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Delta County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Delta County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Delta County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Delta County Building, 310 Ludington St., Suite 206, Escanaba, MI 49829 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address unless the court tells you otherwise. |
| Phone | (906) 789-5112. The Michigan Judiciary directory also lists (906) 789-5114, so call ahead if timing matters. |
| Fax | No probate fax number is published by the court. |
| Hours | Probate counter hours are not published on the court's probate page. Call before visiting. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent estate in 2026 costs $175.00, made up of $150.00 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. A petition for assignment in 2026 costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No Delta County probate cover sheet, checklist or local estate form is published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Delta County Probate Court is live on MiFILE. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to use it. |
| Case search | No online Delta County probate case lookup is published. Delta County Probate Court is not listed for probate case lookup in MiCOURT. |
| Remote appearance | No local estate-hearing page or standing video link is published. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, subject to MCR 2.407 and the court's instructions in the case. |
| Website | https://deltacountymi.gov/probate-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Delta County Probate Court, make a working list of the estate's assets, debts, title issues and known creditors. That first pass determines whether the estate settlement can stay on a small-estate path, needs informal probate through the probate register, or needs a formal hearing before the probate judge.
Sunset helps families start that inventory by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what it finds into a probate-ready estate settlement packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Delta County Probate Court serves Delta County from the Delta County Building in Escanaba. A Delta County estate is opened at the probate register's counter there, not in a neighboring county.
Michigan venue depends on the decedent, not on where a family member lives. The first informal or formal probate proceeding belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, in a Michigan county where the decedent left property (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct Michigan probate path and forms. For informal probate, the opening form is usually PC 558. For formal probate, use PC 559. For assignment of property for a 2026 death, use PC 556 if the estate fits the $53,000 limit under MCL 700.3982 and 700.3983. For transfer by affidavit under MCL 700.3983, PC 598 is presented to the asset holder and is not filed with the court.
- Prepare the filing packet with the will if there is one, the death certificate, the required SCAO forms, protected-personal-information form MC 97 when needed, and the names and addresses of interested persons.
- File with Delta County Probate Court at the Delta County Building in Escanaba. Attorneys must use MiFILE. A self-represented filer may use MiFILE but may also work through the court counter. Because the court does not publish detailed paper-filing instructions, call before mailing or visiting.
- Pay the 2026 opening cost when a full decedent estate is opened, $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986. If you file a 2026 petition for assignment instead, the petition cost is $25.00 under MCL 600.880. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871.
- Give required notices. In informal probate, written information of the probate must be given within 28 days after informal probate is granted (MCL 700.3306). After appointment, the personal representative publishes and sends creditor notices as required by MCL 700.3801.
- If the matter requires a hearing, wait for the court's notice. Delta County does not publish regular estate hearing days online. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, but MCR 2.407 lets the court decide how the hearing will be held and lets a participant ask to appear in person.
- After appointment and qualification, obtain certified letters of authority for the personal representative. In 2026, a certified copy costs $10.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer the estate. File the inventory information within 91 days after letters of authority issue, pay the inventory fee, handle creditor claims, distribute property, and close by the correct Michigan closing procedure when the estate is ready.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Delta County
Delta County Probate Court does not publish a local probate cover sheet, checklist or estate form packet. Michigan uses statewide SCAO probate forms, and those forms are the starting point for Delta County estate filings.
