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Iosco County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Iosco County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Iosco County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Iosco County Building, 422 W. Lake St., Tawas City, MI 48763 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 609, Tawas City, MI 48763 |
| Phone | (989) 362-3991 |
| Fax | (989) 984-1035 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing cost | As of August 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 August 2026, plus the inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No local decedent-estate cover sheet, checklist or estate form is published. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms. |
| E-filing | Iosco County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. File at the probate register's counter or by mail. |
| Case lookup | No online estate case lookup is published for Iosco County. Call the court to check on an estate file. |
| Remote appearance | The court publishes local Zoom instructions for hearings that are noticed for remote appearance. Do not assume every hearing is remote. |
| Website | https://iosco.net/courts/probate-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Michigan probate path, make a complete list of the decedent's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses and beneficiary designations. In Iosco County, that first inventory matters because the court publishes no local opening checklist, and the probate register will be looking for the statewide SCAO form that fits the estate.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 institutions, then helps turn that asset picture into the right probate packet for Iosco County. That is especially useful when a decedent had shoreline property, seasonal accounts, or family members who no longer live near Tawas City.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Iosco County estates are opened at one courthouse: the Iosco County Probate Court in the Iosco County Building at 422 W. Lake St. in Tawas City. The court serves all of Iosco County, including the Lake Huron shoreline communities around Tawas City, East Tawas and Oscoda, and the west-side communities around Hale, Plainfield Township and Whittemore.
Venue for the first probate filing is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, venue may be in a Michigan county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
Identify the estate assets and debts before filing. List real property, bank and investment accounts, vehicles, personal property, liens, funeral expenses and known creditors. This determines whether a full estate, assignment of property, transfer by affidavit, or another statewide Michigan path fits.
Choose the SCAO form for the path. In Iosco County, use the statewide forms, not a local estate packet. Common starting forms include PC 558 for informal probate and appointment, PC 559 for formal probate or appointment, PC 556 for assignment of property, and PC 598 for transfer by affidavit when that statewide non-court path fits.
File with the probate register in Tawas City. Iosco County is not on MiFILE, so file at the Iosco County Building, 422 W. Lake St., Tawas City, MI 48763, or mail the packet to PO Box 609, Tawas City, MI 48763. Call (989) 362-3991 before travelling if you need to know whether an appointment is preferred.
Pay the opening cost that applies. As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, and the estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Assignment of property costs $25.00 as of August 2026, plus the inventory fee.
Give required notices. On the informal track, the probate register may act without a judge when the application is proper, but Michigan notice rules still apply. If a personal representative is appointed, use the SCAO notice forms required for interested persons and creditors.
Watch for a hearing notice. Some Iosco filings may be handled without a hearing, while formal or contested matters may be set before the court. If the hearing notice gives remote instructions, follow Iosco's own Zoom instructions and local conduct rules for a quiet, private, well-lit location and stable connection.
Obtain letters of authority if a personal representative is appointed. The Michigan authority document is PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative. As of August 2026, certified copies cost $10.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, deals with creditors, files the inventory information required by MCR 5.307, pays the inventory fee, distributes property, and closes the estate using the appropriate SCAO closing form or court order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Iosco County
Iosco County publishes no local decedent-estate form, cover sheet or checklist. Use the Michigan SCAO Estates, Trusts and Miscellaneous Probate Forms index for the statewide PC forms used in Iosco County Probate Court.
| Need | Common Michigan form | Iosco County note |
|---|---|---|
| Open an informal estate | PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | File with the probate register in Tawas City or by mail. |
| Open a formal estate | PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Used when a judge must decide the issue. |
| Assignment of property | PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment | For the statewide assignment path. The indexed figure is $53,000 for a 2026 death under MCL 700.3982. |
| Transfer by affidavit | PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent | This is presented to the asset holder, not filed with the court, when the statewide requirements fit. The indexed figure is $53,000 for a 2026 death under MCL 700.3983. |
| Inventory | PC 577, Inventory | The inventory fee is calculated under MCL 600.871 and paid from estate assets. |
| Close an unsupervised estate | PC 591, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration | Use when the statewide closing requirements are met. |
If you see an older small-estate number on an Iosco County page, do not rely on it for a current filing. Michigan's small-estate amounts are adjusted by the state, and the current indexed figure depends on the year of death.
