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Eaton County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Eaton County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Eaton County Probate Court, court code P23 |
| Courthouse address | Eaton County Courthouse, 1045 Independence Blvd., first floor, Room 111, Charlotte, MI 48813 |
| Mailing address | Same as the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is published. |
| Probate phone | (517) 543-4185. This is the probate line, not the Eaton County Trial Courts main line. |
| Fax | (517) 543-8439. The court does not publish fax as a filing method. |
| [email protected] for questions. The court does not publish email as a filing method. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office closes from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Filing cost | For August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the $150.00 commencement fee under MCL 600.880 and the $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. An assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus the inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No county-made probate forms are published. Eaton publishes a deceased-estate document checklist that points to statewide SCAO forms. |
| E-filing | Eaton County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Attorneys and self-represented filers are not mandated e-filers for Eaton probate. The 56A District Court is on MiFILE, but that is a different court in the same building. |
| Case search | Yes. Eaton links to the Michigan Judiciary MiCOURT case search for Eaton County Probate Court, P23. Search by name or case number after accepting the terms of service. The county cautions that balances shown are not accurate for Probate Court matters. |
| Payments | Eaton publishes online and telephone payments through AllPaid. Probate uses pay location code 8881, a service fee is added, and credit card payments take 48 to 72 hours to post. |
| Remote appearance | The county publishes Zoom hearing guidance. Uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed suitable for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, but the court decides the format under MCR 2.407 and gives access instructions. |
| Website | https://www.eatoncounty.org/451/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Michigan probate path in Eaton County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, beneficiary designations and co-owned property. That asset picture controls whether you are dealing with a court filing in Charlotte, a non-court transfer by affidavit, or a full estate settlement.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before they prepare the Eaton County packet. That matters locally because the Probate Court publishes a document checklist, but it does not decide which assets exist or which county has venue.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Eaton County Probate Court serves Eaton County from one courthouse in Charlotte. There is no branch probate counter and Eaton is not part of a two-county probate district.
The county includes Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Olivet, Potterville, Bellevue, Dimondale, Mulliken, Sunfield, Vermontville, Delta Charter Township, Windsor Charter Township and the Eaton County portion of Lansing. A Lansing-area address can be inside Eaton County, so do not assume the filing county from the city name alone.
Michigan venue for the first 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 had property at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Build the asset and debt list first. Identify Eaton County real property, bank accounts, vehicles, retirement accounts, debts, funeral expenses and any asset that already has a beneficiary or surviving co-owner.
- Choose the Michigan path that matches the estate. If the estate needs a personal representative, prepare the statewide SCAO opening papers. Eaton's deceased-estate checklist lists PC 558 for an informal application, PC 559 when a petition is needed, PC 565, PC 571, MC 97, MC 97a, MC 505, the death certificate and the original will if there is one.
- Call the Probate Court at (517) 543-4185 before travelling. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the counter closes during the noon hour.
- Bring or send the packet to Eaton County Probate Court, Eaton County Courthouse, 1045 Independence Blvd., first floor, Room 111, Charlotte, MI 48813. The court does not publish a delivery channel for paper filings, so ask the probate register how the office wants papers delivered before you rely on mail, a drop box, fax or email.
- Pay the statutory filing cost. For August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, based on MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, and the estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Eaton also publishes AllPaid online and telephone payments using probate pay location code 8881, with a service fee and a 48 to 72 hour credit card posting period.
- Give the notices required by Michigan law. After informal probate is granted, the applicant gives written information of the probate within 28 days under MCL 700.3306. After appointment, the personal representative gives creditor notice under MCL 700.3801.
- Attend any hearing the court sets. Eaton publishes Zoom hearing guidance, and uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed suitable for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140. Ask the court how your hearing will be held because Eaton does not publish a standing Zoom link or a hearing calendar.
- After appointment, obtain certified letters of authority for the personal representative. Certified copies cost $10.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer the estate. File the inventory information within 91 days of letters of authority under MCR 5.307, use the Judiciary inventory fee calculator, pay the inventory fee under MCL 600.871, handle creditor claims, distribute property and keep written accounting support.
