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Ogemaw County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Ogemaw County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Ogemaw County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Ogemaw County Building, 806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 48661 |
| Mailing address | The court publishes the same address for mail: 806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 48661 |
| Phone | (989) 345-0145 |
| Fax | (989) 345-5901 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed state and federal holidays |
| Opening cost | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, current in August 2026, made up of the filing fee under MCL 600.880 plus the electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Assignment of property filing cost | $25.00, current in August 2026, under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee under MCL 600.871 |
| Local forms | No Ogemaw County probate cover sheet, checklist or local estate form is published. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing | Ogemaw County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. File through the Probate Court in West Branch unless the court gives different instructions for your filing. |
| Case lookup | Ogemaw County Probate Court is listed in MiCOURT case search for court code P65: https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P65 |
| Remote appearance | No Ogemaw-specific Zoom or videoconference page is published for estate matters. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, subject to the court's instructions in the case. |
| Court website | https://www.ocmi.us/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Ogemaw County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account holders, real estate, vehicles and beneficiaries. The right path depends on what property exists, whether letters of authority are needed, and whether an institution will release assets without a full estate.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families find accounts across more than 2,300 institutions before they prepare the Ogemaw County filing packet. That asset inventory also helps you estimate the inventory fee and decide whether you need a personal representative, the role many families still call the executor.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Ogemaw County Probate Court serves Ogemaw County from one courthouse location: the Ogemaw County Building, 806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 48661. Ogemaw County is not in a two-county probate district, so the local filing counter is in West Branch.
Under Michigan venue law, the first probate filing belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, venue can be in a Michigan county where the decedent's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Michigan probate path before filing. If you need a personal representative, prepare the statewide SCAO opening forms for informal or formal probate. If the estate qualifies for assignment of property, prepare PC 556. A transfer by affidavit uses PC 598 and is not filed with the Probate Court.
- File the court papers with the Ogemaw County Probate Court at the Ogemaw County Building, 806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch. Ogemaw is not on MiFILE, and the court does not publish a local online filing method for probate petitions.
- Pay the opening cost. A decedent-estate opening costs $175.00, current in August 2026, under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986. A petition for assignment costs $25.00, current in August 2026, under MCL 600.880(2). Inventory fees are separate under MCL 600.871.
- Give required notices. On the informal track, the applicant gives written information of the probate within 28 days after informal probate is granted (MCL 700.3306). After appointment, the personal representative handles creditor notice under MCL 700.3801.
- Follow the court's hearing instructions if a hearing is set. The Ogemaw court does not publish estate hearing days or a standing videoconference link. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, but the court controls how each hearing will be held.
- Receive letters of authority if a personal representative is appointed. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page, current in August 2026, under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer the estate. Gather assets, deal with claims, keep interested persons informed, and submit inventory information within 91 days after letters of authority under MCR 5.307.
- Close the estate when administration is complete. In an unsupervised estate, a personal representative may use the statewide closing process no earlier than 5 months after the original appointment if the statutory conditions are met (MCL 700.3954).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County Probate Court does not publish a county probate cover sheet, checklist or local decedent-estate form. Estate filings use Michigan's statewide SCAO probate forms, including the opening, notice, inventory, letters of authority and closing forms.
For an informal, unsupervised estate, Michigan court rules limit what extra papers a probate court may require beyond documents required by statute or court rule (MCR 5.307). If you use the Ogemaw County contact form, treat it as a communication tool, not as a filing method, because the court does not publish it as a way to file a probate petition.
