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Charlevoix County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Charlevoix County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Charlevoix County Probate Court, sitting in the 7th Probate District with Emmet County |
| Filing counter | Charlevoix County Building, 301 State St., 2nd floor, Charlevoix, MI 49720 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. The court publishes 301 State St., 2nd floor, Charlevoix, MI 49720. |
| Phone | (231) 547-7214 |
| Fax | No probate fax number is published. |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No lunch closure is published. |
| Opening fee | For 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the $150.00 fee under MCL 600.880 plus the $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Small-estate assignment fee | For 2026, a Petition and Order for Assignment costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee. |
| Local estate forms | No Charlevoix County estate packet is published. Charlevoix uses the statewide SCAO probate forms and publishes a local notice about MC 97 and MC 97a for protected personal identifying information. |
| MiFILE | Charlevoix County Probate Court is not listed on the statewide MiFILE probate court chart updated 03/17/26. |
| Case search | No online probate case search is published on Charlevoix County's probate pages. Call (231) 547-7214 about a file. |
| Remote appearance | Charlevoix publishes a Request to Appear by Zoom, Zoom instructions, a remote and in-person proceedings policy, and a Zoom exhibit policy. Video appearance is subject to the court's approval, and uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumptively eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407. |
| Court website | https://www.charlevoixcounty.org/the_7th_probate_court/index.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Charlevoix County, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses, and the people who may inherit. That asset picture determines whether estate settlement can stay small, whether a personal representative is needed, and which SCAO forms fit.
Sunset's estate settlement platform can search across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help locate accounts and assets before you choose a filing path. For Charlevoix County, that preparation is especially useful because the court publishes statewide forms, not a county estate packet that walks you through every asset category.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Charlevoix County estates are filed at the Charlevoix County Probate Court counter in the Charlevoix County Building, 301 State St., 2nd floor, Charlevoix. Charlevoix and Emmet share the 7th Probate District, but the filing counters remain separate. A Charlevoix County estate is opened in Charlevoix.
Michigan venue is still a county rule. The first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, in a county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, funeral and burial expenses, and interested persons so you can decide whether the estate needs full administration, assignment of property, transfer by affidavit, or another Michigan path.
- Choose the correct statewide SCAO forms. For an informal estate, the usual opening form is PC 558. For a formal estate, the usual opening form is PC 559. If an account number or other protected personal identifying information must be included, use MC 97 or MC 97a rather than putting that information on the public form.
- Bring the opening papers, a certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, and any required attachments to the probate register's counter at 301 State St., 2nd floor, Charlevoix. Charlevoix is not on MiFILE, and a Charlevoix estate is not filed at the Emmet County counter in Petoskey.
- Pay the current 2026 opening cost for a full decedent estate, $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, unless you are using a different Michigan procedure with its own statutory charge. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871.
- Give the notices required for the chosen procedure. On the informal track, the applicant must give written information of the probate within 28 days after informal probate is granted (MCL 700.3306).
- If a hearing is required, use the court's hearing notice for the date and appearance instructions. Charlevoix publishes a Request to Appear by Zoom and related Zoom materials, and uncontested decedent-estate matters are presumptively eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407.
- After appointment, obtain letters of authority for the personal representative. Those letters are the document banks, title companies, and other institutions usually ask to see before they will deal with the estate.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, publishing and mailing creditor notice, paying valid claims and expenses, filing the inventory information on time, paying the inventory fee, distributing property, and closing the estate through the proper SCAO closing form or court order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County uses the statewide SCAO probate form set. The county's forms page sends filers to the SCAO form categories and does not publish a separate Charlevoix County estate packet.
Charlevoix does publish an important local filing notice: since July 1, 2021, filings must not include protected personal identifying information on outdated public forms. Use MC 97 or MC 97a when protected information, such as an account number, must be supplied. The court also points to MCL 600.855, which requires use of SCAO-approved forms when one exists.
