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Genesee County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Genesee County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Genesee County Probate Court, court code P25 |
| Courthouse address | Genesee County Courthouse, 900 S. Saginaw Street, 5th Floor, Room 502, Flint, MI 48502 |
| Mailing address | Genesee County Probate Court, 900 S. Saginaw St., Rm. 502, Flint, MI 48502 |
| Probate phone | (810) 257-3528, the Probate Court Records Office main line |
| Fax | (810) 257-3234. The court accepts fax filings only when no filing fee is due. |
| Counter hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., as published by the court. The courthouse building keeps longer hours, so confirm the counter window before making a trip. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 and $25.00 under MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. The inventory fee is based on estate value and cannot be waived. |
| Small-estate assignment fee | As of August 2026, a petition for assignment costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Local forms | Yes. Genesee uses the statewide SCAO PC forms and also publishes local request forms, a combined formal publication and creditor notice form, a request for extension and a change of address form. |
| E-filing status | Genesee County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. New fee-bearing estate filings are filed in person in Room 502 or by mail. |
| Case lookup | MiCOURT Case Search, scoped to Genesee County Probate Court: https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P25 |
| Remote appearance | Genesee publishes request forms for Zoom and telephone appearances. A request is subject to court approval. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are subject to the statewide videoconferencing rule in MCR 5.140. |
| Court website | https://gcprobatecourt.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Genesee County probate path, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, funeral expenses, possible heirs, will status and any property located outside Michigan. The right filing depends on what exists, who paid the funeral bill, whether a home needs to be sold and whether the matter can stay informal.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can help organize that picture before you go to Room 502 or mail a filing. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then helps turn what you find into a probate-ready plan.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Genesee County Probate Court serves all of Genesee County from one probate counter in Flint. There is no satellite probate counter published for the county. The same Room 502 counter handles probate filings for people connected to Flint, Burton, Grand Blanc, Davison, Fenton, Flushing, Mt. Morris, Swartz Creek and the surrounding Genesee County townships.
Venue for the first probate filing is 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). Genesee is not a multi-county probate district. It has its own Probate Court, probate register and courthouse filing office.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the local track. Genesee explains that an informal proceeding is filed by application with the Probate Court Records Office and does not require a hearing, while a formal proceeding is filed by petition and is set for hearing before a probate judge.
- Prepare the forms. Informal estates start with PC 558 and related SCAO forms. Formal estates start with PC 559 and related SCAO forms. Genesee also publishes local forms for formal publication, remote appearance requests, extension requests and address changes.
- File at the correct counter or by mail. Fee-bearing opening papers go to the Genesee County Probate Court, Room 502, 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502, either in person during the published counter window or by mail. The court says fax is only for filings that do not require a filing fee.
- Pay the opening cost. As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 and $25.00 under MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. If you are filing a petition for assignment, the filing fee is $25.00 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871.
- Handle publication and notice. Genesee lists the notice to creditors in both its informal and formal form lists and provides publication drop-boxes at the Records Office for Genesee County Legal News and View Newspaper Group. Known creditor notice and the claims period follow Michigan law.
- Attend any hearing that is required. Informal applications do not require a hearing under the court's own explanation. Formal petitions are set for hearing. If you need to appear by Zoom or telephone, use the Genesee request form and wait for court approval.
- Receive authority. When appointment is completed, the personal representative receives letters of authority, SCAO form PC 572. Certified copies cost, as of August 2026, a $10.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer and close the estate. After appointment, the personal representative gathers assets, gives required notices, files the inventory information, pays the inventory fee, handles claims and distributions, and closes the estate using the Michigan closing procedure that fits the case.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Genesee County
Michigan uses statewide SCAO probate forms, and Genesee County posts curated form lists for informal deceased estates, formal deceased estates and small-estate procedures. For an informal estate, the court lists PC 558, PC 567, PC 557 when applicable, PC 565, PC 566 when applicable, PC 574, PC 568, PC 571 and PC 572. For a formal estate, the court lists PC 559, PC 565, PC 566 when applicable, the court's combined Publication and Notice of Hearing / Notice to Creditors form, PC 569, PC 564, PC 571 and PC 572.
