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Ingham County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Ingham County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Ingham County Probate Court |
| Filing counter | Probate Register's Office, Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Other hearing location | Mason Historical Courthouse, 341 South Jefferson Street, Mason, MI 48854. This is a hearing location, not the filing counter. |
| Mailing address | Ingham County Probate Court, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Phone | (517) 483-6300 |
| Fax | (517) 483-6150, used for contact and case copy requests, not published as an opening filing method |
| [email protected], used for case copy requests and written Zoom requests, not published as a filing channel | |
| Hours | Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays and posted closures. Public filing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment costs $25.00 in 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee. |
| Local forms | Yes. The court publishes free decedent estate and assignment of property packets online, and paper copies are sold at the counter. |
| E-filing | There is no MiFILE e-filing for Ingham County probate. Ingham district courts are on MiFILE, but the Probate Court is not. |
| Case search | The court links MiCOURT Case Search for Ingham County Probate Court at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P33. If a case does not appear, call the probate office. |
| Remote appearance | The court publishes Zoom memos listing uncontested probate hearings and probate motions without testimony among Zoom matters. The same memos say anyone who wants to attend in person is welcome. |
| Website | https://pr.ingham.org/courts_and_sheriff/probate_court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Michigan probate path, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, accounts, beneficiaries and co-owners. In Ingham County, that inventory tells you whether you are using the court's full decedent estate packet, the assignment of property packet, or a non-court transfer by affidavit under statewide law.
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions, then organizing what was found into the probate packet. That matters locally because Ingham's packets ask for specific asset, address, death certificate and service information before the Probate Register's Office can process the filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Ingham County Probate Court serves estates for decedents domiciled in Ingham County, including Lansing, East Lansing, Leslie, Mason, Williamston, Dansville, Stockbridge, Webberville, Okemos, Haslett, Holt and the county's townships. Lansing crosses county lines, so a Lansing mailing address is not enough by itself. Check the decedent's county of domicile before filing.
Venue for the first informal or formal probate proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a person not domiciled in Michigan, a county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201). Ingham filings are made at the Probate Register's Office in the Veterans Memorial Courthouse in Lansing. The Mason Historical Courthouse is a hearing location only.
The jurisdiction process
- Build the asset and debt picture first. List accounts, real estate, vehicles, unpaid bills, funeral and burial expenses, and the people who may need notice.
- Choose the correct Michigan path. Ingham's packet explains that an application is informal and handled by the probate register without a hearing, while a petition is formal and goes to a judge with a hearing. The packet says a petition is required if no death certificate is available or if an application has been denied.
- Download the Ingham decedent estate packet or assignment of property packet from the court's website, then use the current SCAO form wherever one exists. For an application, the packet calls for two death certificate copies, with Social Security number and date of birth redacted on one copy.
- File at the Probate Register's Office in Lansing during public filing hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In-person filings are accepted only at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing.
- Pay the opening cost. In 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Ingham accepts cash, check or money order payable to Ingham County Probate Court, and credit or debit card with an added card charge.
- Give required notices. For example, Ingham's packet gives a local mailing address for the Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court and tells filers to file proof of service no later than seven days before a hearing.
- If you filed a petition, watch for the hearing notice. Ingham's packet says a petition hearing is usually held four to six weeks after filing. Read the notice carefully because the hearing may be in Lansing or Mason.
- Ask about video if the matter is uncontested. The court's published Zoom memos list uncontested probate hearings and probate motions without testimony among Zoom matters, while also saying in-person attendance is welcome.
- After appointment, order the certified copies of the letters of authority you need. Ingham lists certified letters of authority at $13 per certified copy as of January 28, 2026.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory, pay the inventory fee, handle creditors and distributions, then follow Ingham's closing packet instructions, including sending two copies of the Certificate of Completion and a self-addressed, postage-prepaid return envelope if closing without a hearing.
Executor duties
Ingham's local packets add a few practical duties for a personal representative. Within 28 days of appointment, the packet gives the Ingham County Friend of the Court mailing address for PC 618: Ingham County Friend of the Court, PO Box 40097, Lansing, MI 48901. The packet also names local newspapers, including the Lansing State Journal, City Pulse and Ingham County Legal News, as examples for publishing the creditor notice.
