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Crawford County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Crawford County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Crawford County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Crawford County Building, 200 W. Michigan Ave., Grayling, MI 49738 |
| Mailing address | No separate probate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address. |
| Probate register phone | (989) 344-3237 |
| Fax | (989) 348-8529 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the fee under MCL 600.880 plus the electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Local forms | No Crawford probate-specific estate cover sheet or checklist is published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Crawford County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. File at the probate register's counter, or call (989) 344-3237 before relying on mail or another delivery method. |
| Case search | Crawford County's trial-court administrator publishes a probate-specific MiCOURT search for court code P20: https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P20. MiCOURT requires accepting its terms before searching. |
| Remote appearance | No Crawford estate-hearing video instructions are published. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, unless the court requires an in-person appearance. |
| Website | https://www.crawfordco.org/offices-departments/courts/probate-matters/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Crawford County, list the assets, debts, titled property, beneficiary designations, and any accounts that may pass outside probate. Estate settlement is much easier when you know whether the Probate Court must appoint a personal representative or whether a smaller Michigan procedure may fit.
Sunset's asset discovery can search more than 2,300 financial institutions, helping families find accounts before they file in Grayling. That inventory of assets and liabilities also helps you decide which SCAO forms belong in the Crawford County packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Crawford County has its own Probate Court at the Crawford County Building in Grayling. It is not one of Michigan's two-county probate districts, and there is no branch office listed for Crawford probate filings.
File the first probate proceeding in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, venue is in a Michigan county where the decedent had property (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the local filing office. Crawford estates are filed with the probate register at Crawford County Probate Court, Crawford County Building, 200 W. Michigan Ave., Grayling, MI 49738.
- Choose the correct Michigan probate path and forms. Use the statewide SCAO estate forms, such as PC 558 for informal probate, PC 559 for a formal petition, PC 556 for assignment of property, or PC 598 for transfer by affidavit when that non-court affidavit path fits.
- Prepare the opening packet. Include the will if there is one, the death certificate, testimony to identify heirs, acceptance of appointment if a personal representative is requested, and any required notice or waiver forms for the path you choose.
- File at the Crawford probate register's counter. Crawford County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. If you cannot appear in Grayling, call the probate register at (989) 344-3237 before sending anything by mail or another delivery method.
- Pay the court charges that apply. As of August 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. As of August 2026, an assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus the inventory fee.
- Give notice. Informal probate requires notice to interested persons after the probate register acts, and a personal representative must handle creditor notice under Michigan law.
- Handle hearing instructions. If a hearing is scheduled in Crawford County, the court's local page tells parties to call the probate register at (989) 344-3237 for instructions. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court can require an in-person appearance.
- Receive authority. Once the appointment is approved and the personal representative qualifies, the court issues letters of authority for the personal representative, the Michigan authority document used to collect assets, deal with institutions, and administer the estate.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, pays valid expenses and claims, files inventory information, distributes property, and closes by the Michigan closing method that fits the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Crawford County
Crawford County does not publish a probate-specific estate cover sheet, checklist, or local estate packet. Estate filings use Michigan's statewide SCAO-approved probate forms, and the Crawford probate page says forms for probate matters may be picked up at the court and filed with the Probate Court.