Genesee also publishes local administrative forms that matter in practice: request to appear remotely by Zoom, request to appear by phone, request for extension, change of address and the combined formal publication and creditor notice form. Download current forms from the court's site or the SCAO estates forms index before filing, because form revisions change over time.
Fees
| Local cost or payment item | What Genesee publishes |
|---|---|
| Publication through Genesee County Legal News | As of August 2026, the court posts a publisher charge of $116.95, payable by money order only to Genesee County Legal News. This is a publisher charge, not a court filing fee. |
| Publication through View Newspaper Group | As of August 2026, the court posts a publisher charge of $81.00, payable by check or money order to View Newspaper Group. This is a publisher charge, not a court filing fee. |
| Plain copies | As of August 2026, the Records Office posts $1.00 per page for a regular copy. |
| Certified copies | As of August 2026, the court applies the MCL 600.2546 formula: a $10.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page. |
| Archival or microfilm search | As of August 2026, a $10.00 search fee applies when a request requires recovery from archival or microfilm storage. |
| Will deposited for safekeeping | As of August 2026, depositing a will for safekeeping costs $25.00 under MCL 700.2515. |
| Payment methods | The small-estate packet says the court accepts cash, money orders, personal checks payable to Genesee County Probate Court and credit cards for a charge that the court does not publish. |
Local nuance
Genesee County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The counter closes at 3:00 p.m. | The court publishes Probate Court Records Office hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The courthouse building keeps longer hours, so plan around the earlier probate counter window and confirm before traveling. |
| No MiFILE for probate | Genesee County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Fee-bearing estate filings are filed in Room 502 or by mail, not through TrueFiling. |
| Fax is limited | The court accepts faxes only for filings that do not require a filing fee. An opening application or petition carries a filing fee, so it is not a fax filing. |
| Publication is handled at the counter | The Records Office keeps drop-boxes for two local publication providers and posts their current charges and payment rules. |
| Small-estate packets are sorted by date of death | Genesee publishes separate small-estate packets based on when the decedent died. That local organization matches Michigan's year-of-death approach to indexed dollar limits. |
| Remote appearances require a request | The court publishes Zoom and telephone request forms. Each asks why the person cannot appear in person and states that the request is subject to court approval. |
| Free courthouse self-help is available | The Genesee County Legal Resource Center is an official Michigan Legal Help self-help center with trained navigators, workstations and help with SCAO forms and probate court form packets. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Genesee County's small-estate materials are unusually practical because the court divides them by the decedent's date of death. The current statewide limit for a 2026 death is $53,000 for assignment of property and transfer by affidavit (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983), but the controlling figure depends on the year the decedent died. Genesee builds that date-of-death issue into its own packets.
For a Genesee assignment of property, the court's packet asks for funeral expense documentation, proof showing who paid the funeral bill, two death certificates and a complete legal description for any real estate listed on the petition. The court explains that property is assigned first to the person who paid the funeral bill, up to the amount paid, and the remaining amount is assigned to heirs. The transfer by affidavit form, PC 598, is not filed with the court.
