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Kent County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Kent County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Kent County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Mailing address | The court publishes the same street address and no separate post office box. |
| Phone | (616) 632-5440 |
| Fax | (616) 632-5430 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The front counter takes filings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, Kent publishes $187.00 to open a deceased estate. That reflects the statewide $175.00 commencement amount, made up of the $150.00 commencement fee (MCL 600.880) plus the $25.00 electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.1986), together with one certified two-page copy calculated under MCL 600.2546. The estate also owes the inventory fee based on estate value (MCL 600.871). |
| Small-estate assignment fee | As of August 2026, Kent publishes $37.00 plus the inventory fee for a petition and order for assignment. The statutory petition fee is $25.00 (MCL 600.880), and the Kent amount includes one certified two-page copy calculated under MCL 600.2546. |
| Local forms | Kent uses statewide SCAO PC forms and republishes many with the Kent caption already filled in. Kent also asks opening filers to include its Case Information sheet. |
| E-filing | Kent County Probate Court is not on the statewide MiFILE system. Estate papers are filed through the court's own front counter during the filing window. |
| Case lookup | Kent publishes a Probate Name Search and a separate online request tool for letters and orders. |
| Remote appearance | Kent uses Zoom for its Virtual Courtroom. Participants may appear by Zoom unless the notice or order says otherwise. |
| Website | https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1421/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Kent County probate path, list the assets, debts, funeral and burial expenses, beneficiary designations, co-owners, and whether any real estate must be sold. In Michigan, the right path depends on the assets and on the decedent's year of death, not just on whether there is a will.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then helps organize what Kent County Probate Court will need for the correct packet. That is especially useful in Kent because the court has separate informal, formal, small-estate, inventory, closing, hearing, and copy-request pages.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Kent County has its own probate court and is not part of a multi-county probate district. One probate counter serves the county from the Kent County Courthouse at 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Suite 2500, in downtown Grand Rapids.
File in Kent County when the decedent was domiciled in Kent County at death, or when the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan but left property in Kent County (MCL 700.3201). Kent County includes communities such as Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Walker, Grandville, East Grand Rapids, Lowell, Rockford, Cedar Springs, Ada, Cascade, Caledonia, and Plainfield.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the local packet. For an informal estate, use PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative, with PC 565, PC 571, PC 572, the will and codicils if any, and Kent's Case Information sheet. For a formal estate, use PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative, with the supporting forms the court lists.
- Add the identity and interested-person information. Kent asks for its Case Information sheet with the petitioner's contact information and each interested person's contact information. Use MC 97 and MC 97a for protected personal identifying information.
- File at the Kent County Probate Court front counter. The filing counter is at 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids, and takes filings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kent County Probate Court is not on MiFILE.
- Pay the opening amount and plan for the inventory fee. As of August 2026, Kent publishes $187.00 to open a deceased estate, reflecting the statewide $175.00 commencement amount, made up of the $150.00 commencement fee (MCL 600.880) plus the $25.00 electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.1986), together with one certified two-page copy calculated under MCL 600.2546. The estate also owes the inventory fee based on estate value (MCL 600.871).
- Handle notice. In a formal proceeding, the court gives a hearing date and interested persons must receive notice. Kent's formal-proceedings page states that personal service must be made at least 7 days before the hearing and service by mail at least 14 days before the hearing, with PC 564 filed. On the informal track, notice may be needed before appointment when the applicant does not have highest priority.
- Use the right decision-maker. On the informal track, Kent explains that the probate register may sign PC 568, Register's Statement, and then issue PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative, after qualification. On the formal track, the probate judge hears the petition and enters PC 569, Order of Formal Proceedings.
- Schedule and appear for hearings. Kent says formal hearing dates may be obtained before filing by contacting the office. Kent also publishes a hearing schedule for events set within the next six weeks, but it does not publish a filing-to-hearing wait.
- Use Kent's Virtual Courtroom when allowed. Participants in probate proceedings may appear by Zoom unless the notice of hearing or order says otherwise. Connect early and follow the court's instructions from the notice.
- Administer the estate after letters of authority issue. The personal representative gives creditor notice, inventories assets, pays the inventory fee, manages claims, and distributes property under Michigan law. Kent strongly recommends filing the inventory itself even when only inventory-fee information is required.
- Close the estate. Use the correct closing route, such as PC 591 for an unsupervised estate, PC 590 for a summary proceeding, or PC 593 for complete estate settlement when a court order is needed.
Executor duties
Kent's main local addition to statewide personal representative duties concerns the inventory. The court explains that, outside supervised administration, the personal representative may not have to file the inventory itself, but must submit enough information for the court to compute the inventory fee within 91 days of appointment (MCR 5.307). Kent strongly recommends filing the inventory anyway so the estate has a court copy if property is later found or a deed issue appears after closing.
