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Oscoda County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Oscoda County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Oscoda County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Oscoda County Courthouse Annex, 105 S. Court Street, Mio, MI 48647 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 399, Mio, MI 48647 |
| Probate filing and scheduling phone | (989) 826-1159 |
| Fax | (989) 826-1158 |
| No probate office email address is published on the county court page. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. These are the Central Filing Office hours published on the county court page. |
| Filing fee | For 2026 filings, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Local forms | No local decedent estate packet, cover sheet or checklist is published on the county court page. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing | Oscoda County Probate Court is not listed on SCAO's March 17, 2026 Chart 1C list of probate courts on MiFILE. |
| Case lookup | The county court page does not publish an online probate case lookup link for Oscoda County Probate Court. |
| Remote appearance | No Oscoda County probate-specific remote instructions are published. Uncontested decedent estate matters are subject to Michigan's videoconference presumption under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, unless the court directs otherwise. |
| Website | Oscoda County court page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Mio, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, ownership documents, beneficiary designations and mail. That list drives the estate settlement path, the forms, the inventory fee and whether you need a personal representative with letters of authority.
Sunset can help search for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions before you decide what to file with the Oscoda County Probate Court. Better asset information makes it easier to choose between an informal opening, a formal petition, assignment of property or a noncourt transfer by affidavit where Michigan law allows it.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Oscoda County Probate Court in Mio serves probate matters for Oscoda County, including communities such as Mio, Fairview, Comins, Luzerne and the Oscoda County portion of Rose City. Oscoda County is not listed as part of a multi-county probate district.
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 nonresident decedent, a Michigan county where the decedent left property (MCL 700.3201). That means an Oscoda County estate is normally opened in Mio when the decedent lived in Oscoda County.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing path. Decide whether the estate needs a personal representative, whether the informal track can be used through the probate register, or whether a Michigan small estate option fits the assets and year of death.
- Prepare the statewide forms. Use the SCAO probate forms for decedent estates. Common opening forms include PC 558 for an informal estate, PC 559 for a formal estate, PC 565 for heir information and PC 571 for the personal representative's acceptance.
- File with the Oscoda County Probate Court in Mio. Use the Oscoda County Courthouse Annex address or the P.O. Box listed above. Oscoda County Probate Court is not listed on the statewide MiFILE probate court list, so do not assume MiFILE filing is available for this court.
- Pay the court costs that apply. For 2026 filings, the statewide opening cost for a decedent estate is $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, and the estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. For 2026 filings, a petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee.
- Give required notices. After informal probate is granted, the applicant gives information of the probate to interested persons within the Michigan deadline. After appointment, the personal representative handles creditor notice and known creditor mailing under Michigan law.
- Wait for scheduling instructions. The county does not publish probate hearing days on its court page. If a hearing is needed, use the probate filing and scheduling line, (989) 826-1159, for case-specific scheduling information.
- Ask about remote appearance if a hearing is set. Michigan court rules presume videoconference use for uncontested decedent estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court may require an in-person hearing and must give access instructions for remote proceedings.
- Obtain letters of authority if appointed. Once appointed and qualified, the personal representative uses certified letters of authority, PC 572, to deal with banks, buyers, insurers and other third parties.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative inventories assets, pays valid expenses and claims, distributes property and closes the estate using the proper Michigan closing procedure.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Oscoda County
Oscoda County does not publish a local decedent estate packet, cover sheet or checklist on its county court page. Michigan uses statewide SCAO probate forms, and in informal unsupervised estates the court may not require documents beyond those required by statute or court rule, except as allowed by MCR 5.307(E).
