Back to Michigan
Ottawa County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Ottawa County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Ottawa County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 414 Washington Avenue, Room 200, Grand Haven, MI 49417 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published. Use the Grand Haven courthouse address. |
| Phone | (616) 786-4110 |
| Fax | (616) 738-4624. Ottawa publishes a fax filing policy, but fee bearing pleadings are not accepted by fax. |
| [email protected] for questions. The court does not say estate filings may be emailed. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 for 2026 filings, consisting of the statutory commencement fee and electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986), plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.871). A petition for assignment costs $25.00 for 2026 filings, plus any inventory fee (MCL 600.880(2); MCL 600.871). |
| Local forms | Yes. Ottawa posts estate packets, a local Authorization for Release of Account Information, and a mandatory fax cover sheet for fax filings. The statewide SCAO PC forms still control. |
| E-filing | Ottawa County Probate Court is live on MiFILE. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE, but they are not mandated filers at this probate court. |
| Case lookup | No online lookup for Ottawa County probate files was found. MiCOURT Case Search covers Ottawa's circuit and district courts, but not the probate court. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested decedent estate petitions and motions are presumed to use videoconferencing under Michigan court rules, but Ottawa does not publish a probate-specific virtual hearing page. Ask the court how your hearing will be held. |
| Website | Ottawa County Probate Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose an Ottawa County probate path, make a practical list of what the decedent owned, what was jointly owned, what had a beneficiary, what debts exist, and whether any real estate must be sold or retitled. The right estate settlement path depends on the asset picture before you file.
Ottawa's own small estate materials show why asset discovery matters: the court publishes a local form to help families get account balances from financial institutions for a petition for assignment and inventory fee calculation. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before they build the probate packet, which can prevent a second trip through the court process.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Ottawa County Probate Court serves decedent estates for Ottawa County from the Ottawa County Courthouse at 414 Washington Avenue, Room 200, in Grand Haven. Ottawa County has its own probate court and is not part of a two-county Michigan probate district.
The court serves communities across Ottawa County, including Grand Haven, Holland, Hudsonville, Zeeland, Coopersville, Spring Lake, Allendale, Georgetown Township and Jamestown Township. The city of Holland crosses the Ottawa and Allegan county line, so confirm the decedent's domicile before filing.
Venue for the first probate or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, a county where the decedent had property at death (MCL 700.3201).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, family relationships, will status and whether any Ottawa County or out-of-county real estate must pass through the estate. Use that picture to decide whether an informal proceeding, formal proceeding, assignment of property, transfer by affidavit, or another Michigan path fits.
- Start with Ottawa County Probate Court's estate proceedings page. The court posts separate packets for petition for assignment, unsupervised informal, unsupervised formal and supervised proceedings, with step by step instruction sheets built around statewide SCAO forms.
- Complete the opening forms. For an informal estate, Ottawa's packet starts with PC 558, a copy of the death certificate, a copy of any will and codicils, MC 97, PC 565 and any required supporting forms. For a formal estate, the packet starts with PC 559 and later adds PC 562 after you call the court for a hearing date.
- Upload the completed opening papers through MiFILE and pay the filing fee at the time of filing online. For a full decedent estate, the 2026 opening charge is $175.00 (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986), plus the inventory fee owed by the estate under MCL 600.871.
- If there is an original will or codicil, deliver it to Ottawa County Probate Court, 414 Washington Avenue, Room 200, Grand Haven, MI 49417, in person or by mail within 14 days after filing. Ottawa's packets state that the court will dismiss the petition if the original will or codicil is not received within that time (MCR 5.302(A)(2)).
- After MiFILE confirms that the court accepted the opening papers, file the second round of appointment documents listed in the packet, including the acceptance of appointment and letters of authority forms. On the informal track, the probate register acts on the application; on the formal track, call (616) 786-4110 to schedule the hearing date and time before serving the notice of hearing.
- Give required notice to interested persons and creditors, publish or mail creditor notices when required, and keep proof of service. If a hearing is set, ask the court how the hearing will be held. Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent estate petitions and motions, but the court may direct a different format (MCR 5.140; MCR 2.407).
- File the inventory information and pay the inventory fee. The Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator is the safest way to estimate the amount, because the fee is based on the value of estate assets (MCL 600.871).
