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Lenawee County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lenawee County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Lenawee County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, 425 N. Main Street, Room 201, Adrian, MI 49221 |
| Mailing address | Same as the courthouse address. The court publishes no post office box for probate filings. |
| Phone | (517) 264-4614, the probate estate line |
| Fax | The court publishes no probate fax number. |
| The court publishes no probate office email address. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed county holidays. The county holiday schedule includes a half day on Good Friday. |
| Cost to open an estate | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 plus a $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Payment methods | Cash, check or money order only, payable to Lenawee County Probate Court. The court does not take cards for probate filings and publishes no online probate payment option. |
| Local forms | No local decedent-estate form, cover sheet or checklist is published. Lenawee uses the statewide SCAO probate forms and requires current versions. |
| E-filing | Not available for Lenawee County Probate Court. The 2A District Court in the same building is on MiFILE, but probate estate filings are not. |
| Case lookup | No online lookup for Lenawee probate estate files. The court directs in-person searches to the probate counter. |
| Remote appearance | No local probate videoconference link or platform is published. Uncontested decedent-estate matters are subject to Michigan's videoconference presumption under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, unless the court directs otherwise. |
| Website | https://www.lenawee.mi.us/257/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Michigan probate path, list the Lenawee assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, accounts, beneficiary designations and known creditors. The probate register can process the correct filing only after you know whether the estate needs a personal representative, whether an assignment of property may fit, or whether an asset can pass outside court.
Sunset helps with the first stage of estate settlement by searching across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what you find into a probate-ready picture for the Lenawee court or a Michigan probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Lenawee County Probate Court serves Lenawee County from one courthouse counter in Adrian: Room 201 on the second floor of the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, 425 N. Main Street. The same building also houses other Lenawee trial courts, but probate estate filings go to the probate counter and the probate estate line at (517) 264-4614.
Use Lenawee County Probate Court when the decedent was domiciled in Lenawee County at death, including communities such as Adrian, Tecumseh, Hudson, Morenci, Blissfield, Clinton, Onsted, Raisin Township and Madison Township. If the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, venue is proper in a Michigan county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Build the asset and debt list. Identify accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral and burial expenses, known creditors and any will. This decides whether the estate settlement can use a smaller Michigan path or needs a personal representative.
- Choose the correct statewide form. Use the current SCAO form from the Michigan Judiciary's estates and trusts forms index. Lenawee County Probate Court says it may refuse filings made on outdated SCAO forms.
- Prepare clean paperwork. Do not use white-out, crossings-out or writing over. Lenawee says paperwork containing those corrections will be returned. Caption the matter clearly, such as the decedent's name followed by deceased, and include interested-person information and the penalties-of-perjury statement where the form requires it.
- File at the Lenawee probate counter or by mail. Deliver the filing to Lenawee County Probate Court, Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, 425 N. Main Street, Room 201, Adrian, MI 49221. There is no MiFILE estate filing in Lenawee probate court. If you file by mail and want proof of receipt, send one extra copy and a postage-paid return envelope so the court can return a date-stamped copy.
- Pay the opening cost the way Lenawee accepts it. For a full decedent estate, the opening cost is $175.00 in 2026, consisting of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 plus $25.00 under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Lenawee accepts cash, check or money order only, payable to Lenawee County Probate Court.
- Handle required notice. After appointment, the personal representative gives the notices required by Michigan law, including notice to interested persons and creditor notice where required. On the informal track, the probate register acts on the application rather than sending the matter to a judge.
- Watch for hearing instructions if your filing needs a hearing. Lenawee publishes no estate hearing days or filing-to-hearing window. The court's own estate page says small-estate and informal proceedings generally do not require court hearings. If a hearing is needed, ask the probate court how it will be scheduled.
- Ask how any appearance will be held. Lenawee publishes no probate videoconference room or platform. Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, subject to the court's decision under MCR 2.407.