For hearings, Ingham tells filers to file proof of service no later than seven days before the hearing or the hearing may be cancelled. For closing without a hearing, the court asks for the sworn closing statement, proof of service, two copies of the Certificate of Completion with the file number and decedent's name filled in, and a self-addressed, postage-prepaid return envelope.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ingham County
Ingham County Probate Court publishes local packets for decedent estates and assignment of property. These packets are free online and include step-by-step instructions, checklists and SCAO forms for this court. Paper copies are also sold at the counter, including the decedent estate packet for $23 as of January 28, 2026 and the assignment packet for $3 as of January 28, 2026.
| Form resource | Use in Ingham County |
|---|---|
| Decedent estate administration and will admission packet | Use for an application or petition to open a full Ingham County estate. The packet explains the informal application route and the formal petition route. |
| Petition for small estate assignment packet | Use for the assignment of property route. Ingham requires a certified death certificate and an itemized funeral and burial receipt showing who paid. |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Use the current statewide SCAO form where one exists. Ingham's forms page says filings must use the most current SCAO-approved form if one exists. |
| Transfer by affidavit form, PC 598 | Ingham's packet explains that this form is not filed with the court and can avoid a court trip when the statewide requirements are met. |
Ingham's opening packet also points to MC 505 for contact information and PC 568 when filing by application only. The court tells filers to keep address information current with the court.
Fees
Ingham has local copy, certification and paper form charges in addition to the statewide filing and inventory fees. These local charges are useful when you need copies for banks, title companies or family members.
| Local item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Copies from a case file | $1.50 per page as of Local Administrative Order 2025-01 |
| Certification | $10 per document, plus copy charges, as of January 28, 2026 |
| Certified copy of letters of authority | $13 per certified copy as of January 28, 2026 |
| Certified copy of assignment order | $14.50 as of February 2026 |
| Blank SCAO-approved court form provided by the court | $1.00 per form as of Local Administrative Order 2025-01, with no charge for indigent parties and certain court-appointed attorney requests |
| Paper decedent estate packet | $23 as of January 28, 2026. The packet is free online. |
| Paper assignment packet | $3 as of January 28, 2026. The packet is free online. |
The probate court has not published an online probate payment page. Its decedent estate and assignment pages list payment by cash, check or money order payable to Ingham County Probate Court, or credit or debit card with a small added card charge.
Timeline
- Informal application route: Ingham's packet says the application process is handled by the probate register without a hearing.
- Formal petition route: Ingham's packet says a hearing is usually held four to six weeks after the petition is filed.
- Assignment of property route: Ingham says this route usually does not require a hearing and that a certified copy of the assignment order is usually available within a week.
- Case file copy requests: under the court's local order, copies of case file documents are provided within two business days of the request.
- In-person file review: the court provides public case file review at the Probate Register's Office during public filing hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- System transition note: after the June 15, 2026 WebTCS case management system change, the court says some services may take longer than usual during implementation.
Local nuance
Ingham County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Mason is the county seat, but filing is in Lansing | Open an Ingham County estate at the Probate Register's Office in the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing. |
| Hearings can be in either city | The court lists hearing locations in Lansing and Mason. Read the notice of hearing for the location instead of assuming. |
| Filing hours are narrower than court hours | The court is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but public filing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| No probate MiFILE | Ingham district courts appear on MiFILE, but Ingham County Probate Court does not. Estate filings are handled on paper through the probate office. |
| Local packets are strong | The court's free decedent estate and assignment packets explain what this court expects, including death certificate handling and funeral receipt instructions. |
| Zoom practice is published | The court's probate Zoom memos list uncontested probate hearings and probate motions without testimony among Zoom matters, while preserving in-person attendance. |
Small-estate Alternatives
For an Ingham County assignment of property petition, start with the court's own assignment packet. It includes a worksheet and says you need a certified copy of the death certificate plus an itemized funeral and burial receipt showing who paid. The statewide assignment of property limit for a 2026 death is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982, and Ingham's packet ties the amount to the year of death.
Ingham also explains that transfer by affidavit, PC 598, is not filed with the Probate Court. If that non-court path fits under MCL 700.3983, the packet says you can avoid coming to court with that option.