| Need | Michigan form | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Open an informal estate | PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | File with the Oscoda County Probate Court in Mio. |
| Open a formal estate | PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Use when a judge must decide the issue. |
| Identify heirs | PC 565, Testimony to Identify Heirs | Often filed with the opening papers. |
| Accept appointment | PC 571, Acceptance of Appointment | Used before letters of authority issue. |
| Assignment of property | PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment | Filed with the court when the Michigan assignment path applies. Use MC 97 for protected personal identifying information when needed. |
| Transfer by affidavit | PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent | Presented to the asset holder when allowed by MCL 700.3983. It is not filed with the Probate Court. |
| Inventory | PC 577, Inventory | Used for the inventory fee calculation under MCL 600.871. |
| Authority document | PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative | Certified copies are requested from the Probate Court after appointment. |
Local nuance
Oscoda County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Use the probate filing and scheduling line | The county court page lists (989) 826-1159 for probate filing and scheduling, separate from the general Circuit and Central Filing Office line. |
| Courthouse Annex address wording varies | The county page uses both 105 Court St. and 105 S. Court Street for the Oscoda County Courthouse Annex. The probate address is listed as 105 S. Court Street, P.O. Box 399, Mio, MI 48647. |
| No local probate email is published | Use the phone number, fax number, courthouse address or mailing address published for the court instead of assuming email filing is available. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Oscoda County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled before opening a case in Mio. If the home passes outside probate but other assets need authority, the spouse may still need an informal estate or another Michigan procedure. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title clues and beneficiary designations so the spouse does not open a larger estate settlement than the assets require. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the decedent lived in Oscoda County and the 2026 year-of-death estate fits the $53,000 Michigan small estate limit under MCL 700.3982 or MCL 700.3983, the child may be able to use assignment of property through the court or transfer by affidavit outside the court, depending on the assets. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, generate the right probate packet and reduce back-and-forth with the Mio court office. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires a personal representative with letters of authority unless title passes outside probate or the assignment of property rules fit the estate. File the opening papers with Oscoda County Probate Court if venue is in Oscoda County. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the estate settlement documents and connect the parent with a Michigan probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Oscoda County court page | Local court address, Central Filing Office hours, probate filing and scheduling phone, fax and county court information. | Oscoda County court page |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State judiciary directory entry for Oscoda County courts. | Trial court directory |
| SCAO probate forms | Statewide Estates, Trusts and Miscellaneous Probate Forms used in Michigan probate courts. | SCAO probate forms |
| Inventory fee calculator | State judiciary tool for estimating the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. | Inventory fee calculator |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate information and guided tools, including small estate and probate overview materials. | Michigan Legal Help |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan | LSNM lists its Out-County Assistance line for Oscoda County. | (800) 872-8432 |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Michigan probate attorney if the estate includes real property to sell, a dispute over heirs or a will, uncertain creditor issues, missing interested persons, tax questions, or a need for supervised administration. An attorney can also help an out-of-state personal representative avoid filing mistakes in the Oscoda County Probate Court. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build the asset picture needed for an Oscoda County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a Michigan probate packet using the statewide SCAO forms and the local Oscoda County filing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect families with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, prepare for filing and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Oscoda County?
File Oscoda County probate matters with the Oscoda County Probate Court in Mio. The courthouse address is Oscoda County Courthouse Annex, 105 S. Court Street, Mio, MI 48647, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 399, Mio, MI 48647.
What phone number should I use for Oscoda County probate filing questions?
Use (989) 826-1159. The county court page labels that line for probate filing and scheduling. The published fax number is (989) 826-1158.
Can I e-file an Oscoda County probate case through MiFILE?
Oscoda County Probate Court is not listed on SCAO's March 17, 2026 Chart 1C list of probate courts on MiFILE. Plan to use the court's local filing address and call the probate filing and scheduling line before attempting any electronic submission.
Does Oscoda County Probate Court publish local probate forms?
No local decedent estate packet, cover sheet or checklist is published on the county court page. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms for Michigan decedent estates.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Oscoda County in 2026?
For 2026 filings, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. For 2026 filings, an assignment of property petition costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880(2), plus any inventory fee.
Can I look up an Oscoda County probate case online?
The county court page does not publish an online probate case lookup link for Oscoda County Probate Court. For filing status or hearing information, call the probate filing and scheduling line at (989) 826-1159.
Are Oscoda County probate hearings remote?
The county court page does not publish Oscoda County probate-specific Zoom or videoconference instructions. Michigan rules presume videoconference use for uncontested decedent estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, but the court may direct an in-person hearing.
Do I have to travel to Mio for an Oscoda County estate?
Not always. Some matters can be handled by mail or may not require a hearing, and uncontested decedent estate hearings are subject to Michigan's videoconference presumption. If a hearing is scheduled, follow the Oscoda County Probate Court's instructions for that case.
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.