- Receive letters of authority if a personal representative is appointed. Once appointed and qualified, the personal representative uses letters of authority to act for the estate, collect assets, communicate with institutions and complete estate settlement tasks.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory information on time, pay the inventory fee, resolve claims, distribute property and close under the correct Michigan procedure. If the estate remains open beyond the ordinary closing period, calendar the required continued-administration notice.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lenawee County
Lenawee County Probate Court publishes no local decedent-estate form, cover sheet or checklist. Its local probate forms page lists one physician or psychologist affidavit used outside decedent-estate administration. For an estate, use the statewide SCAO probate forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
The local point is version control. Lenawee says it requires current SCAO forms and may refuse filings made on outdated forms, so download the form fresh before filing. In an informal, unsupervised estate, Michigan court rules also limit what extra papers a probate court may require beyond statute and court rule (MCR 5.307).
Local nuance
Lenawee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Room 201 is the probate counter | Go to Lenawee County Probate Court in Room 201 on the second floor of the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, not to another court counter in the same building. |
| No MiFILE for probate | File Lenawee estate papers on paper at the counter or by mail. The 2A District Court in the same building is on MiFILE, but Lenawee County Probate Court is not. |
| Cash, check or money order only | Bring cash, a check or a money order payable to Lenawee County Probate Court. The court does not take card payments for probate filings. |
| Date-stamped copy by mail | If you mail a filing and want a receipt copy, include one extra copy and a postage-paid return envelope. The court will date-stamp and return the extra copy. |
| No corrected paperwork | Print a fresh form if you make a mistake. The court says paperwork with white-out, crossings-out or writing over will be returned. |
| Current SCAO forms required | Download forms from the Michigan Judiciary forms index each time rather than reusing an old copy. |
| No online probate file lookup | Ask at the probate counter for an in-person search. The court says searches are set aside Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and asks for a last name and approximate year of death. |
| Will on deposit | If a family cannot find a will, bring or send a death certificate and ask whether the decedent deposited a will with the court. The court will not disclose that information while the person is alive. |
| Building security | Plan ahead for screening. The court says purses, backpacks, bags and similar items may not be brought into the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Lenawee path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the Adrian-area home is titled and whether it passes outside probate. If the estate still needs a personal representative, file the current statewide SCAO opening papers with Lenawee County Probate Court in Room 201. Bring cash, check or money order for any court cost due. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize ownership details and prepare a probate packet so the surviving spouse can decide whether a Lenawee filing is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Because Lenawee is not on MiFILE, the filing is paper. If a court filing is needed, mail it to Room 201 with the correct payment, one extra copy and a postage-paid return envelope if you want a date-stamped copy back. If transfer by affidavit fits under MCL 700.3983, it is presented to the holder of the asset rather than filed with the court. | Sunset helps identify the accounts and generate the right paperwork so the child can reduce trips to Adrian and know when a local attorney should step in. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Lenawee real property often requires a personal representative with letters of authority. File clean, current SCAO papers at the Lenawee probate counter or by mail, then use the letters of authority to work with the title company, realtor and institutions. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement file, gathers asset details and can connect the parent with a Michigan probate attorney for real-estate and court issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Lenawee County Probate Court | The local court counter for opening a Lenawee decedent estate and asking procedural questions about filing delivery, payment and scheduling. | 425 N. Main Street, Room 201, Adrian, MI 49221. (517) 264-4614. https://www.lenawee.mi.us/257/Probate-Court |
| Filing and fees at the Lenawee court | The court's own guidance on payment methods, date-stamped return copies, captioning and petition statements. | https://www.lenawee.mi.us/592/Filing-Fees |