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| June 15, 2026 | Ingham County Probate Court implemented WebTCS, a new case management system provided through the State Court Administrative Office's Judicial Information Services division. The court says some services may take longer than usual during implementation. |
| February 4, 2026 | The court revised its decedent estate and assignment of property packets, including year-of-death cost-of-living tables. |
| January 28, 2026 | The court revised its published fee schedule. |
| 2025 | Local Administrative Order 2025-01 replaced the prior records access order and addresses inspection, reproduction and creation of court files. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Ingham County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First, confirm the home title, the county of domicile and whether any assets still need court authority. If an Ingham estate must be opened, file at the Lansing Probate Register's Office, not in Mason. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags accounts that may not need probate, prepares the Ingham packet, and helps decide whether a local probate attorney should review the home title issue. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Use Ingham's assignment packet if the Michigan assignment of property route fits, or use transfer by affidavit if the non-court route fits. For an assignment petition, Ingham asks for the certified death certificate and the itemized funeral and burial receipt. | Sunset gathers institution details, prepares the packet, and helps plan the trip or mailing question with the Lansing probate office before you travel. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Ingham County real property often requires a personal representative with letters of authority. If a formal petition is needed, Ingham says the hearing is usually four to six weeks after filing and may be in Lansing or Mason. | Sunset builds the asset inventory, generates the probate forms, and connects the parent with a Michigan probate attorney for sale authority, creditor and distribution questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ingham County Probate Court | Opens Ingham County estates and provides filing logistics. The Probate Register's Office is the only in-person probate filing counter. | 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Phone (517) 483-6300. https://pr.ingham.org/courts_and_sheriff/probate_court/ |
| Ingham decedent estate packet | Free court packet for opening a decedent estate by application or petition. | https://pr.ingham.org/courts_and_sheriff/probate_court/deceased_estate.php |
| Ingham assignment packet | Free court packet for assignment of property, with the local worksheet and funeral receipt instructions. | https://pr.ingham.org/courts_and_sheriff/probate_court/small_estate.php |
| Ingham County Probate Court online case search | Searches Ingham County Probate Court cases through the Michigan Judiciary's MiCOURT service. | https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P33 |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Statewide probate form index for current SCAO forms. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary calculator for the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State directory listing for Ingham County Probate Court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small estate articles and guided tools. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Lansing office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income people and older adults in Ingham County. Ask intake whether an estate question fits their services. | 3490 Belle Chase Way, #50, Lansing, MI 48911. Phone (888) 783-8190. https://lsscm.org/how-to-get-help |
When to hire an attorney
A Michigan probate attorney is especially useful in Ingham County when real property must be sold or title must be cleared through the estate, when the estate is too complicated for the informal application route, when heirs disagree, when a will is challenged, when creditors press claims, or when the matter needs a judge and a hearing. Ingham's own packet warns that court employees cannot give legal advice and that a personal representative can be personally liable for improper decisions. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, investments and other assets so the family can decide which Michigan probate path fits before going to the Lansing probate counter.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list and family information into the forms and next steps needed for Ingham County estate settlement, including the court's local packet requirements where they apply.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves Ingham County real property, disputes, creditor issues or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand what is missing, and move from confusion to a ready-to-file probate plan without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Ingham County?
File at the Probate Register's Office in the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48933. The Mason Historical Courthouse is a hearing location, not the Ingham probate filing counter.
Is Mason or Lansing the right courthouse for an Ingham County estate?
Lansing is the filing location. Mason is the county seat and one of the court's hearing locations. If you receive a notice of hearing, read the location line because hearings may be set in Lansing or Mason.
Can I e-file an Ingham County probate case?
No. Ingham County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Ingham district courts appear on MiFILE, but estate filings for the Probate Court are handled through the Lansing probate office.
What are the public filing hours for Ingham County Probate Court?
The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays and posted closures. Public filing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Ingham County in 2026?
Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment costs $25.00 in 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee.
Does Ingham County have local probate forms?
Yes. Ingham publishes free decedent estate and assignment of property packets online. The packets assemble the forms and local instructions, but current statewide SCAO forms still control when an SCAO form exists.
How long does a petition hearing take to get scheduled in Ingham County?
Ingham's decedent estate packet says a hearing is usually held four to six weeks after a petition is filed. The informal application route is handled by the probate register without a hearing.
Can I appear by Zoom for an Ingham County probate hearing?
The court's published Zoom memos list uncontested probate hearings and probate motions without testimony among Zoom matters. They also say anyone who wants to attend in person is welcome. Follow the notice of hearing and the judge's instructions.
Can I look up an Ingham County probate case online?
The court links an online case search for Ingham County Probate Court at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P33. If the case you need does not appear, call the probate office at (517) 483-6300.
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.