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Mason County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Mason County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Mason County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 304 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington, MI 49431 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address. |
| Phone | (231) 843-8666 |
| Fax | No probate fax number is published. |
| Hours | Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed noon to 1:00 p.m. |
| Opening cost | As of August 2026, $175.00 to open a decedent estate, reflecting MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Local forms | No local probate cover sheet or checklist is published. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms. |
| E-filing | Mason County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. File estate papers with the probate register at the courthouse counter. |
| Case search | MiCOURT case search for Mason County Probate Court is linked from the court's own page and can be searched by party name or file number. |
| Remote appearance | No Mason-specific remote hearing page is published. Uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed to use videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, subject to MCR 2.407. |
| Website | Mason County Probate Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Michigan probate path in Mason County, make a practical list of what the person owned, what was jointly owned, what had a named beneficiary, and what debts may need attention. That asset picture drives whether you need a full probate estate in Ludington, a small-estate assignment, or a non-court transfer by affidavit.
Sunset's estate settlement workflow can help identify accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions before you prepare forms or visit the Mason County Courthouse. Starting with the asset list also helps you estimate the inventory fee and avoid filing the wrong packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Mason County Probate Court serves Mason County from one courthouse in Ludington. Mason is not part of a two-county probate district, and there is no branch probate counter elsewhere in the county.
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding 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 owned property at death (MCL 700.3201). Mason County communities include Ludington, Scottville, and Free Soil.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets and choose the Michigan path. Separate probate assets from jointly owned property and beneficiary-designated accounts. If you need a personal representative, prepare to open the estate in Mason County Probate Court.
- Prepare the statewide SCAO forms. Use PC 558 for informal probate or appointment, or PC 559 for a formal petition. Include the original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, testimony to identify heirs, acceptance of appointment, and any other required statewide PC forms for the path you choose.
- File at the Ludington courthouse. Take the packet to the probate register's counter at 304 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington, MI 49431. Mason County Probate Court is not on MiFILE, and no local filing-by-email or drop-box instruction is published, so call (231) 843-8666 if you cannot go to the counter.
- Pay the opening cost. As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, reflecting MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A Petition and Order for Assignment, PC 556, costs $25.00 as of August 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee.
- Give required notice. After informal probate is granted, send the required information to interested persons within the Michigan deadline. Once a personal representative is appointed, publish and mail creditor notices as required by Michigan law.
- Watch for hearing instructions if a hearing is set. Mason County does not publish hearing days or waiting times. If the court schedules a hearing, follow the notice you receive from the court.
- Ask about remote appearance if needed. No Mason-specific Zoom link is published. Statewide probate rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, subject to MCR 2.407, but the court may still direct how the hearing will occur.
- Receive letters of authority. Once appointed and qualified, the personal representative receives letters of authority. As of August 2026, a certified copy costs $10.00 plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer and close the estate. Use the Mason MiCOURT link to check public case information, file the inventory within the statewide deadline, pay the inventory fee, distribute assets, and close the estate with the appropriate statewide closing form.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Mason County
Mason County Probate Court does not publish a local probate cover sheet, checklist, or county-specific estate packet. Estate filings use Michigan's statewide SCAO-approved PC forms.
