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Monroe County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Monroe County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Monroe County Probate Court |
| Probate filing counter | Probate Court Office, second floor, Monroe County Courthouse, 106 East First Street, Monroe, MI 48161 |
| Mailing address | Use the same address: Monroe County Probate Court, 106 East First Street, Monroe, MI 48161 |
| Phone | (734) 240-7346 |
| Fax | No probate fax number is published by the court |
| [email protected] for questions. The court does not publish email as an estate filing method. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays. The court's own packet tells filers to call (734) 240-7346 for current business hours before travelling. |
| Opening cost | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 for 2026 filings, tied to MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee. |
| Payment at this court | Exact cash or a check payable to Monroe County Probate Court. No probate online payment page is published. |
| Local forms | No mandatory local estate form is published. Monroe uses Michigan SCAO PC forms and also publishes a small-estate assignment instruction packet and a proof-of-service instruction sheet. |
| E-filing | Not available for Monroe probate. Open an estate on paper in person or by mail. MiFILE rules for the 1st District Court in the same building do not apply to decedent estates. |
| Case search | Yes. Probate Court Public Access at http://courtview.monroemi.org/ searches Monroe probate estate files after the user accepts the court's disclaimer. |
| Remote appearance | The court publishes Zoom instructions for the public. Hearing access details come with the hearing notice, and a phone dial-in option is described for people without a computer or smartphone. |
| Website | https://www.co.monroe.mi.us/696/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Monroe County probate path, list the decedent's assets, debts, funeral and burial expenses, titled property, account owners, beneficiaries, and any real estate. The right estate settlement path depends on that asset picture, not just on whether there is a will.
Sunset can help you build that picture first. Sunset's asset discovery searches across more than 2,300 institutions, which helps families find accounts before they file at the Monroe probate counter, calculate the inventory fee, or decide whether a smaller Michigan procedure fits.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Monroe County estates are opened at the Monroe County Probate Court in the city of Monroe. The estate filing counter is the Probate Court Office on the second floor of the Monroe County Courthouse, 106 East First Street, Monroe, MI 48161. The Michigan Judiciary also lists a Monroe County Youth Center location for the court, but Monroe's estate filing instructions direct estate filers to 106 East First Street.
The courthouse serves Monroe County's townships, cities, and villages, including Ash, Bedford, Berlin, Dundee, Erie, Exeter, Frenchtown, Ida, LaSalle, London, Milan, Monroe Charter, Raisinville, Summerfield, Whiteford, Luna Pier, Milan, Monroe, Petersburg, Carleton, Dundee, Estral Beach, Maybee, and South Rockwood. For a city such as Milan that crosses a county line, probate venue follows the decedent's domicile and property, not the mailing address alone.
Michigan venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a decedent not domiciled in Michigan, a county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201). Monroe County has its own Probate Court and is not part of a two-county probate district.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate settlement path. Use the asset list, debts, funeral and burial expenses, real estate, beneficiaries, and disputes to decide whether a Monroe filing is an assignment of property, an informal estate, a formal estate, or a supervised estate. Monroe's Estates page describes informal estates as the easiest route when no hearing is needed, but the correct path depends on Michigan law and the estate facts.
- Prepare the Michigan forms. Monroe uses statewide SCAO PC forms. Common opening forms include PC 556 for assignment of property, PC 558 for informal probate or appointment of a personal representative, PC 559 for formal probate or appointment, PC 565 for testimony to identify heirs, PC 571 for acceptance of appointment, and PC 572 for letters of authority. Use MC 97 or MC 97a for protected personal identifying information when needed.
- Use Monroe's local instruction sheets when they fit. For an assignment of property, Monroe publishes a small-estate assignment packet. For a hearing, Monroe publishes a proof-of-service instruction sheet for PC 564 and warns that missing or improper service can adjourn the hearing.
- File on paper at the Monroe probate counter or by mail. File in person at the Probate Court Office, second floor, Monroe County Courthouse, 106 East First Street, Monroe, MI 48161, or mail the petition, supporting documents, and payment to that same address. Call (734) 240-7346 before travelling because the published hours include a midday closure.
- Pay the statutory court charges. For a full decedent estate, the 2026 opening charge is $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. For a petition for assignment, the court's packet lists a $25.00 filing fee under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee. Monroe accepts exact cash or a check payable to Monroe County Probate Court.
- Serve the required people and file proof of service. Follow the notice rules for the type of filing. If a hearing is set, Monroe's proof-of-service sheet tells filers to serve every interested person and file PC 564 before the hearing, or the case can be delayed.
- Watch for hearing and remote appearance instructions. Monroe has two probate judges, and the court's posted order assigns new cases equally between them. If the court sets a hearing, the notice gives the assigned case information and any Zoom details. Under Michigan court rules, videoconferencing is presumed for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions, but the court controls how a hearing will be held (MCR 5.140, MCR 2.407).
- Receive authority and administer the estate. Once a personal representative is appointed and qualified, certified letters of authority, PC 572, prove authority to act for the estate. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546. Use Monroe's Probate Court Public Access portal to track the file number, status, parties, and filings.
