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Newaygo County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Newaygo County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Newaygo County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 1092 Newell Street, White Cloud, MI 49349 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 885, White Cloud, MI 49349 |
| Phone | (231) 689-7270 |
| Fax | (231) 689-7276 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a midday closure. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 for 2026, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 and a $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 for 2026 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No local decedent-estate form packet is published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/. |
| E-filing status | Newaygo County Probate Court is not listed as a MiFILE probate court. The court code is P62. |
| Case search | No Newaygo County probate case-search page is published. The court's helpful-links page is https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/departments/probate-court/helpful-links/. |
| Remote appearance | No local probate video-hearing instructions are published. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, subject to the court's instructions. |
| Website | https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/departments/probate-court/probate-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Newaygo County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real property, accounts, vehicles, beneficiaries, and possible creditors. Michigan estate settlement choices depend on what the estate owns and whether a personal representative needs letters of authority to act.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before choosing a filing path. That is especially useful in Newaygo County because the court publishes the courthouse counter and PO Box, but not a separate instruction page explaining every accepted filing channel.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Newaygo County Probate Court in White Cloud serves probate matters for decedents whose venue belongs in Newaygo County. Michigan venue for the first informal or formal probate or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a non-Michigan domiciliary, a Michigan county where the decedent left property (MCL 700.3201).
Newaygo County is a standalone single-county Probate Court with court code P62. It is not one of Michigan's two-county probate districts, so Newaygo County filings stay at the Newaygo County Probate Court in White Cloud.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Michigan filing path that fits the estate. Informal probate uses PC 558 and is acted on by the probate register when the requirements are met. Formal probate uses PC 559 and goes before a probate judge. Assignment of property uses PC 556 if the estate qualifies under MCL 700.3982.
- Prepare the statewide SCAO forms and any supporting documents. For informal probate, expect forms such as PC 558, PC 565, PC 571, and proposed PC 572 letters of authority for personal representative. Use MC 97 or MC 97a for protected personal identifying information when needed.
- File with the Newaygo County Probate Court at 1092 Newell Street in White Cloud. If you plan to send papers instead of going to the counter, call the probate register's office first because the court publishes PO Box 885 but does not publish a separate filing-channel instruction.
- Pay the court cost that matches the filing. Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 for 2026, with $150.00 under MCL 600.880 and $25.00 under MCL 600.1986. An inventory fee under MCL 600.871 is also owed. A petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 for 2026 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee.
- Give required notice. On the informal track, written information of the probate must be given within 28 days after informal probate is granted (MCL 700.3306). After appointment, the personal representative gives creditor notice under Michigan law.
- Watch for a hearing notice if the filing requires one. Newaygo County does not publish regular probate hearing days or local video instructions. If a hearing is set, follow the notice from the court. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, unless the court requires otherwise.
- Obtain certified letters of authority after appointment if a personal representative is needed. Letters of authority are the document banks, title companies, and other institutions usually ask to see before dealing with the estate.
- Administer the estate, file the inventory information within 91 days after letters of authority under MCR 5.307, pay the inventory fee, handle creditors, distribute property, and close the estate using the correct Michigan closing procedure.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Newaygo County
Newaygo County does not publish a local decedent-estate form packet or a Newaygo-specific cover sheet for estates. The court's estates page describes the Michigan probate framework and points filers to the statewide process rather than a local packet. The statewide SCAO estates forms are at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
| Need | Form or resource | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide probate forms | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ | Use the SCAO-approved PC forms for Michigan estate settlement filings. |
| Newaygo County Probate Court page | https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/departments/probate-court/probate-court/ | Use for the local address, phone, fax, hours, and court contact block. |
| Newaygo County estates page | https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/departments/probate-court/estates/ | Use for the court's local estates overview, but rely on current statewide law for indexed dollar figures and certified-copy fees. |
Recent updates
No Newaygo County probate rule change is published on the court pages reviewed for this page. Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Newaygo County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home passes outside probate or whether the estate needs a personal representative. If a Newaygo County probate filing is needed, file with the Probate Court in White Cloud. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize asset and debt information, and generate the estate settlement packet for the Newaygo County Probate Court. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Review whether Michigan's transfer by affidavit or assignment of property path fits before opening a full estate. If court filing is needed, use the Newaygo County Probate Court address in White Cloud and call before relying on mail filing. | Sunset helps identify assets, prepare the correct Michigan forms, and reduce unnecessary travel by organizing what can be handled before contacting the court. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires a personal representative with letters of authority. The Newaygo County Probate Court is the venue if the child was domiciled in Newaygo County at death. | Sunset helps assemble property, debt, and heir information and can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | URL or contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Newaygo County Probate Court | https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/departments/probate-court/probate-court/ | Local court address, phone, fax, hours, ADA and language-access information, and links to self-represented resources. |
| SCAO estates forms index | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ | Statewide Michigan PC forms for probate and estate settlement filings. |
| Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ | State-run calculator for the probate inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Michigan Legal Help | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ | Plain-language Michigan probate information and guided help for some small-estate situations. |
| Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Grand Rapids office | https://lawestmi.org/location/grand-rapids-2/; 25 Division Ave S, Ste 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; 616-774-0672 | Legal Aid of Western Michigan lists Newaygo County in the Grand Rapids office service area. Published office 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 probate attorney if there is a dispute, unclear heirs, real property that must be sold, a creditor problem, a possible will contest, or uncertainty about whether informal probate is enough. A lawyer can also help when an out-of-state family member needs to coordinate with the Newaygo County Probate Court without repeated travel. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families build a clearer picture of what the estate owns before filing in Newaygo County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into organized Michigan probate forms and filing instructions for the estate settlement path that fits the situation.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a home sale, dispute support, or court representation, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, prepare for the Newaygo County Probate Court process, and decide what help they need without paying Sunset fees.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Newaygo County?
File Newaygo County probate matters with the Newaygo County Probate Court at 1092 Newell Street, White Cloud, MI 49349. The court also publishes PO Box 885, White Cloud, MI 49349 as its mailing address.
Is Newaygo County Probate Court on MiFILE?
No. Newaygo County Probate Court, court code P62, is not listed as a MiFILE probate court. If you want to mail papers instead of filing at the counter, call the probate register's office first because the court publishes a PO Box but not a separate filing-channel instruction.
What are the Newaygo County Probate Court hours?
The published hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The court has a midday closure.
Can I look up a Newaygo County probate case online?
No Newaygo County probate case-search page is published. The court's helpful-links page is https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/departments/probate-court/helpful-links/.
Does Newaygo County have local probate forms?
No local decedent-estate form packet is published. Use the statewide SCAO estates forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Newaygo County?
Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 for 2026, made up of $150.00 under MCL 600.880 and a $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871.
Can a Newaygo County probate hearing be remote?
No local probate video-hearing instructions are published. Under MCR 5.140, uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing, but the court can give different instructions for a particular case.
Do I have to travel to White Cloud for Newaygo County probate?
Not always. Some steps may be handled through paperwork, and uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140. If you plan to avoid an in-person filing trip, call the probate register's office first because the court does not publish a separate filing-channel instruction.
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.