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Hillsdale County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Hillsdale County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Hillsdale County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Hillsdale County Courthouse, 29 N. Howell Street, Room 3, Hillsdale, MI 49242 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address unless the probate register gives a different instruction. |
| Phone | (517) 437-4643 |
| Fax | (517) 437-4148 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent estate in 2026 costs $175.00, made up of the probate filing fee and the electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.880, MCL 600.1986). The estate also owes the statewide inventory fee (MCL 600.871). |
| Local forms | No local probate cover sheet, checklist or estate form is published. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms. |
| E-filing status | Hillsdale County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Call the probate register before mailing a packet or traveling to file. |
| Case lookup | The court publishes a live same-day Probate Courtroom display, but not an online search for a specific probate file. |
| Remote appearance | No Hillsdale probate-specific remote page is published. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under Michigan court rules, and the court will tell participants how to appear. |
| Website | https://www.hillsdalecounty.gov/index.php/tm-courts/m-court-probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Hillsdale County, list the decedent's assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles and likely creditors. Michigan procedure depends on what the estate owns and whether a personal representative needs court authority to act.
Sunset can support early estate settlement work by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organizing discovered assets and helping you decide what belongs in the Hillsdale filing packet before you contact the probate register.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Hillsdale County has its own single-county Probate Court. A Hillsdale County estate is opened at the probate register's counter in Room 3 of the Hillsdale County Courthouse at 29 N. Howell Street in Hillsdale.
Michigan venue is based on the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, a county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201). That means Hillsdale County is the local probate venue for estates that fit that rule in Hillsdale County.
The jurisdiction process
- Inventory the estate before filing. Identify accounts, real property, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses and people entitled to notice so you can choose the correct Michigan path.
- Choose the statewide form path. Hillsdale does not publish local estate forms. Use PC 558 for an informal estate, PC 559 for a formal estate, PC 556 for assignment of property when the estate fits the 2026 $53,000 limit (MCL 700.3982), or PC 598 for transfer by affidavit when that separate 2026 $53,000 path fits and no court filing is required (MCL 700.3983).
- Prepare the packet for the Hillsdale County Probate Court. The filing office is Room 3 of the Hillsdale County Courthouse, 29 N. Howell Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242. Because Hillsdale is not on MiFILE and the court does not post a delivery rule, call (517) 437-4643 before mailing a packet or traveling.
- Pay the statewide court costs that apply to the filing. Opening a decedent estate in 2026 costs $175.00 (MCL 600.880, MCL 600.1986). A 2026 petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 (MCL 600.880), and the estate also owes the statewide inventory fee when required (MCL 600.871).
- Give required notices. On the informal track, the applicant must give notice after informal probate is granted, and a personal representative must handle creditor notice under Michigan law.
- Handle any hearing instructions from the court. Hillsdale publishes a same-day Probate Courtroom display, but not a standing estate-hearing schedule. For uncontested decedent-estate hearings, Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing may be used, but the court controls how the hearing will occur.
- Receive letters of authority if a personal representative is appointed. Certified copies of letters of authority let the personal representative deal with institutions and estate property.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory information on time, pay the inventory fee, resolve claims, distribute property, and use the proper Michigan closing form or court order when administration is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County Probate Court does not publish a local estate cover sheet, probate checklist or county estate form. Estate filings use the statewide SCAO-approved PC forms used across Michigan.
Common statewide forms include PC 558 for informal probate or appointment, PC 559 for formal probate or appointment, PC 556 for assignment of property, PC 598 for transfer by affidavit, PC 565 for testimony to identify heirs, PC 571 for acceptance of appointment, PC 572 for letters of authority, PC 577 for inventory, and PC 591 for closing an unsupervised administration. The SCAO forms index is at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
In an informal, unsupervised estate, Michigan court rules limit extra paperwork a court may require beyond documents required by statute or court rule (MCR 5.307). If you are unsure which statewide form matches the estate, the Hillsdale County Legal Self-Help Center in the courthouse can help you find forms and instructions, but it cannot give legal advice.
