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Ontonagon County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Ontonagon County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Ontonagon County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Ontonagon County Courthouse, 725 Greenland Rd, 2nd Floor, Ontonagon, MI 49953 |
| Mailing address | No separate probate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address unless the probate register gives different instructions. |
| Probate register phone | (906) 884-4117 |
| Fax | No probate fax number is published. |
| Hours | Courthouse building hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The probate page does not publish separate probate counter hours. |
| Filing fee | In 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the filing fee and electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871). In 2026, a petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 (MCL 600.880(2)), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871). |
| Local forms | No local probate cover sheet, checklist, or form packet is published for Ontonagon County. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing | MiFILE is available for Ontonagon County Probate Court as P66. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to use it. |
| Case search | No Ontonagon County online probate case search or docket lookup is published. |
| Remote appearance | No local Zoom or remote instructions are published. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed to use videoconferencing when allowed under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court can require an in-person hearing. |
| Online payment | Probate court costs may be paid through the county probate payment portal: https://pay.govpros.us/mi/ontonagon/probatecourt |
| Website | https://ontonagoncounty.org/county-offices/probate-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Ontonagon County, make a complete list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, account locations, beneficiaries, and co-owners. The right estate settlement path depends on what is actually in the estate, not just whether there is a will.
Sunset can help organize that first step by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the information into a cleaner probate packet for the Ontonagon County Probate Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Ontonagon County is served by the Ontonagon County Probate Court at the Ontonagon County Courthouse, 725 Greenland Rd, 2nd Floor, Ontonagon, MI 49953. Ontonagon is a standalone single-county probate court, not a two-county probate district.
The court serves the Village of Ontonagon and the townships of Bergland, Bohemia, Carp Lake, Greenland, Haight, Interior, Matchwood, McMillan, Ontonagon, Rockland, and Stannard.
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 county where the decedent's property was located (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate assets and choose the Michigan path. If the estate needs a personal representative, prepare the statewide SCAO opening forms for informal or formal probate. If the estate may qualify for assignment of property or transfer by affidavit, use the statewide forms and rules for those paths instead.
- File in Ontonagon County. Use the Ontonagon County Probate Court at 725 Greenland Rd, 2nd Floor, Ontonagon, MI 49953. MiFILE is available for probate as P66. Attorneys must use MiFILE, while self-represented filers may use MiFILE or contact the probate register at (906) 884-4117 about filing at the courthouse.
- Pay the correct 2026 court cost. Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871). A 2026 petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 (MCL 600.880(2)), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871). Ontonagon County also publishes a probate payment portal at https://pay.govpros.us/mi/ontonagon/probatecourt.
- Give required notices. In an informal proceeding, the applicant must give written information of the probate to the required interested persons within 28 days after informal probate is granted (MCL 700.3306). A personal representative must also handle creditor notice after appointment (MCL 700.3801).
- Watch for hearing instructions if the filing needs a hearing. Ontonagon County does not publish probate hearing days or local Zoom instructions. For uncontested decedent-estate hearings, Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing when allowed, but the court may require an in-person hearing (MCR 5.140; MCR 2.407).
- Receive letters of authority if a personal representative is appointed. The Michigan authority document is PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page in 2026 (MCL 600.2546).
- Administer the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, protects property, handles notices, pays valid claims and expenses, files the inventory information required within 91 days after letters of authority, and pays the inventory fee (MCR 5.307; MCL 600.871).
- Close the estate when administration is complete. Use the proper statewide SCAO closing form or petition. Unsupervised administration may be closed by sworn statement no earlier than 5 months after the original appointment if the statutory requirements are met (MCL 700.3954).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County does not publish a local probate cover sheet, checklist, or county form packet for decedent estates. Estate filings use Michigan's statewide SCAO probate forms.