- File the inventory, pay the inventory fee, and close. The personal representative must submit inventory information within 91 days after letters of authority and pay the inventory fee by the statewide deadline (MCR 5.307, MCL 600.871). Monroe publishes its own inventory-fee calculation page, and the Michigan Judiciary also provides a calculator. When administration is complete, use the appropriate Michigan closing form, such as PC 591 for an unsupervised estate or PC 590 for a summary proceeding.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Monroe County
Monroe County Probate Court does not publish a mandatory local estate petition, cover sheet, or county-specific estate form. Estate filings use Michigan's statewide SCAO-approved PC forms. Monroe's local layer is practical guidance: a small-estate assignment instruction packet, a proof-of-service instruction sheet, and local inventory-fee calculation pages.
| Resource | How Monroe uses it |
|---|---|
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide form set used for Monroe estate filings. Use the form number that fits the path, such as PC 556, PC 558, PC 559, PC 565, PC 571, PC 572, PC 577, PC 590, or PC 591. |
| Monroe small-estate assignment packet | A local instruction packet built around PC 556. It tells filers what documents and asset information the Probate Court Office expects for an assignment filing. |
| Monroe proof-of-service instruction sheet | A local instruction sheet for PC 564. It tells filers to serve all interested persons, file proof of service, and avoid service mistakes that can delay a hearing. |
| MC 97 and MC 97a | Michigan's protected personal identifying information forms. Use them when a form needs protected identifiers such as account numbers. |
In informal, unsupervised administration, Michigan court rules limit extra required documents beyond statute and court rule (MCR 5.307(E)). Monroe's posted materials are instruction sheets, not a separate local estate form set.
Local nuance
Monroe County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Monroe estate |
|---|---|
| Second-floor probate counter | The probate counter is on the second floor of the courthouse at 106 East First Street. The district court is also in the building, so use the Probate Court Office for estate filings. |
| Midday closure | The published window is 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Call (734) 240-7346 before travelling. |
| No probate e-filing | Monroe County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. A Monroe estate is opened on paper in person or by mail. |
| Exact cash or check | The small-estate packet lists exact cash or a check payable to Monroe County Probate Court. No probate online payment page is published. |
| Probate Court Public Access | Monroe publishes a working probate case lookup. Estate files can be searched by name after accepting the court's disclaimer. |
| Two probate judges | The court's posted local order says new cases are assigned equally between the two probate judges. Filers do not choose the judge. |
| Zoom instructions | The court publishes Zoom instructions for the public. Use the meeting information in the hearing notice rather than a standing number from another source. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Monroe earns a county-specific small-estate note because the court publishes its own assignment-of-property packet. For a 2026 death, the Michigan assignment and transfer-by-affidavit figure is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983, and the number depends on the year of death. Monroe's Estates page states the 2026 figure, even though the packet's printed table still includes an older statutory base figure, so use the current indexed amount when deciding whether the path fits.
The Monroe packet tells filers to show that the decedent was a Monroe County resident, or was not a Michigan resident but left property in Monroe County. It also tells filers to account for funeral and burial expenses with a funeral-home bill, provide a receipt showing who paid and how much if someone else paid those expenses, describe and value every asset, and list the heirs.
File the packet at the Probate Court Office on the second floor at 106 East First Street or by mail to the same address. The local packet lists a $25.00 filing fee under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. It also lists certified copies of the assignment order at $13.00 each for 2026, with $1.00 more for each additional attached page, consistent with MCL 600.2546.