| Form source | Use in Ogemaw County |
|---|---|
| SCAO Estates, Trusts, and Miscellaneous Probate Forms | Statewide probate form index for decedent estates: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Ogemaw County Probate Court page | Local court contact information and MiCOURT case search link: https://www.ocmi.us/probate/ |
| Ogemaw County contact form | General contact page. It allows JPG or JPEG image attachments and gives fax as an alternative for documents, but it is not published as a probate filing channel. |
Local nuance
Ogemaw County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an estate filing |
|---|---|
| Standalone Probate Court | Ogemaw County has its own Probate Court in West Branch. It is not part of a two-county probate district. |
| Contact form limits | The court's contact form accepts JPG or JPEG image attachments and points users to fax as an alternative. Do not treat that form as permission to file a probate petition online. |
| MiCOURT listing | Ogemaw County Probate Court is searchable through MiCOURT under court code P65, even though MiCOURT does not cover every probate court in Michigan. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Ogemaw County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and whether any asset needs a personal representative. If an estate must be opened, file the statewide SCAO forms with the Ogemaw County Probate Court in West Branch. | Sunset helps build the asset list, organize title and account information, and prepare the estate settlement packet for the local Probate Court. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | For a 2026 death, Michigan's small-estate figure is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and 700.3983. If assignment of property is the right path, file PC 556 in West Branch. If transfer by affidavit is the right path, PC 598 is presented to the asset holder and is not filed with the court. | Sunset helps compare the known assets against the Michigan small-estate paths and generate the right documents for the selected route. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If authority is needed to sell estate real property, expect to open a full Ogemaw County estate and request appointment of a personal representative. Use MiCOURT to follow the case after it is opened. | Sunset helps locate accounts, organize debts and real estate details, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when sale authority or court orders are needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ogemaw County Probate Court | Local court page for the West Branch probate office, hours, phone, fax and MiCOURT link. | https://www.ocmi.us/probate/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State court directory entry for Ogemaw County Probate Court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
| SCAO probate forms | Statewide probate forms used for decedent estates. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary tool for estimating the inventory fee owed under MCL 600.871. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate information and guided tools for some small-estate issues. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan | Free civil legal help for eligible residents. Ogemaw County is listed under its Out-County Assistance line, and applicants should ask whether an estate question fits the program. | (800) 872-8432, https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for bank, investment, retirement, insurance and other accounts so the Ogemaw County estate settlement starts with a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into an organized Michigan probate packet using the statewide SCAO forms and local Ogemaw County court information.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, court strategy or help selling real estate, Sunset can connect the family with a probate attorney familiar with Michigan practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and they can decide whether attorney help is needed after the assets and probate path are clearer.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Ogemaw County?
File Ogemaw County probate papers with the Ogemaw County Probate Court at the Ogemaw County Building, 806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 48661. Venue generally belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (MCL 700.3201).
Is Ogemaw County Probate Court on MiFILE?
No. Ogemaw County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. Use the West Branch Probate Court filing office unless the court gives specific instructions for your filing.
Can I look up an Ogemaw County probate case online?
Yes. Ogemaw County Probate Court is listed in MiCOURT case search under court code P65 at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/court/P65. MiCOURT covers some probate courts, so use the Ogemaw-specific listing rather than assuming coverage for another county.
Does Ogemaw County have local probate forms?
No Ogemaw County probate cover sheet, checklist or local decedent-estate form is published. Use Michigan's statewide SCAO probate forms from the Estates, Trusts, and Miscellaneous Probate Forms index.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Ogemaw County?
Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, current in August 2026, under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment costs $25.00, current in August 2026, under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee.
Can I appear remotely for an Ogemaw County probate hearing?
The Ogemaw court does not publish a local remote-hearing page for estate matters. Under MCR 5.140, uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing, but the court will control the format and access instructions for the hearing.
Do I have to travel to West Branch to settle an Ogemaw County estate?
You may need to deal with the West Branch Probate Court because Ogemaw is not on MiFILE and the court does not publish an online probate filing channel. If you live out of state, ask the Probate Court how it wants your specific papers delivered before relying on mail, fax or the contact form.
What if the estate is small?
For a 2026 death, the Michigan small-estate figure is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982 and 700.3983. Assignment of property uses PC 556 and is filed with the Probate Court. Transfer by affidavit uses PC 598 and is presented to the asset holder rather than filed 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.