| Need | Common statewide form | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Open an informal estate | PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | File with the probate register at the Ludington courthouse. |
| Open a formal estate | PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Use when a judge must decide the issue. |
| Small-estate assignment | PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment | Filed with the court. As of August 2026, the small-estate assignment limit for a 2026 death is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982, and the filing cost is $25.00 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee. |
| Transfer by affidavit | PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent | Not filed with the court. As of August 2026, the limit for a 2026 death is $53,000 under MCL 700.3983, and real property cannot be included. |
| Authority document | PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative | Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page as of August 2026 under MCL 600.2546. |
| Inventory | PC 577, Inventory (Decedent Estate) | The inventory fee is calculated under MCL 600.871 and is separate from the opening cost. |
Local nuance
Mason County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a filer |
|---|---|
| Lunch closure | The probate counter is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed noon to 1:00 p.m. Plan filing trips around that closure. |
| MiCOURT link on the court page | Mason County Probate Court links directly to its MiCOURT case search, so you can search by party name or file number from the court's own page. |
| No MiFILE for Mason | Do not look for Mason County Probate Court in MiFILE. Estate papers are filed with the probate register at the Ludington courthouse. |
| No local estate packet published | Use the statewide SCAO PC forms and do not expect a Mason-specific cover sheet from the court website. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Mason County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home in Mason County | Start by confirming whether the home passes outside probate because of how title is held. If no court authority is needed for that asset but other probate assets remain, the spouse may still need a Mason County estate or a Michigan small-estate path. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and beneficiary designations before the spouse files at the Ludington courthouse. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the decedent was domiciled in Mason County, file any needed court petition in Ludington. For a 2026 death, assignment of property and transfer by affidavit use the $53,000 limit under MCL 700.3982 and 700.3983, but the affidavit path is not filed with the court and cannot include real property. | Sunset helps compare the asset list to the Michigan path and can help generate the right packet before travel is planned. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home must be sold through the estate, a personal representative will usually need authority from Mason County Probate Court. File at the Mason County Courthouse and use letters of authority to work with the title company and buyers. | Sunset helps organize debts, documents, and property information, then connects the family with a Michigan probate attorney when a sale or title issue makes counsel useful. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it helps with | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Mason County Probate Court | The local counter where a Mason County estate is opened. | 304 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington, MI 49431. Phone (231) 843-8666. Weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed noon to 1:00 p.m. |
| MiCOURT case search for Mason County Probate Court | Public case information by party name or file number. | Use the court-linked search page. The search is informational and does not replace the official court file. |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State judiciary directory entry for Mason County Probate Court. | Use the directory as a state court contact cross-check. |
| Estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Statewide SCAO-approved probate forms used in Mason County. | Use this index for current PC forms. |
| Inventory fee calculator | Calculates the inventory fee owed by the estate under MCL 600.871. | Use before filing the inventory or closing the estate. |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small-estate information. | Use the statewide self-help site for articles and guided tools. |
| Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Muskegon office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents of Mason, Muskegon, and Oceana counties. Ask at intake whether your estate question fits current priorities. | 450 Morris Ave, Ste 104, Muskegon, MI 49440. Phone (231) 726-4887. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Michigan probate attorney if Mason County real property must be sold or title must be cleared through the estate, heirs disagree, a will is challenged, creditors are pressing claims, or the proposed personal representative lives outside Michigan and cannot easily work with the Ludington courthouse. Michigan does not require every personal representative to have a lawyer, but counsel can prevent costly delays when the estate settlement involves land, disputes, or court hearings. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize known assets and debts, and understand what may need probate before filing in Mason County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a Mason-ready estate settlement packet using the statewide Michigan PC forms, with local filing guidance for the Ludington courthouse.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a home sale, creditor dispute, contested will, or out-of-state personal representative, Sunset can connect you with a Michigan probate attorney who understands local probate practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, prepare next steps, and get connected to help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Mason County?
File Mason County probate papers with the probate register at Mason County Probate Court, 304 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington, MI 49431. The probate counter is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closes from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Can I e-file a Mason County probate case?
No. Mason County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Estate papers are filed with the probate register at the Ludington courthouse counter. If you cannot go in person, call (231) 843-8666 because no Mason County filing-by-email or drop-box instruction is published.
How do I look up a Mason County probate case?
Use the MiCOURT link for Mason County Probate Court. The court's page says you can search by party name or file number and view sections of the register of actions. The search is informational and does not replace the official court file.
Does Mason County have its own probate forms?
No local probate cover sheet, checklist, or county estate packet is published for Mason County. Use the statewide SCAO PC forms, including PC 558 for informal probate, PC 559 for formal probate, PC 556 for assignment of property, and PC 572 for letters of authority.
How much does it cost to open probate in Mason County?
As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, reflecting MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A small-estate Petition and Order for Assignment costs $25.00 as of August 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee.
Are Mason County probate hearings remote?
Mason County does not publish a probate Zoom page or local remote-hearing order. Statewide probate rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, subject to MCR 2.407, so follow the hearing notice from the court.
How long will it take to get a hearing in Mason County?
Mason County Probate Court does not publish hearing days or a filing-to-hearing estimate for estate cases. After filing, watch for the court's notice and use the Mason MiCOURT link to check public case information.
Do I have to travel to Ludington to handle a Mason County estate?
If a court filing is needed, the Mason County filing counter is in Ludington. Because the court is not on MiFILE and no alternative filing channel is published, call the probate office before making travel plans if you live outside the area.
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.