- Close the estate when Michigan law allows. In an unsupervised estate, closing by sworn statement cannot occur earlier than 5 months after the original appointment under MCL 700.3954. If the estate stays open more than 1 year, file the notice of continued administration within 28 days after the appointment anniversary under MCL 700.3951 and MCR 5.307.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Eaton County
Eaton County uses Michigan's statewide SCAO probate forms. The court does not publish county-made probate forms or a county cover sheet for deceased estates.
What Eaton does publish is useful: a deceased-estate checklist. For an informal estate, the court lists PC 558, MC 97, PC 565, PC 571, MC 97a, MC 505, the death certificate and the original will if there is one. The same page has a second list that begins with PC 559 for a petition presented to a judge. PC 558 is the informal application, and PC 559 is the petition form used when a judge needs to act.
| Form or item | How Eaton uses it |
|---|---|
| PC 558 | Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. Eaton lists it for an informal opening. |
| PC 559 | Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. Eaton lists it on the court's second deceased-estate document list. |
| PC 565 | Testimony to Identify Heirs. Eaton lists it with the opening documents. |
| PC 571 | Acceptance of Appointment. Eaton lists it with the opening documents. |
| MC 97 and MC 97a | Protected Personal Identifying Information forms. Eaton lists both with the opening documents. |
| MC 505 | Contact Information. Eaton asks for this SCAO contact form up front. |
| Death certificate | Eaton lists it as part of the deceased-estate packet. |
| Original will | Eaton lists the original will when there is one. |
| PC 548 | Eaton's wills page points to this form for authorization to release a will held for safekeeping. |
Local nuance
Eaton County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an Eaton County estate |
|---|---|
| Midday closure | The Probate Court is open 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Someone arriving at noon should expect the office to be closed. |
| Probate phone line | Use (517) 543-4185 for probate. The trial-courts main number is different and is not the probate counter's direct line. |
| Same building, different courts | The 56th Circuit Court, 56A District Court and Probate Court share the courthouse. The district court's MiFILE status does not apply to probate. |
| No MiFILE for Eaton probate | Eaton County Probate Court is not on Michigan's statewide MiFILE system. Ask the probate register how paper filings should be delivered. |
| Online probate case lookup | Eaton links to MiCOURT for Probate Court P23. The county cautions that balances shown there are not accurate for Probate Court matters. |
| Payment code | Probate payments through AllPaid use pay location code 8881. A service fee is added, and credit card payments take 48 to 72 hours to post. |
| Opening checklist | The court publishes a deceased-estate checklist, including the application or petition, heir testimony, acceptance, protected information forms, contact information, death certificate and original will if one exists. |
| Lansing-area boundary | Part of Lansing is in Eaton County. A Lansing, Delta Township or Dimondale address may point to the Charlotte courthouse if the decedent was domiciled in Eaton County. |
| Zoom guidance | The county publishes professionalism guidance for Zoom hearings, but it does not publish a standing probate Zoom link or hearing schedule. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Eaton County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | First confirm how title is held. If the Eaton County home passes outside the estate because of co-ownership, the court filing may focus only on assets that need a personal representative. If a court appointment is needed, the packet goes to the probate register in Charlotte. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary assets and real property issues before the spouse spends time at the Eaton County counter. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | For a 2026 death, Michigan's assignment of property and transfer by affidavit paths use a $53,000 figure under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. Eaton's assignment filing, if used, goes to the Probate Court in Charlotte, but the court does not publish a delivery channel, so call before mailing papers. | Sunset helps decide whether an Eaton filing is needed, prepares the probate packet when it is, and helps reduce unnecessary travel by organizing documents before the adult child calls the court. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the child owned Eaton County real property that must be sold through the estate, a personal representative will usually be needed. The parent should expect a filing in Charlotte, possible hearing scheduling, letters of authority and inventory work before sale and closing. | Sunset helps gather asset information, generate the forms, and connect the parent with Michigan probate counsel when a sale, title issue or disagreement makes the estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact or link |
|---|---|---|
| Eaton County Probate Court | The office where an Eaton County estate is opened. The probate register can explain filing logistics but cannot give legal advice. | 1045 Independence Blvd., Room 111, Charlotte, MI 48813. Phone (517) 543-4185. [email protected]. https://www.eatoncounty.org/451/Probate-Court |
| What to bring for a deceased estate | Eaton's own checklist of statewide forms and documents for opening a deceased estate. | https://www.eatoncounty.org/997/Deceased-Estates |