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| June 4, 2025 | Genesee County Probate Court issued a local administrative order on public counter hours and rescinded its earlier public-hours order. |
| 2026 | The Probate Court and 7th Circuit Court issued a joint local administrative order on courthouse operating hours and judicial coverage, confirming building hours for the Genesee County Courthouse. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home passes outside probate or whether estate authority is needed. If a Genesee estate must be opened, use Room 502 or mail, and consider informal probate if the matter is uncontested and the court's requirements are met. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, title clues and missing assets before the spouse chooses a probate path for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Review Genesee's date-of-death small-estate packet first. If assignment of property is the right route, mail the PC 556 packet and required funeral documentation to Room 502. If transfer by affidavit fits, PC 598 is presented to the asset holder, not filed with the court. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, prepare the packet and decide whether a local attorney should handle the Flint filing and any court communication. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires a personal representative with letters of authority. If the matter is uncontested, Genesee's informal track may avoid a hearing. If a formal petition is needed, the court sets it before a probate judge and remote attendance requires a request. | Sunset helps gather accounts, build a probate packet, track publication and connect the parent with a vetted Michigan probate attorney when a home sale or family dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Genesee County Probate Court | Local deceased-estate pages, small-estate packets, local forms, records information, hours and administrative orders. | https://gcprobatecourt.com/ |
| MiCOURT Case Search for Genesee County Probate Court | Case lookup scoped to court code P25. | https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P25 |
| Genesee County Legal Resource Center | Free self-help center in the Genesee County Courthouse with trained navigators, workstations, help completing SCAO forms and assistance with probate court form packets. | https://7thcircuitcourt.com/departments/legal_resource_center/index.php |
| Genesee County Probate Court fiduciary resources | The court's deceased-estate basics video, proof-of-service video, accounting seminar and accounting instructions. | https://gcprobatecourt.com/fiduciary_resources/index.php |
| Michigan inventory fee calculator | State judiciary calculator for the inventory fee due on a decedent estate. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Statewide probate form index for Michigan PC forms. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate articles and guided tools, including small-estate help. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Genesee County Legal Self-Help Center Network | Michigan Legal Help directory entry for staffed self-help computer stations in Flint and Grand Blanc. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/self-help-centers/legal-self-help-center-of-genesee-county |
| Legal Services of Eastern Michigan | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents. Its service area includes Genesee County. Ask the provider whether it can help with the estate issue you have. | https://lsem-mi.org/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State judiciary directory entry for cross-checking court contact information. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
When to hire an attorney
You do not have to hire an attorney just because an estate is in Genesee County, and the court's informal track is designed so an uncontested application can be handled without a hearing. Counsel makes sense when a home must be sold, the will or heirs are disputed, creditors are active, the filer lives far from Flint, the matter needs a formal hearing, or a rejected remote-appearance request would create travel problems. The free Genesee County Legal Resource Center and the court's videos are good starting points, and when legal advice is needed, 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 find accounts, insurance clues and other assets that may affect a Genesee County probate filing.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list and family information into an organized estate settlement packet, helping you prepare for the Genesee County Probate Court's informal, formal or small-estate paperwork.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs a home sale, formal hearing, creditor dispute resolution or local representation in Flint, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, track deadlines and understand next steps without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Genesee County?
File with the Genesee County Probate Court at the Probate Court Records Office, Genesee County Courthouse, 900 S. Saginaw Street, 5th Floor, Room 502, Flint, MI 48502. The court also accepts mail at the same Room 502 address.
What are the Genesee County Probate Court counter hours?
The court publishes Probate Court Records Office hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The courthouse building is open longer, so confirm the probate counter window before making a trip to Flint.
Can I e-file a Genesee County probate case through MiFILE?
No. Genesee County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Fee-bearing estate filings are filed at the Room 502 counter or by mail. The court allows fax only for filings that do not require a filing fee.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Genesee County?
As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 and $25.00 under MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. The inventory fee depends on the estate's value and cannot be waived.
Does an informal Genesee County estate require a hearing?
The court says an informal proceeding is filed by application with the Probate Court Records Office and does not require a hearing. A formal proceeding is filed by petition and is set for hearing before a probate judge.
Can I appear remotely for a Genesee County probate hearing?
Genesee publishes forms to request a Zoom or telephone appearance. The request must explain why you cannot appear in person and is subject to court approval. MCR 5.140 also provides the statewide videoconferencing framework for uncontested decedent-estate matters.
How do I look up a Genesee County probate case?
Use MiCOURT Case Search scoped to Genesee County Probate Court at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P25. The court links that lookup for its own court code.
Does Genesee County have local probate forms?
Yes. Genesee uses statewide SCAO PC forms and also publishes local forms for formal publication and creditor notice, remote appearance requests, telephone appearance requests, extension requests and address changes.
Do I have to travel to Flint to open probate?
Not always. The court accepts filings by mail. If a hearing is required, you may request Zoom or telephone attendance on the court's form, but approval is not automatic. If you plan to file in person, use the Room 502 counter during the published probate counter hours.
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.