- Administer the estate, pay valid claims and expenses, distribute remaining property, keep receipts and accounts, and close the estate using the closing route that matches the case, including a sworn closing statement for an unsupervised estate when available.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ottawa County
Michigan uses statewide SCAO-approved probate forms, and Ottawa County Probate Court builds its local packets around those forms. Use the SCAO forms index for current PC forms, then use Ottawa's estate proceedings page to see the court's packet order for an Ottawa filing.
| Form or packet | How it is used in Ottawa County |
|---|---|
| Unsupervised probate, informal packet | Ottawa's packet for an informal estate, starting with PC 558 and supporting SCAO forms, then a second MiFILE round after acceptance. |
| Unsupervised probate, formal packet | Ottawa's packet for a formal estate, starting with PC 559 and adding a hearing date after you call the court. |
| Instructions for completing a petition for assignment | Ottawa's packet for assignment of property. Use current statewide law for the dollar threshold, because the local instruction sheet contains older threshold language. |
| Authorization for Release of Account Information | An Ottawa County form that helps a filer ask a financial institution for account information needed to prepare a petition for assignment and calculate the inventory fee. |
| Fax cover sheet | Required by Ottawa's fax filing policy for fax transmissions. Fax may not be used for pleadings that require a fee. |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide form set used by Ottawa County Probate Court, including PC 556, PC 558, PC 559, PC 572, PC 577 and closing forms. |
Local nuance
Ottawa County-specific considerations
- Use the Grand Haven courthouse, not the Fillmore campus, for the probate counter. The probate register's counter is at 414 Washington Avenue, Room 200, Grand Haven. The Fillmore campus in West Olive is tied to self-help and MiFILE access, not the probate filing counter.
- Plan around the lunch closure. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but closes from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. every weekday.
- MiFILE matters here. Ottawa is live on MiFILE. Attorneys must use it, and the court's estate packets are written for online upload and payment. A self-represented personal representative may use MiFILE, but is not a mandated filer at this probate court.
- The original will still has to arrive on paper. Ottawa's packets state that any original will or codicil must be delivered in person or by mail within 14 days after filing, or the court will dismiss the petition (MCR 5.302(A)(2)).
- Fax is limited. Ottawa publishes a fax policy and cover sheet, but it does not accept pleadings requiring a fee by fax. That means fax is not the way to open an estate.
- No online probate case lookup is available. MiCOURT Case Search lists Ottawa's circuit and district courts, but not Ottawa County Probate Court.
- Free kiosks can help with MiFILE. The Ottawa County Legal Self-Help Center lists public kiosks where users can print forms, e-file through MiFILE and attend hearings by Zoom at no cost.
Small-estate Alternatives
Ottawa's assignment of property process has a local layer worth knowing. The court posts its own petition for assignment instruction packet and expects the completed papers to be uploaded through MiFILE with the $25.00 filing charge for 2026 filings (MCL 600.880(2)), plus any inventory fee under MCL 600.871.
The packet asks for PC 556, MC 97 for protected account information, PC 565, an uploaded death certificate copy and a funeral bill showing who paid. Ottawa also posts an Authorization for Release of Account Information, which can help when a financial institution will not disclose a balance needed for the petition and inventory fee calculation.
Use the current Michigan assignment of property and transfer by affidavit thresholds from statewide law. For a 2026 death, the indexed figure is $53,000 under the Michigan small estate provisions (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983), and the year of death controls the figure.