| Eaton County probate case search | Lookup for Eaton County Probate Court cases by name or case number after accepting the terms of service. Call the court for financial balances. | https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P23 |
| Pay Eaton County Probate Court | Online and telephone payments through AllPaid. Probate uses pay location code 8881, a service fee is added, and credit card payments take 48 to 72 hours to post. | https://www.eatoncounty.org/1479/Online-Payment |
| Probate court record request | Online request form for probate file copies. The court lists current August 2026 copy charges as $2.00 per page, $1.00 for a court form, and certified copies at $10.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each page after. | https://www.eatoncounty.org/FormCenter/Court-Forms-14/Probate-Court-Record-Request-83 |
| Estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide SCAO form index used for Eaton probate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary tool for estimating the estate inventory fee under MCL 600.871. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | Judiciary directory listing for Eaton County Probate Court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Statewide self-help nonprofit with plain-language Michigan probate and small-estate information. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Lansing office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income and older Eaton County residents. Ask intake whether an estate question fits their help areas. | 3490 Belle Chase Way, #50, Lansing, MI 48911. Advice line 1-888-783-8190. https://lsscm.org/how-to-get-help |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Michigan probate attorney when Eaton County real property must be sold or title must be cleared, when the estate is too large or complicated for a small-estate path, when heirs disagree, when a will is challenged, when creditors press claims, when the personal representative lives out of state, or when the matter needs a judge rather than informal action by the probate register. Sunset connects families with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build the asset picture before they choose a probate path. That is especially useful in Eaton County when a Lansing-area address, co-owned property, or accounts at multiple institutions make the estate settlement unclear at the start.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized Michigan probate packet, including the forms Eaton County lists for a deceased estate when a court filing is needed.
Find a local probate attorney. When a house must be sold, creditors are active, heirs disagree, or a hearing before the judge is likely, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, find assets, prepare next steps and decide whether they need legal help without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for an Eaton County resident?
File with Eaton County Probate Court at the Eaton County Courthouse, 1045 Independence Blvd., first floor, Room 111, Charlotte, MI 48813, if Eaton County is the correct venue under MCL 700.3201. Call (517) 543-4185 before you go because the court does not publish its paper delivery method.
Does a Lansing address mean I file outside Eaton County?
No. Part of Lansing is in Eaton County. Michigan venue depends on where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for someone not domiciled in Michigan, where the decedent had property at death (MCL 700.3201). A Lansing-area address can belong in Eaton County.
Is there e-filing for Eaton County probate?
No. Eaton County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. The 56A District Court in the same courthouse is on MiFILE, but that does not apply to decedent estates in Probate Court.
What are the Eaton County Probate Court hours?
The published hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office closes from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Can I look up an Eaton County probate case online?
Yes. Eaton links to the Michigan Judiciary MiCOURT case search for Eaton County Probate Court, P23. Search by name or case number after accepting the terms of service. The county cautions that balances shown are not accurate for Probate Court matters, so call the court for financial questions.
Does Eaton County have local probate forms?
Eaton County does not publish county-made probate forms. It publishes a deceased-estate checklist that points to statewide SCAO forms, including PC 558, PC 559, PC 565, PC 571, MC 97, MC 97a and MC 505.
How much does it cost to open an Eaton County estate?
For August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, based on MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, and the estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. An assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus the inventory fee.
Can I attend an Eaton County probate hearing by Zoom?
Possibly. Eaton publishes Zoom hearing guidance, and uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed suitable for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140. The court still decides the format under MCR 2.407 and gives the access instructions.
Can I pay Eaton County probate charges online?
Eaton publishes AllPaid online and telephone payments for Probate Court using pay location code 8881. A service fee is added, and the court says credit card payments take 48 to 72 hours to post. Ask the probate office how payment should be handled for a new filing.
Do I have to travel to Charlotte for Eaton County probate?
The probate counter is in Charlotte, but not every task necessarily requires a trip. Eaton does not publish its paper delivery method, so call (517) 543-4185 before travelling, mailing documents, or trying to use fax or email.
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.