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Gratiot County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Gratiot County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Gratiot County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Gratiot County Courthouse, 214 E. Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 217, Ithaca, MI 48847 |
| Phone | (989) 875-5231 |
| Fax | (989) 875-5331 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on holidays |
| Filing fee | As of 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00: the statewide $150.00 commencement fee under MCL 600.880 plus the $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Assignment of property costs $25.00 as of 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No local decedent-estate forms or cover sheet are published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Gratiot County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Do not assume attorney e-filing applies here. |
| Case lookup | No online case lookup for Gratiot probate files. Call (989) 875-5231 or email [email protected]. |
| Online payment | The court links a probate-specific GovPayNet payment page for court fees, including filing fees, inventory fees, copy fees, certified copy fees and the assignment filing fee. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, subject to MCR 2.407 and the court's notice in the case. |
| Website | https://www.gratiotmi.com/333/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Ithaca, make a practical list of the assets, debts, account holders, real estate, vehicles, funeral expenses and known heirs. That asset picture determines whether the family can use a smaller Michigan path or needs a personal representative with letters of authority.
Sunset's estate settlement platform can help by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, organizing the information into a probate-ready plan, and helping you decide what to ask Gratiot County Probate Court for next.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Gratiot County Probate Court is the probate court for estates filed in Gratiot County. The filing office is the probate register's counter at the Gratiot County Courthouse, 214 E. Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847.
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, venue is in a county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate assets and debts before choosing a path. If the estate fits assignment of property for a 2026 death, the indexed figure is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. If the estate includes real property that must be sold or title must pass through the estate, expect to discuss full administration.
- Choose the correct statewide SCAO form. Common Gratiot filings use PC 556 for assignment of property, PC 558 for informal probate and appointment, PC 559 for formal probate and appointment, PC 565 for heirs, PC 571 for acceptance, PC 572 for letters of authority, and PC 577 for the inventory.
- File with Gratiot County Probate Court at the courthouse in Ithaca. Gratiot is not on MiFILE, and the court does not publish a local decedent-estate packet. If you need to mail papers or ask about delivery options, call (989) 875-5231 or email [email protected] before sending originals.
- Pay the statewide court charges. As of 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Assignment of property costs $25.00 as of 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee. Gratiot also links an online payment page for probate fees.
- Give required notices. On the informal track, the applicant must give written information of the probate within 28 days after informal probate is granted. After appointment, the personal representative handles creditor notice and the four-month claims period under MCL 700.3801 and MCL 700.3803.
- Watch for hearing instructions. Informal matters may be handled by the probate register. Formal matters or contested matters go before the probate judge. Gratiot does not publish current estate hearing days, so use the notice from the court.
- Ask about remote participation if a hearing is set. Uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, but MCR 2.407 lets the court decide how the hearing will be held and how participants receive access instructions.
- Obtain certified letters of authority if a personal representative is appointed. As of 2026, certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory information within 91 days after letters of authority under MCR 5.307, pay the inventory fee, distribute assets, account to interested persons, and close by the appropriate SCAO closing form or court order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Gratiot County
Gratiot County Probate Court links decedent-estate users to the statewide SCAO Estates, Trusts and Miscellaneous Probate Forms index. It does not publish a Gratiot-only cover sheet, checklist or packet for decedent estates.
| Need | Form | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment of property | PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment | Filed with Gratiot County Probate Court. For a 2026 death, the indexed small-estate amount is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. The assignment fee is $25.00 as of 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee. |
| Transfer by affidavit | PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent | Presented to the asset holder, not filed with the probate court. For a 2026 death, the indexed amount is $53,000 under MCL 700.3983. |
| Informal probate or appointment | PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Use when the matter can be handled by the probate register rather than a judge. |
| Formal probate or appointment | PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Use when a judge must decide the matter. |
| Authority document | PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative | Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page as of 2026 under MCL 600.2546. |
| Inventory | PC 577, Inventory | The inventory information is due within 91 days after letters of authority under MCR 5.307, and the inventory fee is calculated under MCL 600.871. |
Local nuance
Gratiot County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Online payment is available | Gratiot links a GovPayNet page that names Gratiot County Probate Court as payee and includes filing fees, inventory fees, copy fees, certified copy fees and the assignment filing fee. |
| No MiFILE here | Gratiot County Probate Court is not one of the Michigan probate courts on MiFILE, so the opening step is not a MiFILE submission. |
| No local estate packet | The court sends probate users to the statewide SCAO form index and does not publish a Gratiot decedent-estate cover sheet. |
| No online case lookup | To check a Gratiot probate file, call (989) 875-5231 or email [email protected]. |
| Fee page threshold label | The court's fee amounts match the statewide structure, but its small-estate threshold label is outdated. Use the 2026 indexed figure of $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. |