Kent also publishes the local timing point that the inventory fee must be paid before closing the estate or within one year after appointment, whichever is earlier. The fee is based on estate value (MCL 600.871) and cannot be waived.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Kent County
Kent uses Michigan's statewide SCAO probate forms. Its forms page is useful because it republishes frequently used forms with the Kent County Probate Court caption, address, and telephone number already printed on them.
| Form or document | How Kent uses it |
|---|---|
| PC 558 | Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. Kent lists this for informal openings before the probate register. |
| PC 559 | Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative. Kent lists this for formal openings before a probate judge. |
| PC 565 | Testimony to Identify Heirs. Kent lists this in opening packets. |
| PC 566 | Supplemental Testimony to Identify Nonheir Devisees, used when a will names devisees who are not heirs. |
| PC 568 | Register's Statement, used on the informal track when the probate register acts. |
| PC 571 | Acceptance of Appointment. |
| PC 572 | Letters of Authority for Personal Representative, the authority document. |
| Kent Case Information sheet | Local sheet Kent asks for with both informal and formal deceased-estate packets. It collects contact information for the petitioner and interested persons. |
| MC 97 and MC 97a | Protected personal identifying information forms. |
| PC 556 | Petition and Order for Assignment, used for assignment of property. Kent publishes local instructions for this filing. |
| PC 598 | Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent. Kent explains this transfer by affidavit form is not filed with the Probate Court. |
Fees
Kent's fee page matters because the court publishes bundled amounts that include one certified two-page copy. As of August 2026, the deceased-estate opening amount is $187.00. The statewide commencement portion is $175.00, made up of the $150.00 commencement fee (MCL 600.880) and the $25.00 electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.1986), and Kent includes one certified two-page copy calculated under MCL 600.2546. The estate also owes the inventory fee based on estate value (MCL 600.871).
As of August 2026, Kent publishes $199.00 when a temporary or emergency appointment is requested. As of August 2026, Kent publishes $37.00 plus the inventory fee for a petition and order for assignment, reflecting the $25.00 petition fee (MCL 600.880) plus one certified two-page copy calculated under MCL 600.2546. As of August 2026, Kent also publishes $20.00 for many filings in an existing case (MCL 600.880b), $10.00 for packets, $2.00 per sheet for standard copies, and $30.00 for a jury demand. The court says fees may be paid by cash, check, or money order and are non-refundable.
Local nuance
Kent County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Office hours and filing hours differ | The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the front counter takes filings only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Kent is not on MiFILE | Do not try to file a Kent probate estate through statewide MiFILE. Use the court's own front counter unless the court gives you another instruction. |
| Kent asks for a Case Information sheet | The sheet gives the court contact information for the petitioner and interested persons. Its petitioner block says email is mandatory. |
| Kent republishes SCAO forms with the caption filled in | Downloading from Kent's forms page can save a filer from filling in the court name, address, and phone on common PC forms. |
| The inventory recommendation is local | Kent strongly recommends filing the inventory itself even when only inventory-fee information is required, because later-discovered property can otherwise create extra work. |
| Participants may use Zoom | Kent's Virtual Courtroom page says participants may appear by Zoom unless the notice or order says otherwise. Non-participants need court authorization to observe remotely. |
| Formal hearing dates can be requested before filing | Kent's formal-proceedings page says hearing dates may be obtained before filing by contacting the office. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Kent publishes local instructions for assignment of property using PC 556. For a 2026 death, the statewide small-estate figure is $53,000 under Michigan's annual adjustment (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983). Kent's local checklist asks the filer to attach a copy of the death certificate, paid funeral and burial statements, receipts showing who paid any funeral and burial expenses, and MC 97 for protected personal identifying information.
As of August 2026, Kent's petition and order for assignment amount is $37.00 plus the inventory fee. The statutory petition fee is $25.00 (MCL 600.880), and Kent includes one certified two-page copy calculated under MCL 600.2546. Kent also notes that PC 565, Testimony to Identify Heirs, is not required for the assignment petition but may help identify the proper heirs.
Kent separates assignment of property from transfer by affidavit. PC 598 is signed before a notary and delivered to the person or institution holding the property. Kent states that PC 598 is not filed with the Probate Court.