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| February 29, 2024 | Monroe County Probate Court's small-estate assignment packet is marked revised February 29, 2024. The court's Estates page separately states the current 2026 indexed small-estate figure of $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983. |
| June 12, 2025 | The 1st District Court in the same courthouse began attorney e-filing requirements for its civil filings. That is not a probate rule and does not make Monroe probate estate filings e-filed. |
Scenarios
| Person | Likely Monroe path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and whether it passes outside the estate. If probate assets still need administration, a paper filing goes to the Monroe Probate Court Office on the second floor at 106 East First Street. If the matter is uncontested, informal administration may avoid a court hearing. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare the estate settlement packet before the spouse calls or visits the Monroe probate counter. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate fits Michigan's small-estate rules, Monroe's assignment packet can be mailed to the Probate Court Office with the required funeral-home bill, asset values, heir information, and payment. Monroe probate is not on MiFILE. | Sunset helps gather asset information remotely, compare the estate to Michigan's assignment and transfer-by-affidavit paths, and generate a packet the child can review before mailing or travelling. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate often requires a personal representative with letters of authority. The parent should expect a Monroe paper filing, possible hearing instructions from the court, inventory work, and a closing filing after administration. | Sunset helps identify assets and debts, assemble the probate forms, track estate settlement tasks, and connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney when a home sale or court hearing is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe County Probate Court | The local filing office for Monroe estates. Court staff can explain filing logistics and court materials, but they cannot give legal advice. | 106 East First Street, second floor, Monroe, MI 48161. (734) 240-7346. [email protected]. https://www.co.monroe.mi.us/696/Probate-Court |
| Probate Court Public Access | Search Monroe probate estate files by name after accepting the court's disclaimer. Results can show the file number, status, parties, and filings. | http://courtview.monroemi.org/ |
| Monroe County Probate Court estates page | Local overview of small estates, informal estates, formal estates, and supervised estates, including the printable small-estate assignment packet. | https://www.co.monroe.mi.us/718/Estates |
| Estate inventory fee calculation | Monroe's own page for calculating the inventory fee before filing or closing. | https://www.co.monroe.mi.us/683/Estate-Inventory-Fee-Calculation |
| Monroe County Legal Self-Help Center | Free self-help center hosted at the Monroe County Opportunity Program. Staff help visitors use Michigan Legal Help tools, forms, and instructions, but cannot give legal advice. | 1140 S. Telegraph Road, Suite 4006, Monroe, MI 48161. (734) 241-2775. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. https://michiganlegalhelp.org/self-help-centers/monroe-county-legal-self-help-center |
| Michigan Legal Help | Statewide plain-language legal information and guided tools for Michigan small-estate and probate topics. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide SCAO-approved probate form index used for Monroe estate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator | Statewide calculator for the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State court directory listing for Monroe County Probate Court, useful for cross-checking the court address and phone. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Monroe office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents of Monroe and Lenawee counties. Ask at intake whether an estate question fits their services. | 898 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI 48161. (734) 241-8310 or 1-888-251-1598. Call between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. https://lsscm.org/how-to-get-help |
When to hire an attorney
You do not have to hire a lawyer just to file in Monroe County Probate Court, and Michigan's informal process is designed for many uncontested estates. Counsel makes sense when real property must be sold or title must be cleared, the estate is over the small-estate assignment path, heirs disagree, a will is challenged, creditors are active, the personal representative lives outside Michigan, or a hearing before one of Monroe's probate judges is likely. Monroe County Probate Court says estate proceedings can be complex and that court staff cannot give legal advice. Sunset connects families to a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, real estate clues, and debts before they choose a Monroe County estate settlement path. That information helps you decide whether a paper filing, a small-estate assignment, or a fuller administration is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the facts needed for Michigan SCAO forms and Monroe's local filing expectations, including asset values, interested persons, funeral and burial expense information, and the inventory-fee calculation.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Monroe estate involves a home sale, contested heirs, creditor issues, formal proceedings, or an out-of-state personal representative, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families understand the tasks, assemble information, and move from confusion to a concrete filing plan without charging families to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Monroe County, Michigan?
File at the Monroe County Probate Court, Probate Court Office, second floor, Monroe County Courthouse, 106 East First Street, Monroe, MI 48161. You can file in person or mail the petition and supporting documents to the same address. Call (734) 240-7346 before travelling because the published hours include a midday closure.
Can I e-file a Monroe County probate estate?
No. Monroe County Probate Court is not on Michigan's statewide MiFILE system. Probate estate filings are paper filings at the probate counter or by mail. The 1st District Court in the same courthouse has its own e-filing rules, but those rules do not open a decedent estate in Probate Court.
Does Monroe County have an online probate case search?
Yes. Monroe County Probate Court publishes Probate Court Public Access at http://courtview.monroemi.org/. After accepting the disclaimer, you can search by name and view estate file numbers, case status, parties, and filings. It is a records lookup, not a filing or payment portal.
What are the Monroe County Probate Court hours?
The published window is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays. Monroe's own small-estate packet tells filers to call (734) 240-7346 for current business hours before coming in.
Does Monroe County Probate Court use Zoom?
Yes. The court publishes Zoom instructions for public appearances by video or telephone, including use of a virtual waiting room. Use the meeting information in your hearing notice. Uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under Michigan court rules, but the court decides how each hearing will be held (MCR 5.140, MCR 2.407).
Does Monroe County have local probate forms?
Monroe does not publish a mandatory local estate petition or cover sheet. It uses Michigan's statewide SCAO PC forms. Monroe does publish local instruction materials, including a small-estate assignment packet and a proof-of-service instruction sheet.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Monroe County?
For a 2026 full decedent estate, the opening charge is $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. For a petition for assignment, Monroe's packet lists a $25.00 filing fee under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee. Monroe accepts exact cash or a check payable to Monroe County Probate Court.
Can I mail a small-estate assignment petition to Monroe County Probate Court?
Yes. Monroe's small-estate assignment packet says you may mail the petition and necessary documentation to the Probate Court Office at 106 East First Street, Monroe, MI 48161, with the correct payment. The packet also explains the funeral-home bill, receipt, asset-value, and heir information the court expects.
Do I have to travel to Monroe County if I live out of state?
Not always. Monroe publishes mail filing for the small-estate assignment packet, and some hearings may be held by Zoom or telephone if the court sets them that way. Because Monroe probate is not e-filed and some steps may require original documents or court instructions, call (734) 240-7346 before deciding whether travel is necessary.
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.