| Form or resource | Use in Crawford County |
|---|---|
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide form index for Crawford estate filings: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| PC 558 | Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. |
| PC 559 | Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative, Testate / Intestate. |
| PC 556 | Petition and Order for Assignment, filed with the Probate Court when assignment of property fits under MCL 700.3982. |
| PC 598 | Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent. This is the transfer by affidavit form under MCL 700.3983 and is presented to the asset holder, not filed with the court. |
| PC 572 | Letters of Authority for Personal Representative. |
| PC 577 | Inventory (Decedent Estate), used for inventory information and the inventory fee calculation. |
Local nuance
Crawford County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Use the probate fax number | The Crawford probate register's fax is (989) 348-8529. The separate (989) 344-3290 fax belongs to the 87-C District Court. |
| No MiFILE for Crawford probate | Crawford County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Start with the probate register's counter in Grayling, and call (989) 344-3237 before using another delivery method. |
| Probate-specific MiCOURT search | Crawford County's trial-court administrator publishes a probate-specific MiCOURT search for P20, separate from the circuit search. |
| Hearing instructions by phone | For a scheduled probate hearing, Crawford's court page directs parties to call the probate register at (989) 344-3237 for instructions. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Crawford County 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 Crawford estate filing may focus on assets that do not have a beneficiary or co-owner. If the home must pass through the estate, the probate register's counter in Grayling is the local filing point. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary designations, debts, and whether a personal representative will likely need letters of authority. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Check whether Michigan's assignment of property under MCL 700.3982 or transfer by affidavit under MCL 700.3983 fits. Crawford is not on MiFILE, so call the probate register before trying to handle a court filing from out of state. | Sunset can organize the asset list, prepare the right form packet, and help decide whether a local attorney should file or appear for you. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of estate real property often requires a personal representative with letters of authority. File the opening papers with Crawford County Probate Court in Grayling and use the probate-specific MiCOURT search to follow the case after filing. | Sunset helps turn scattered account and property information into an estate settlement plan, then connects the family with a vetted probate attorney when a sale or court order is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Crawford County Probate Court | The local court counter for Crawford estates. | Crawford County Building, 200 W. Michigan Ave., Grayling, MI 49738. Probate register: (989) 344-3237. Fax: (989) 348-8529. Website: https://www.crawfordco.org/offices-departments/courts/probate-matters/ |
| Probate Public Case Search, MiCOURT | Search Crawford probate case information after accepting MiCOURT's terms. | https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P20 |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Statewide probate forms used for Crawford estate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary calculator for the inventory fee owed by an estate. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language probate, informal probate, formal probate, and small-estate articles. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Gaylord office | Civil legal help for eligible residents in Crawford County and listed nearby counties. | 111 W Mitchell St., Ste. C, Gaylord, MI 49735. (989) 705-1067. Website: https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the estate includes real property to sell, family disagreement, creditor problems, a formal hearing, a will dispute, or uncertainty about whether a smaller Michigan procedure is available. An attorney can also help an out-of-county family handle a Crawford filing without repeated travel to Grayling. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families find bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, real estate, debts, and other assets before they choose a Crawford County probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the estate details into an organized probate packet using the Michigan SCAO forms that match the estate settlement path.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, hearing, or formal petition calls for legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the work, understand next steps, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Crawford County?
File Crawford County probate papers with the probate register at Crawford County Probate Court, Crawford County Building, 200 W. Michigan Ave., Grayling, MI 49738.
Is Crawford County Probate Court on MiFILE?
No. Crawford County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. File at the probate register's counter, or call (989) 344-3237 before relying on mail or another delivery method.
Can I look up a Crawford County probate case online?
Yes. Crawford County's trial-court administrator publishes a probate-specific MiCOURT search for court code P20 at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P20. MiCOURT requires accepting its terms before searching.
Does Crawford County have local probate forms?
No Crawford probate-specific estate cover sheet or checklist is published. Use the statewide SCAO estate forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
How much does it cost to open a Crawford County estate?
As of August 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 Michigan Judiciary's inventory fee calculator is at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/.
What is the Crawford County probate fax number?
The probate register's fax number is (989) 348-8529. Use that number for probate, not the fax number listed for the 87-C District Court.
Are Crawford County probate hearings remote?
No Crawford estate-hearing video instructions are published. Statewide, uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court can require an in-person appearance and will provide hearing instructions.
Do I have to travel to Grayling for Crawford County probate?
Maybe. Crawford County Probate Court is not on MiFILE, and the local court page does not publish a probate mail-in procedure. If you live outside the area, call the probate register at (989) 344-3237 before sending papers or planning travel.
Who do I call if I already have a scheduled Crawford probate hearing?
The Crawford court page directs people with scheduled probate hearings to call the probate register at (989) 344-3237 for instructions.
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.