Recent updates
| Date | Kent County probate update |
|---|---|
| February 5, 2026 | Kent reissued its petition for assignment instructions and petitioner checklist for small estates. |
| April 28, 2025 | Kent issued local administrative order 25-02 on access, inspection, reproduction, and creation of court materials. |
| February 2025 | Kent reissued its Case Information sheet, the local contact-information form used with deceased-estate filings. |
Scenarios
| Persona | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First identify whether the home is part of the probate estate and whether any Kent County Probate Court filing is needed. If an estate must be opened, the informal packet may be available when there is no dispute, and Kent's forms page provides the common SCAO forms with the Kent caption already filled in. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, beneficiary designations, and real-estate facts before the spouse chooses a Kent filing path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | For a 2026 death, review whether assignment of property or transfer by affidavit fits the $53,000 figure (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983). PC 556 is filed with Kent, and Kent asks for the death certificate, funeral and burial statements, receipts, and MC 97. PC 598 is not filed with the court. | Sunset helps organize asset values, funeral and burial payment proof, heirs, and the correct small-estate packet before travel or courier decisions are made. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home must be sold through the estate, a personal representative may need letters of authority from Kent County Probate Court. A formal petition requires a hearing and notice, while an informal application may be handled by the probate register if the case qualifies. | Sunset helps assemble the opening packet, flag title and creditor issues, and connect the parent with a probate attorney when a sale or formal hearing is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Kent County Probate Court | Court home page with links to forms, fees, proceedings, small estates, the hearing schedule, and the virtual courtroom. | https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1421/Probate-Court |
| Kent County Probate Court probate name search | Public name lookup for Kent probate cases. The court cautions that cases closed or completed before January 1, 2002 may not return reliable results. | https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1104/Probate-Name-Search |
| Kent County Probate Court hearing schedule | Searchable schedule for court events set within the next six weeks. | https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1093/Hearing-Schedule |
| Kent County Probate Court forms | Kent's form index, including commonly used SCAO forms with the Kent caption already printed, the Case Information sheet, and small-estate instructions. | https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1084/Forms |
| Kent County Probate Court fee schedule | Kent's published fee page, including its bundled deceased-estate and assignment amounts and accepted payment methods. | https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1083/Fee-Schedule |
| Kent County Probate Court virtual courtroom | Zoom instructions for participants in probate hearings. | https://www.kentcountymi.gov/1113/Virtual-Courtroom |
| Legal Assistance Center | Free legal self-help center in the Kent County Courthouse, Suite 5100, at 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. It provides legal information, forms, guidance, and resources, but not legal advice or representation. | https://www.legalassistancecenter.org/estates/ |
| Michigan inventory fee calculator | Michigan 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 PC forms used in Michigan probate courts. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate information and guided interviews, including help preparing a petition for assignment. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Aid of Western Michigan | Civil legal aid provider whose Grand Rapids office lists Kent County in its service area. Its service categories do not list decedent-estate administration, so check eligibility and subject-matter fit. | https://lawestmi.org/location/grand-rapids-2/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | Michigan Judiciary directory for court contact information. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
When to hire an attorney
Kent County Probate Court itself tells filers that estates are usually complicated enough that consulting and retaining an attorney is appropriate, but Michigan does not require every personal representative to have counsel, and Kent's informal track can be handled through the probate register when the case qualifies. Counsel is especially useful when a formal petition is needed, interested persons disagree, a home must be sold, the filer lives outside Michigan, creditor issues are unclear, or complete estate settlement will require a court order. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build the asset list needed before choosing a Kent County probate path.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset helps turn the asset and family information into the right estate settlement packet, including the local Kent details that matter, such as the Case Information sheet, the filing-counter window, and the inventory-fee step.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate involves a house sale, a formal hearing, a dispute, or out-of-state administration, Sunset can connect the family with a Michigan probate attorney familiar with Kent County practice.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The goal is to make estate settlement easier to organize, whether the family files a small-estate assignment, opens an informal estate, or needs attorney help for a more complex Kent County matter.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Kent County?
File at the Kent County Probate Court, Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The front counter takes filings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Can I e-file a Kent County probate estate through MiFILE?
No. Kent County Probate Court is not on the statewide MiFILE system. Estate papers are handled through the court's own front counter unless the court gives you a different instruction for your filing.
How much does it cost to open a deceased estate in Kent County?
As of August 2026, Kent publishes $187.00 to open a deceased estate. That includes the statewide $175.00 commencement amount, made up of the $150.00 commencement fee (MCL 600.880) and the $25.00 electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.1986), plus one certified two-page copy calculated under MCL 600.2546. The estate also owes the inventory fee based on estate value (MCL 600.871).
Does Kent County have its own probate forms?
Kent uses statewide SCAO PC forms, and its forms page republishes many of them with the Kent County Probate Court caption, address, and phone already printed. Kent also asks filers to include its local Case Information sheet with informal and formal deceased-estate packets.
How do I get a formal probate hearing date in Kent County?
Kent's formal-proceedings page says hearing dates may be obtained before filing by contacting the office. The court also publishes a hearing schedule for events set within the next six weeks, but it does not publish a normal wait time.
Can I appear by Zoom in Kent County Probate Court?
Usually, if you are a participant and the notice or order does not say otherwise. Kent's Virtual Courtroom page says participants in probate proceedings, including attorneys, interested persons, and subpoenaed witnesses, may appear by Zoom unless otherwise indicated. Members of the public who are not participants need court authorization to observe remotely.
Can I look up a Kent County probate case online?
Kent publishes a Probate Name Search. The court says to search by first name and last name, or by business name. The court cautions that cases closed or completed before January 1, 2002 may not return reliable results.
Do I file PC 598 with the Kent County Probate Court?
No. Kent's small-estate page explains that PC 598, the transfer by affidavit form, is signed before a notary and delivered to the person or institution holding the property. It is not filed with the Probate Court.
Do I have to travel to Grand Rapids for a Kent County probate hearing?
Not always. Kent uses Zoom for its Virtual Courtroom, and participants may appear by video unless the notice of hearing or order says otherwise. Filing is different: Kent is not on MiFILE, and the court's published filing channel is the front counter in Grand Rapids.
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.