| Court brochures in the probate lobby | The court says informational brochures and packets for some proceeding types are available in the probate lobby during counter hours. | https://www.lenawee.mi.us/598/Self-Representation |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide Michigan probate forms used in Lenawee County. Download current versions before filing. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | The Michigan Judiciary calculator for the inventory fee owed under MCL 600.871. Lenawee links to it from its own inventory fees page. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | The Judiciary directory listing for Lenawee County Probate Court, useful for checking the court's address and telephone number. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small-estate information, including guided help for some small-estate steps. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| State Bar of Michigan lawyer referral service | The lawyer referral service named by the Lenawee court for people who need an attorney and do not have one. | (800) 968-0738 in Michigan, (517) 346-6338 outside Michigan. http://www.michbar.org/programs/lawyerreferral |
| Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Monroe office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents and older adults in Monroe and Lenawee counties. Ask at intake whether an estate question fits its services. | 898 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI 48161. (734) 241-8310 or 1-888-251-1598. https://lsscm.org/how-to-get-help |
When to hire an attorney
A Michigan probate attorney is especially useful in Lenawee County when real estate must be sold or title must be cleared, when the estate is too large for a small-estate path, when heirs disagree, when a will is challenged, when creditors are pressing claims, when the personal representative lives outside Michigan, or when the matter requires a judge instead of the probate register. Lenawee County Probate Court says there is no legal requirement to use an attorney, but it also says court staff cannot give legal advice and self-represented people are held to the same standards as attorneys. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families find bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, real estate clues and other assets that affect the Lenawee probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Once the asset picture is clear, Sunset helps organize the information needed for the statewide Michigan probate forms used by Lenawee County Probate Court, including details that support estate settlement and inventory preparation.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves Lenawee real property, disputes, creditor problems, missing heirs or a hearing before the judge, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize probate tasks, documents and next steps without paying Sunset. If an attorney is needed, the attorney will explain any legal fees separately.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Lenawee County?
File at Lenawee County Probate Court, Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, 425 N. Main Street, Room 201, Adrian, MI 49221. The probate estate phone number is (517) 264-4614. The counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except county holidays.
Can I e-file a Lenawee County probate estate?
No. Lenawee County Probate Court is not on MiFILE for estate cases. File on paper at the counter or by mail. The 2A District Court in the same building appears on MiFILE, but that does not make MiFILE available for a Lenawee probate estate.
How do I pay the Lenawee probate court?
Use cash, check or money order payable to Lenawee County Probate Court. The court says it does not accept credit, debit or charge cards for probate filings, and it publishes no online probate payment option.
How much does it cost to open a Lenawee estate in 2026?
Opening a full decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026, consisting of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 plus $25.00 under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 in 2026 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee that applies.
Does Lenawee County publish local probate forms?
No local decedent-estate form, cover sheet or checklist is published. Use the statewide SCAO estate forms, and download current versions because Lenawee says it may refuse outdated SCAO forms.
Will I have a hearing in Lenawee County Probate Court?
Not always. The court's own estate page says small-estate and informal proceedings generally do not require hearings. Lenawee publishes no estate hearing days or filing-to-hearing window, so ask the probate court how scheduling will work if your filing requires a hearing.
Can I appear remotely for a Lenawee probate hearing?
Lenawee publishes no probate videoconference link, room or platform. Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, subject to the court's authority under MCR 2.407. If a hearing is set, ask the probate court how to appear.
How do I look up a Lenawee probate estate file?
There is no online lookup for Lenawee probate estate files. The court directs searches to the probate counter, with searches set aside Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bring a last name and approximate year of death. Photocopies are listed at $1.00 per page as of August 2026.
Do I have to travel to Adrian if I live out of state?
Maybe not for every step. Lenawee accepts paper filings by mail, and if you include one extra copy plus a postage-paid return envelope, the court will return a date-stamped copy. If a hearing is required or an original document issue comes up, ask the court or a Michigan probate attorney before booking travel.
What if I cannot find the decedent's will in Lenawee County?
Lenawee County Probate Court holds wills for safekeeping for Lenawee residents. While a person is alive, the court will not disclose whether a will is on file. After death, bring or send a death certificate and ask whether the decedent deposited a will 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.