Local nuance
Hillsdale County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Hillsdale filing |
|---|---|
| Probate phone number | Use (517) 437-4643 for the probate office, not the general county number that appears elsewhere on the county website. |
| Lunch closure | The probate office is closed from noon to 1:00 p.m., so plan any courthouse visit around that break. |
| Same-day courtroom display | The court's online docket link shows the current day's Probate Courtroom schedule. It is not a search tool for a specific estate file. |
| No MiFILE | Hillsdale County Probate Court is not a MiFILE probate court. Call the probate register for current delivery instructions before sending a filing. |
| Self-help in the courthouse | The Hillsdale County Legal Self-Help Center is located in the same courthouse and can help visitors use Michigan Legal Help, find forms and locate instructions. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Hillsdale County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and whether any solely owned Hillsdale County property needs probate. If a personal representative is needed, the filing goes to Room 3 at the Hillsdale County Courthouse. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and debt information, and prepare the estate settlement packet for the local probate register. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Check whether assignment of property or transfer by affidavit fits under Michigan's 2026 $53,000 small-estate rules (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983). Hillsdale is not on MiFILE, so call the probate register before mailing anything or traveling. | Sunset helps determine what assets exist, generate the right statewide forms, and connect the family with local counsel if a Hillsdale appearance or filing question becomes complicated. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property often requires a personal representative with letters of authority. The opening packet is filed with Hillsdale County Probate Court, and any hearing instructions come from that court. | Sunset helps gather asset and liability information, prepare probate forms, and connect the parent with a vetted Michigan probate attorney for the sale and administration steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale County Probate Court | The local filing office for Hillsdale County estates. The probate register can explain local filing logistics but cannot give legal advice. | Room 3, Hillsdale County Courthouse, 29 N. Howell Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242. Phone (517) 437-4643. Fax (517) 437-4148. https://www.hillsdalecounty.gov/index.php/tm-courts/m-court-probate |
| Hillsdale County Legal Self-Help Center | A courthouse self-help center with computers and staff who can help visitors use Michigan Legal Help, find forms and instructions, and locate community resources. | Hillsdale County Courthouse, 29 N. Howell Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242. Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Remote Navigator hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon, with the first Thursday of each month starting at 11:00 a.m. https://michiganlegalhelp.org/self-help-centers/legal-self-help-center-of-hillsdale-county |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide probate form index used for Hillsdale estate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | The Michigan Judiciary's tool for estimating the inventory fee owed by an estate. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small-estate articles, guided tools, and self-help center information. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Jackson office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income Hillsdale County residents. Ask at intake whether an estate question fits its services. | 540 N. Jackson Street, Jackson, MI 49201. Phone (517) 787-6111. https://www.lsscm.org/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | The Michigan Judiciary's directory listing for Hillsdale County Probate Court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank, brokerage, retirement and insurance assets so the Hillsdale probate filing starts from a complete estate settlement picture instead of guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Michigan SCAO forms and helps prepare the packet for the Hillsdale County Probate Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate needs legal judgment, real estate work, creditor strategy or a contested-hearing plan, Sunset connects families with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand the next step and decide when professional help is worth bringing in.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Hillsdale County?
File with the Hillsdale County Probate Court at the Hillsdale County Courthouse, 29 N. Howell Street, Room 3, Hillsdale, MI 49242. The probate office phone number is (517) 437-4643.
Is Hillsdale County Probate Court on MiFILE?
No. Hillsdale County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Because the court does not publish a delivery rule for probate filings, call (517) 437-4643 before mailing a packet or traveling to the courthouse.
What are the Hillsdale County Probate Court hours?
The probate office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Can I look up a Hillsdale County probate case online?
Hillsdale publishes a live same-day Probate Courtroom display, but it does not provide an online search for a specific probate file. For case-specific questions, call the probate office at (517) 437-4643.
Does Hillsdale County have its own probate forms?
No local probate cover sheet, checklist or estate form is published for Hillsdale County. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Hillsdale County in 2026?
Opening a decedent estate in 2026 costs $175.00, made up of the probate filing fee and the electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.880, MCL 600.1986). The estate also owes the statewide inventory fee (MCL 600.871), which depends on the value of estate assets.
Can I use a small-estate option in Hillsdale County?
Maybe. Michigan's 2026 assignment of property and transfer by affidavit paths use a $53,000 limit for a 2026 death (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983), but the right path depends on the assets, whether real property is involved and whether a court order is needed. Hillsdale uses the same statewide rules and forms as the rest of Michigan.
Will my Hillsdale probate hearing be remote?
No Hillsdale probate-specific remote-hearing page is published. Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, but the court decides how a particular hearing will be held and must give appearance instructions.
Do I have to travel to Hillsdale to handle probate?
Not always, but Hillsdale is not on MiFILE and the court does not publish a filing-delivery rule. Call the probate register before mailing papers or traveling, and ask how any hearing in your case will be handled.
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.