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | Harbor Transit began on demand transportation to and from Ottawa County's Fillmore campus in West Olive. This helps reach the Legal Self-Help Center and MiFILE kiosk access there, but it is not transportation to the probate counter in Grand Haven. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Ottawa County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Confirm whether the home passes outside probate because of title and whether any assets still require Ottawa County Probate Court. If a filing is needed, start with the court's estate proceedings packets and use the informal route when it fits. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary assets and debts before the spouse chooses an estate settlement path or uploads forms through MiFILE. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Check whether transfer by affidavit or assignment of property fits under Michigan law. If assignment is needed, Ottawa's packet is uploaded through MiFILE, but any original will must still reach Room 200 on paper within 14 days. | Sunset helps find accounts, prepare a packet sequence, and connect the child with a Michigan probate attorney if the child cannot manage the Grand Haven and MiFILE steps alone. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires authority from a personal representative. File in Ottawa County if venue belongs there, use the appropriate court packet, and expect letters of authority before the sale work can move forward. | Sunset helps organize assets and liabilities, generate the probate packet, and connect the parent with a vetted attorney for real property and title issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County Probate Court | The probate register's office for Ottawa estate filings, local packets, MiFILE questions and court process questions. Court staff cannot give legal advice. | 414 Washington Avenue, Room 200, Grand Haven, MI 49417. (616) 786-4110. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Ottawa estate proceedings and packets | Ottawa's assembled packets for petition for assignment, unsupervised informal, unsupervised formal and supervised proceedings. | Online packet page. |
| Ottawa County Legal Self-Help Center | Helps users find forms, understand court processes, review forms for completeness and use free kiosks for printing, MiFILE and Zoom access. Staff cannot give legal advice. | Grand Haven courthouse and Family Justice Center, 12240 Fillmore Street, West Olive. Phone (616) 846-8141. |
| MiFILE | Michigan's e-filing system. Ottawa County Probate Court is live on it, and attorneys must use it here. | Online login. |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Current statewide probate forms used in Ottawa County Probate Court. | Online form index. |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary calculator for the inventory fee owed by a decedent estate under MCL 600.871. | Online calculator. |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State directory listing for Ottawa County Probate Court, useful for cross-checking address and phone. | Online directory. |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small estate information, including guided tools. | Online self-help resource. |
| Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Holland office | Free civil legal help for eligible residents of Ottawa and Allegan counties. Ask intake whether an estate question fits their help areas. | 115 Clover St, Suite 101, Holland, MI 49423. Intake (616) 394-1380. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney makes sense in Ottawa County when real property must be sold or title must be cleared, when heirs disagree, when a will is challenged, when creditors are active, when a formal hearing is needed, or when the personal representative lives outside Michigan and needs help with MiFILE, the paper original will deadline and Grand Haven court requirements. The Ottawa County Legal Self-Help Center and the court's packets both make clear that court staff cannot tell you the best course of action. Sunset connects families with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for financial accounts, benefits and property leads before filing in Ottawa County. That matters because the court's own assignment process depends on knowing account balances and asset values.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the family and asset information into an organized probate packet, matched to the Ottawa County process and the statewide SCAO forms the court uses. The goal is a cleaner estate settlement workflow before anything is uploaded through MiFILE.
Find a local probate attorney. When an Ottawa estate involves a home sale, contested heirs, creditor issues or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Ottawa County?
File with Ottawa County Probate Court at 414 Washington Avenue, Room 200, Grand Haven, MI 49417. Do not use the Fillmore campus in West Olive as the probate counter. That location is tied to self-help and MiFILE access.
Is Ottawa County Probate Court on MiFILE?
Yes. Ottawa County Probate Court is live on MiFILE. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE, but they are not mandated filers at this probate court.
Can I open an Ottawa County estate by fax or email?
The court does not say estate filings may be emailed. Ottawa does publish a fax filing policy, but it states that no pleadings requiring a fee will be accepted by fax. Because opening an estate requires a filing fee, fax is not the way to open an estate.
What if there is an original will?
Ottawa's estate packets state that any original will and codicil must be delivered to the court in person or by mail within 14 days after filing. If the court does not receive it within that time, the packet states that the court will dismiss the petition (MCR 5.302(A)(2)).
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Ottawa County?
For 2026 filings, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the statutory commencement fee and electronic filing system fee (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986), plus the inventory fee owed by the estate (MCL 600.871). A petition for assignment costs $25.00 for 2026 filings, plus any inventory fee (MCL 600.880(2); MCL 600.871).
Does Ottawa County have local probate forms?
Yes, but the core probate forms are the statewide SCAO PC forms. Ottawa posts estate packets with local instruction sheets, an Authorization for Release of Account Information, and a fax cover sheet for fax filings.
Can I look up an Ottawa County probate case online?
No online lookup for Ottawa County probate files is available. MiCOURT Case Search includes Ottawa's circuit and district courts, but not Ottawa County Probate Court. Call the probate court at (616) 786-4110 for file questions.
Will my Ottawa County probate hearing be remote?
Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent estate petitions and motions, but the court may decide how a hearing will be held and may require an in-person appearance (MCR 5.140; MCR 2.407). Ottawa does not publish a probate-specific virtual hearing page, so ask the court for the hearing format in your case.
Do I have to travel to Grand Haven?
Maybe. Many filings are built for MiFILE, and the county's self-help kiosks can help with printing and e-filing. But the probate counter is in Grand Haven, the counter closes for lunch, and any original will must reach Room 200 on paper within 14 days after filing.
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.