| Need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Informal estate opening | PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative |
| Formal estate opening | PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative |
| Assignment of property | PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment |
| Transfer by affidavit | PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent. This form is presented to the asset holder, not filed with the court. |
| Inventory | PC 577, Inventory, with the inventory fee calculated under MCL 600.871 |
| Protected personal identifying information | MC 97 or MC 97a |
Local nuance
Charlevoix County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Charlevoix filing |
|---|---|
| 7th Probate District | Charlevoix shares a probate judge with Emmet County, but each county keeps its own filing counter. File a Charlevoix County estate at 301 State St. in Charlevoix. |
| Personal identifying information notice | Charlevoix warns filers not to use outdated forms that place protected personal identifying information in the public filing. Use MC 97 or MC 97a when needed. |
| Remote materials | Charlevoix publishes a Request to Appear by Zoom, Zoom instructions, a remote and in-person proceedings policy, and a Zoom exhibit policy. A video appearance still depends on the court's approval and the hearing notice. |
| No MiFILE listing | Charlevoix County Probate Court is not on the statewide MiFILE probate court chart updated 03/17/26. |
| No published online case lookup | The county's probate pages do not publish an online probate case search. Call the probate court at (231) 547-7214 about a file. |
| Older dollar amounts on county pages | Use current statewide amounts, not older figures that may appear on county informational pages. For 2026 deaths, the assignment of property and transfer by affidavit figure is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2021 | Charlevoix County Probate Court states that it no longer accepts filings that include protected personal identifying information on outdated SCAO forms and directs filers to use MC 97 and MC 97a when needed. |
| March 17, 2026 | The statewide MiFILE probate court chart updated 03/17/26 does not list Charlevoix County Probate Court. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Charlevoix County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled and whether any solely owned assets still require probate. If a Charlevoix filing is needed, use the Charlevoix counter at 301 State St. and bring the original will if there is one. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare the estate settlement packet for the chosen Michigan path. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If there is no real property and the estate fits the 2026 transfer by affidavit amount of $53,000 under MCL 700.3983, PC 598 may avoid a court filing. If assignment of property is needed instead, the Charlevoix court filing uses PC 556 and the 2026 $53,000 amount under MCL 700.3982. | Sunset helps determine what assets exist, generate the right paperwork, and connect the family with a Michigan attorney if the out-of-state child needs local help. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Charlevoix County real property often requires a personal representative with letters of authority, so the family should expect a Charlevoix Probate Court filing rather than relying only on an affidavit. | Sunset helps gather account information, organize debts and title issues, and connect the parent with a vetted Michigan probate attorney for the real estate sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Website or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Charlevoix County Probate Court | The filing counter for Charlevoix County estate matters. | 301 State St., 2nd floor, Charlevoix, MI 49720. Phone (231) 547-7214. Email [email protected]. https://www.charlevoixcounty.org/the_7th_probate_court/index.php |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | The Michigan Judiciary's court directory listing for the Charlevoix probate court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide probate form index Charlevoix uses for estate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | The Michigan Judiciary tool for estimating the inventory fee owed under MCL 600.871. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Request to Appear by Zoom | Charlevoix's request form for asking to attend a hearing by video, subject to court approval. | https://charlevoixcountymi.documents-on-demand.com/document/da13b1f9-31f1-eb11-a346-000c29a59557/Request%20to%20Appear%20By%20Zoom |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small-estate information. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Gaylord office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents in its service area, including Charlevoix County. Ask at intake whether the estate question fits current priorities. | 111 W Mitchell St., Ste. C, Gaylord, MI 49735. Phone (989) 705-1067. https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with a Michigan probate attorney if Charlevoix County real property must be sold, title must be cleared, heirs disagree, a will is challenged, creditors are pressing claims, or the personal representative lives outside the area and cannot easily manage filings at the Charlevoix counter. Sunset connects families with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect the Charlevoix County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the asset list and family information into a practical probate packet using the Michigan SCAO forms that fit the chosen path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney who can advise on the Charlevoix filing, real estate, creditor issues, and closing.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for a Charlevoix County estate?
File at the Charlevoix County Probate Court counter in the Charlevoix County Building, 301 State St., 2nd floor, Charlevoix, MI 49720. Even though Charlevoix shares the 7th Probate District with Emmet County, a Charlevoix County estate is filed in Charlevoix.
Does Charlevoix County Probate Court use MiFILE?
No. Charlevoix County Probate Court is not listed on the statewide MiFILE probate court chart updated 03/17/26. Use the Charlevoix probate counter for the filing method the court accepts for your papers.
Is there an online Charlevoix County probate case search?
No online probate case search is published on Charlevoix County's probate pages. Call the probate court at (231) 547-7214 about a file.
Can I appear by Zoom in a Charlevoix County probate matter?
Charlevoix publishes a Request to Appear by Zoom, Zoom instructions, a remote and in-person proceedings policy, and a Zoom exhibit policy. A video appearance is subject to the court's approval. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumptively eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407.
What forms does Charlevoix County require for an estate?
Charlevoix uses the statewide SCAO probate forms. The county does not publish a separate estate packet. Charlevoix also warns filers to use MC 97 or MC 97a when protected personal identifying information must be supplied.
How much does it cost to open a Charlevoix County decedent estate?
For 2026, opening a full decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the $150.00 statutory fee under MCL 600.880 plus the $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871, which is calculated from the estate value.
Why do some Charlevoix County pages show different small-estate amounts?
Use the current statewide Michigan amounts. For a 2026 death, the amount for assignment of property and transfer by affidavit is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. If an informational page shows an older amount, use the current year-of-death figure from Michigan law.
Do I have to travel to Petoskey because Charlevoix shares a probate district with Emmet?
No. Charlevoix and Emmet share a probate judge, but not a filing counter. A Charlevoix County estate is filed in Charlevoix. If travel to the courthouse is difficult, call (231) 547-7214 and ask about the court's current filing and Zoom request procedures.
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.