| Form | Use in Delta County |
|---|---|
| PC 558 | Application for informal probate and/or appointment of personal representative. |
| PC 559 | Petition for probate and/or appointment of personal representative in a formal proceeding. |
| PC 556 | Petition and order for assignment for a qualifying small estate under MCL 700.3982. |
| PC 598 | Affidavit of decedent's successor for delivery of certain assets owned by decedent. This is used for transfer by affidavit under MCL 700.3983 and is not filed with the court. |
| PC 572 | Letters of authority for personal representative, the authority document banks and title companies usually ask to see. |
| PC 577 | Inventory, due within 91 days after letters of authority issue under MCR 5.307. |
| PC 591 | Sworn statement to close unsupervised administration. |
| MC 97 | Protected personal identifying information form for sensitive numbers that should not appear on the public probate form. |
Find the SCAO forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
Local nuance
Delta County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Delta County filing |
|---|---|
| MiFILE court | Delta County Probate Court is live on MiFILE. Attorneys must use it. Self-represented filers may use it but are not required to use it. |
| No published probate hours | The court's probate page does not publish probate counter hours. Call before going to the Delta County Building. |
| No online probate case lookup | Delta County Probate Court is not listed for probate case lookup in MiCOURT. To check on an estate file, contact the court directly. |
| No online probate payment category | Delta County's online bill-pay page does not list Probate Court as a payment category. Plan to follow the court's payment instructions when you file. |
| No local probate forms | The court publishes no local estate cover sheet or checklist. Use the statewide SCAO forms and follow any case-specific instruction from the probate register. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Delta County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled and whether anything actually needs probate. If estate assets still need a personal representative, file with Delta County Probate Court in Escanaba. A spouse may also need advice about Michigan spouse and family protections before distributions are made. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues and debts so the spouse can see whether probate is needed and what to bring to the probate register. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If there is no Michigan real property and the estate fits the $53,000 limit for a 2026 death, transfer by affidavit under MCL 700.3983 may avoid a court filing. If assignment of property is the better fit, file PC 556 with Delta County Probate Court under MCL 700.3982. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps choose the right document path, and prepares a packet the child can review before using MiFILE or contacting the court. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Delta County real property commonly requires full probate authority if the property must pass through the estate. The parent should expect to seek appointment as personal representative and obtain letters of authority before signing sale papers. | Sunset helps collect account information, build the inventory, generate forms, and connect the family with a Michigan probate attorney when a home sale or title problem makes legal help important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Delta County Probate Court | The filing office for Delta County estates and the place to ask about current counter hours, payment instructions and hearing logistics. | Delta County Building, 310 Ludington St., Suite 206, Escanaba, MI 49829. Phone (906) 789-5112. Website: https://deltacountymi.gov/probate-court/ |
| MiFILE | State-run filing system used by Delta County Probate Court. Attorneys must use it. Self-represented filers may use it but do not have to. | https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/login |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | Michigan Judiciary directory listing for court location and contact cross-checks. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Statewide Michigan probate forms used for Delta County estate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary tool for estimating the inventory fee owed under MCL 600.871. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small-estate information, including guided self-help tools. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Escanaba office | Free civil legal help for eligible residents of Delta, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties who meet income guidelines or are 60 or older. Ask at intake whether your estate question fits their services. | 504 Ludington St., Escanaba, MI 49829. Phone (906) 786-2303. Toll free (888) 786-2303. Website: https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps turn scattered account information into a clearer estate settlement inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the Delta County filing packet around Michigan SCAO forms, interested-person information, asset details and the documents the probate register will need.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves Delta County real property, a dispute, creditor pressure or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a guided estate settlement workspace, asset discovery, probate document support and attorney matching without charging families to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Delta County?
File Delta County estate matters with Delta County Probate Court at the Delta County Building, 310 Ludington St., Suite 206, Escanaba, MI 49829. Venue is proper in Delta County if the decedent was domiciled there at death, or if an out-of-state decedent left property there (MCL 700.3201).
Is Delta County Probate Court on MiFILE?
Yes. Delta County Probate Court is live on MiFILE. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to use it.
Can I file a Delta County probate case on paper if I am not a lawyer?
A self-represented filer is not required to use MiFILE in Delta County. The court's probate page does not publish detailed paper-filing instructions, so call the court before mailing papers or visiting the counter.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Delta County in 2026?
Opening a decedent estate in 2026 costs $175.00, consisting of $150.00 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. A 2026 petition for assignment costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee.
Can I look up a Delta County probate case online?
No online Delta County probate case lookup is published. Delta County Probate Court is not listed for probate case lookup in MiCOURT, so you should contact the court directly to check on an estate file.
Does Delta County publish local probate forms?
No Delta County probate cover sheet, checklist or local estate form is published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms for Michigan estate filings.
Will my Delta County probate hearing be remote?
No local standing video link or estate-hearing procedure is published for Delta County Probate Court. Under MCR 5.140, videoconferencing is presumed for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions, but MCR 2.407 lets the court decide how a particular hearing will be held. Follow the notice from the court.
Do I have to travel to Escanaba for a Delta County probate matter?
Not always. Attorneys use MiFILE, and self-represented filers may use MiFILE. Some uncontested hearings may be handled by videoconference under MCR 5.140. If you are self-represented, call the court before assuming you must appear in person or before mailing documents.
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.