| Form | Use in Ontonagon County |
|---|---|
| PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Used to open an informal estate through the probate register. |
| PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Used for a formal estate proceeding before a judge. |
| PC 565, Testimony to Identify Heirs | Common opening form for identifying heirs. |
| PC 571, Acceptance of Appointment | Personal representative accepts the role. |
| PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative | The authority document issued after appointment. |
| PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment | Filed with the Probate Court for assignment of property. In 2026, the filing cost is $25.00 (MCL 600.880(2)), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871). |
| PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent | Used for transfer by affidavit. It is presented to the asset holder and is not filed with the Probate Court. |
| PC 577, Inventory (Decedent Estate) | Used for inventory information and inventory fee calculation. |
| PC 591, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration | Used to close an eligible unsupervised estate. |
| MC 97 or MC 97a | Used for protected personal identifying information when needed. |
SCAO probate forms are available at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
Local nuance
Ontonagon County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an Ontonagon filing |
|---|---|
| Use the probate register number | The probate register phone is (906) 884-4117. The county page also lists a separate probation and juvenile office number, which is not the probate register number. |
| Use MiFILE court code P66 for probate | Ontonagon appears separately in MiFILE for probate and for the district court. Estate filings belong under Ontonagon County Probate Court, P66. |
| Probate payment portal | Ontonagon County publishes a probate-specific payment portal for probate court costs: https://pay.govpros.us/mi/ontonagon/probatecourt. |
| Local self-help in the courthouse | The Ontonagon County Legal Self-Help Center is in the same courthouse building at 725 Greenland Rd. |
| No probate email to publish | The county probate page does not publish an office-level probate email address for public use. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Ontonagon County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking the deed, account ownership, beneficiary designations, debts, and whether any asset still needs a personal representative. If an estate must be opened, file with the Ontonagon County Probate Court in Ontonagon or through MiFILE as P66. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare the estate settlement packet before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the decedent's 2026-death estate fits Michigan's $53,000 small-estate paths (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983), assignment of property may be filed in Ontonagon County or transfer by affidavit may be presented to the asset holder. If a personal representative is needed, use the Ontonagon County Probate Court. | Sunset helps sort assets by institution, flag which assets may avoid court, and prepare the forms for the path that fits. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often requires a personal representative with letters of authority. File the opening papers with the Ontonagon County Probate Court, then follow the inventory, notice, administration, and closing steps. | Sunset helps collect financial information, build a clean probate packet, and connect the family with local attorney help when a real estate sale or disputed issue makes counsel useful. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ontonagon County Probate Court | Local filing counter for Ontonagon decedent estates. | 725 Greenland Rd, 2nd Floor, Ontonagon, MI 49953. Phone: (906) 884-4117. Website: https://ontonagoncounty.org/county-offices/probate-court/ |
| Ontonagon County Legal Self-Help Center | Helps with simple legal problems using MichiganLegalHelp.org tools and referrals. Staff can explain legal information but cannot give legal advice or represent you. | Ontonagon County Courthouse, 725 Greenland Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953. In-person help is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Remote navigators are available by video Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, with the last session starting 30 minutes before close. On the first Thursday of each month, remote navigator service begins at 11 a.m. Website: https://michiganlegalhelp.org/self-help-centers/ontonagon-county-legal-self-help-center |
| SCAO estates and trusts forms | Statewide probate forms for Michigan decedent estates. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator | Helps estimate 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 articles and guided tools, including small-estate and probate administration information. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Out-County Assistance | Legal-aid screening for eligible residents in listed service areas that include Ontonagon County. Call to ask about eligibility and matter type. | (800) 872-8432. Website: https://www.lsnm.org/sault-ste-marie-legal-aid.html |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the estate includes real estate to sell, unclear title, creditor problems, conflict among heirs or devisees, a will contest, a need for supervised administration, or uncertainty about which Michigan small-estate path applies. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help locate accounts, balances, and clues that shape the Ontonagon County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information, and court path into organized paperwork for the Michigan probate forms used in Ontonagon County.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, real estate work, or help with conflict, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps, and move from asset discovery to a ready-to-file probate packet without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Ontonagon County?
File with the Ontonagon County Probate Court at the Ontonagon County Courthouse, 725 Greenland Rd, 2nd Floor, Ontonagon, MI 49953. The probate register phone is (906) 884-4117.
Is MiFILE available for Ontonagon County probate?
Yes. Ontonagon County Probate Court is available in MiFILE as P66. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to use it.
Which MiFILE court code should I use for an Ontonagon estate?
Use P66 for Ontonagon County Probate Court. Ontonagon also appears separately in MiFILE for the district court, but an estate filing belongs with the Probate Court entry.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Ontonagon County in 2026?
Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026 (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871). A 2026 petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 (MCL 600.880(2)), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871).
Can I look up an Ontonagon probate case online?
No Ontonagon County online probate case search or docket lookup is published. Call the probate register at (906) 884-4117 for case access questions.
Does Ontonagon County publish local probate forms?
No local probate cover sheet, checklist, or form packet is published for Ontonagon County. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
Can I pay Ontonagon probate court costs online?
Yes. Ontonagon County publishes a probate-specific payment portal at https://pay.govpros.us/mi/ontonagon/probatecourt.
Do I have to travel to Ontonagon for a probate hearing?
Not always. Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate hearings when allowed, but the court may require an in-person hearing (MCR 5.140; MCR 2.407). Ontonagon County does not publish local Zoom instructions, so follow the hearing notice or call the probate register.
How do I find out when my Ontonagon probate hearing will be?
Ontonagon County does not publish probate hearing days or a filing-to-hearing schedule. If your filing requires a hearing, the court notice should provide the date, time, and appearance instructions.
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.