| Livestream is not the same as remote appearance | The court links a courtroom livestream. For your own hearing, follow the hearing notice or ask the probate court how MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407 will be applied. |
Recent updates
| Local update | What changed for readers |
|---|---|
| Online probate payment page | Gratiot links a probate-specific online payment page that includes filing fees, inventory fees, copy fees, certified copy fees and the assignment filing fee. |
| Outdated small-estate label on fee page | Use the 2026 indexed figure of $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983 rather than the older label on the local fee page. |
| MiFILE status | Gratiot County Probate Court is not on the current MiFILE probate list, so do not prepare a MiFILE submission for this court. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Gratiot County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the home passes outside the estate and the remaining assets fit a smaller Michigan path, the spouse may not need full administration. If Gratiot real estate must pass through the estate or be sold, the filing belongs at Gratiot County Probate Court in Ithaca. | Sunset helps identify titled assets, mortgages, accounts and beneficiary designations so the family can tell whether a court filing is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the estate qualifies for assignment of property for a 2026 death, the amount is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983, and PC 556 is filed in Ithaca. If the assets qualify for transfer by affidavit, PC 598 is presented to the asset holder instead of being filed with the court. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list, choose the right SCAO form path, and prepare questions for the Gratiot probate register before the child travels or mails papers. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires a personal representative with letters of authority. That means opening a Gratiot County estate, paying the 2026 $175.00 opening cost under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986 plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871, and administering the sale through the estate. | Sunset organizes the property, debts, heirs and account information and can connect the parent with a Michigan probate attorney for the real estate steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Gratiot County Probate Court | The filing office for Gratiot County estates. | 214 E. Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847. (989) 875-5231. [email protected]. https://www.gratiotmi.com/333/Probate-Court |
| Pay Gratiot County Probate Court fees online | Online payment page for probate court fees, including filing fees, inventory fees, copy fees, certified copy fees and assignment filing fees. | https://www.govpaynow.com/gps/user/plc/9126 |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide Michigan probate form index used for decedent estates. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary calculator for the inventory fee due 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 and guided tools. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Counsel and Advocacy Law Line, Lakeshore Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for eligible Gratiot County low-income and senior residents, with estates, small estates, transfers after death and probate law listed among service categories. | (888) 783-8190. https://lakeshorelegalaid.org/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State judiciary directory entry for the Gratiot County Probate Court address and phone number. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Gratiot County when real property must be sold or title must be cleared through the estate, the estate is too large for assignment of property, heirs disagree, a will is challenged, creditors press claims, or the proposed personal representative lives outside Michigan. Michigan's informal track can be handled without counsel in the right case, but contested or real-estate-heavy estate settlement often moves faster with local probate counsel. Sunset connects families to a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a clearer picture of what the decedent owned, owed and named beneficiaries for before filing in Gratiot County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized estate settlement packet, including the SCAO probate forms that fit the path you choose for Gratiot County Probate Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Gratiot estate involves real property, creditor issues, a dispute or formal proceedings, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, prepare next steps and get matched with help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Gratiot County?
File Gratiot County probate matters with Gratiot County Probate Court at the Gratiot County Courthouse, 214 E. Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847. The probate court's phone number is (989) 875-5231 and its office email is [email protected].
Is Gratiot County Probate Court on MiFILE?
No. Gratiot County Probate Court is not on the current MiFILE probate list, so do not prepare a MiFILE submission for this court. Contact the probate court if you need to ask how it wants a specific paper delivered.
Does Gratiot County have its own probate forms?
No local decedent-estate packet is published for Gratiot County. The court links users to the statewide SCAO Estates, Trusts and Miscellaneous Probate Forms index.
How much does it cost to open a Gratiot County estate?
As of 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. Assignment of property costs $25.00 as of 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee.
Can I pay Gratiot County Probate Court fees online?
Yes. The court links a probate-specific GovPayNet payment page for court fees, including filing fees, inventory fees, copy fees, certified copy fees and the assignment filing fee.
Can I look up a Gratiot County probate case online?
No online case lookup for Gratiot probate files is published. Call (989) 875-5231 or email [email protected] to ask about a case.
Are Gratiot County probate hearings held by video?
Uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, but MCR 2.407 lets the court decide how a particular hearing will be held. Follow the hearing notice or ask the probate court how to appear.
Do I have to travel to Ithaca for Gratiot County probate?
The filing office is in Ithaca. If travel is difficult, contact the probate court before filing to ask about delivery options and to ask whether any uncontested hearing can proceed by videoconference under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407.
What if a small Gratiot estate is under the Michigan assignment amount?
For a 2026 death, the indexed amount for assignment of property and transfer by affidavit is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. PC 556 is filed with the probate court for assignment of property. PC 598 is presented to the asset holder for transfer by affidavit and is not filed with the court.
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.