statewide inventory-fee statute. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| MiCOURT Benzie County Probate Court case search | Public case lookup for Benzie County Probate Court. | https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P10 |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate information and guided tools, including small-estate and probate resources. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Traverse City office | Free civil legal help for eligible residents in Benzie County. Ask at intake whether your estate question fits the office's services. | 735 S. Garfield Ave., Ste. 120, Traverse City, MI 49686, (231) 941-0771, https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a probate attorney if there is a dispute over the will or heirs, real estate must be sold, creditors are difficult, family members disagree, a bond issue arises or you are unsure whether informal probate is safe. Benzie County Probate Court staff can provide forms and routine information, but they cannot give legal advice. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families build the asset list needed for estate settlement and probate paperwork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized Michigan probate packet, including the forms commonly used to start a Benzie County estate.
Find a local probate attorney. When a home sale, creditor issue, contested matter or formal court step needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Benzie County?
File with Benzie County Probate Court at the Government Center, Upper Level, 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617. The court asks callers to call ahead to schedule a time for consultation.
Is Benzie County Probate Court on MiFILE?
No. Benzie County Probate Court is not listed on MiFILE, so do not plan to submit Benzie probate filings through MiFILE.
Can I look up a Benzie County probate case online?
Yes. Benzie County Probate Court links to MiCOURT case search for public cases at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P10.
Does Benzie County have its own probate forms?
No county-specific probate cover sheet, checklist or local estate packet is published. Benzie County Probate Court directs filers to the Michigan Courts statewide probate forms site.
How much does it cost to open a Benzie County probate estate?
For 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. The inventory fee is based on the estate's inventory value.
Can I pay Benzie County Probate Court online?
The court publishes a GovPros probate payment link at https://pay.govpros.us/mi/benzie/probatecourt. Do not assume that online payment replaces filing the required probate papers.
Can I appear remotely for a Benzie County probate hearing?
Benzie County does not publish local Zoom instructions for decedent-estate hearings. Statewide rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions when allowed under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but follow the appearance instructions in the court notice.
Do I have to travel to Beulah if I live out of state?
Not always. Some matters can be handled without repeated travel, but Benzie County Probate Court is not on MiFILE and no local remote-hearing procedure is published on its probate page. Call the probate register before you file to ask how the court wants signed papers submitted and how any hearing will be handled.
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.