Local nuance
Iosco County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an Iosco filing |
|---|---|
| Detailed Zoom instructions | Iosco publishes local remote-hearing instructions with conduct rules for video proceedings, including using a private and quiet room, keeping the device stable, and following courtroom conduct rules. Use the court's instructions if your hearing notice says to appear remotely. |
| No MiFILE | Iosco County Probate Court is not on Michigan's statewide MiFILE system. File at the probate register's counter or by mail. |
| No online estate lookup | The court publishes no online lookup for Iosco estate files. Call (989) 362-3991 to ask about a pending estate. |
| No local estate packet | The court publishes no local decedent-estate cover sheet or checklist. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms. |
| Online payment scope is narrow | The court publishes an allpaid.com payment option with a probate-related location code, but the page introduces it in the context of delinquency and neglect or abuse fines and costs. Ask the court before using that payment method for estate charges. |
| Older small-estate wording | The court's probate page includes an older assignment-of-property amount. Use Michigan's current indexed statewide figure for the decedent's year of death instead. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Iosco County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the Iosco County home was titled and whether it passes outside probate. If probate is still needed for other assets, file the correct statewide SCAO form with the probate register in Tawas City. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and debt information, and prepare the estate settlement packet for the local filing office. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Check whether assignment of property or transfer by affidavit fits under Michigan law for the year of death. If a court filing is needed, Iosco is not on MiFILE, so plan for mail filing or a trip to Tawas City. | Sunset helps identify assets, choose the right Michigan path, and generate forms so the adult child does not start with the wrong small-estate route. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If an Iosco County home must be sold through the estate, a personal representative may need letters of authority from the Iosco County Probate Court before signing sale documents or dealing with creditors. | Sunset helps collect asset information, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with a Michigan probate attorney when real estate must be sold. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Iosco County Probate Court | The local filing office for an Iosco County estate. Staff can explain court procedures but cannot give legal advice. | 422 W. Lake St., Tawas City, MI 48763. Mail to PO Box 609, Tawas City, MI 48763. Phone (989) 362-3991. Fax (989) 984-1035. https://iosco.net/courts/probate-court/ |
| Iosco remote-hearing instructions | Local Zoom instructions and courtroom conduct rules for a hearing you are noticed to attend remotely. | https://iosco.net/courts/probate-court/zoom-instructions/ |
| Michigan trial court directory | State Judiciary listing for the Iosco County Probate Court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide probate forms used for decedent estates in Iosco County. | 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 information and guided self-help tools. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Out-County Assistance | Free civil legal help for eligible Iosco County residents through a toll-free intake line. Ask whether your estate question fits the help they provide. | (800) 872-8432. https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families find bank accounts, investments, insurance, loans and other assets that affect estate settlement in Iosco County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture into the right Michigan forms for the path you choose, including the forms used by the Iosco County Probate Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When an Iosco estate involves real property, creditor disputes, a contested will, or an out-of-state personal representative, Sunset can connect the family with a Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps, and move from uncertainty to a prepared estate settlement plan without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Iosco County?
File with the probate register at the Iosco County Probate Court, Iosco County Building, 422 W. Lake St., Tawas City, MI 48763. You may also mail the filing to PO Box 609, Tawas City, MI 48763.
Can I e-file an Iosco County probate case?
No. Iosco County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Use the counter or the mail for an estate filing.
What are the Iosco County Probate Court hours?
The court publishes hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published, so call (989) 362-3991 before travelling if timing matters.
Does Iosco County publish hearing days or wait times for probate?
No hearing-day schedule or filing-to-hearing window is published for Iosco probate matters. Watch for the hearing notice from the court, and call the probate court if you need to ask about a pending date.
Can I appear remotely for an Iosco County probate hearing?
Uncontested decedent-estate matters are presumed to use videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 when the court allows it, but the court can still require an in-person hearing under MCR 2.407. Iosco publishes its own Zoom instructions for hearings that are noticed for remote appearance, so follow the court's link and the hearing notice.
Is there an online case lookup for Iosco County estates?
No online estate case lookup is published for Iosco County. To check on a file, call the Iosco County Probate Court at (989) 362-3991.
Does Iosco County require local probate forms?
No local decedent-estate form, cover sheet or checklist is published. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms. In informal, unsupervised estates, the court may not require documents beyond those required by statute or court rule, except as allowed by MCR 5.307(E).
How much does it cost to open an estate in Iosco County?
As of August 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 August 2026, plus the inventory fee.
Do I have to travel to Tawas City to handle an Iosco estate?
Not always. Because Iosco is not on MiFILE, the filing options are the counter and the mail. If a hearing is scheduled, your notice will tell you whether to appear in person or follow the court's remote-hearing instructions.
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.