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Sanilac County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Sanilac County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Sanilac County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Sanilac County Courthouse, Room 213, 60 West Sanilac Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, MI 48471 |
| Mailing address | No separate probate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address for the probate office. |
| Phone | (810) 648-3221 |
| Fax | (810) 648-2900 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Current August 2026: opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the $150.00 commencement fee under MCL 600.880 and the $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Current August 2026: an assignment of property petition costs $25.00, plus the inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No local decedent-estate packet is published. The court links to Michigan SCAO probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Sanilac County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. The county MiFILE page is for the 73A District Court. |
| Case search | Sanilac probate files can be searched through MiCOURT Case Search for court P76. |
| Hearing schedule | The court links a live public hearing-schedule display. It does not publish a standing estate hearing day. |
| Remote appearance | No Sanilac probate-specific remote page is published. Uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140, subject to the court's direction under MCR 2.407. |
| Online payment | Pay Location Code 1563 is published for Probate Estate, Conservator and Guardianship payments. |
| Website | https://www.sanilaccounty.gov/courts/probate_court.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Michigan probate path, make a practical inventory of what the person owned, what was co-owned, what had a beneficiary, what debts are known, and whether Sanilac County real property must be sold or retitled through the estate. That asset picture drives whether the family can use a smaller Michigan procedure or needs a personal representative with letters of authority.
Sunset can help with that first pass by using 2,300-institution asset discovery, then organizing the estate settlement tasks around the Sanilac County Probate Court counter, the SCAO forms, and the local case-search and payment tools.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Sanilac County estate at the Sanilac County Probate Court in the Sanilac County Courthouse, Room 213, 60 West Sanilac Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky. Sanilac County has its own Probate Court and is not one of Michigan's two-county probate districts.
Michigan venue is based on 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
- List the assets, debts, family contacts, will, beneficiary designations, and any Sanilac County real property before selecting a filing path.
- Check whether a file already exists in Sanilac by using the court's MiCOURT Case Search link for P76.
- Choose the correct Michigan SCAO form. Common estate-opening forms include PC 558 for informal probate and appointment, PC 559 for a formal petition, and PC 556 for assignment of property. PC 598 is used for transfer by affidavit and is presented to the asset holder rather than filed with the court.
- File the opening papers with the probate register at Sanilac County Probate Court, Room 213, 60 West Sanilac Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky. If you cannot appear at the counter, call (810) 648-3221 to ask how the court wants the filing delivered.
- Pay the current August 2026 court cost. Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, and the estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Sanilac publishes Pay Location Code 1563 for probate payments.
- Give the notices required by EPIC. On the informal track, the applicant must give written information of the probate within 28 days after informal probate is granted (MCL 700.3306). After appointment, the personal representative must publish notice to creditors and send notice to known creditors as required by MCL 700.3801.
- Watch the court's live hearing-schedule display if your matter is set for hearing. For an uncontested estate matter, ask the probate office whether the court will use videoconferencing, since MCR 5.140 creates a presumption for videoconferencing and MCR 2.407 lets the court decide the details.
- After appointment, use the letters of authority to gather estate assets, communicate with institutions, address creditor claims, and manage any sale or transfer that belongs in the estate.
- File the inventory information within 91 days after letters of authority and pay the inventory fee no later than the deadline set by MCR 5.307 and MCL 600.871.
- Close the estate when administration is complete, using the Michigan closing procedure that fits the case, such as a sworn statement to close unsupervised administration or a court order when a formal closing is needed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Sanilac County
Sanilac County Probate Court does not publish a local decedent-estate packet or cover sheet. Its probate page links to the Michigan SCAO probate form index, and estate filings use the statewide PC forms.
| Form or resource | Use in Sanilac County |
|---|---|
| SCAO probate form index | The court's linked form source for Michigan probate forms. |
| SCAO estates and trusts forms | The statewide estate form set, including opening, inventory, notice, and closing forms. |
| PC 558 | Application for informal probate and/or appointment of personal representative. |
| PC 559 | Petition for probate and/or appointment of personal representative in a formal proceeding. |
| PC 556 | Petition and Order for Assignment, filed with the Probate Court for assignment of property. |
| PC 598 | Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent, used for transfer by affidavit under MCL 700.3983 and not filed with the court. |
| MC 97 or MC 97a | Use for protected personal identifying information when a form requires information that should not appear on the public filing. |
Local nuance
Sanilac County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| MiCOURT probate case search | Sanilac's probate page links directly to a MiCOURT Case Search for court P76, so you can check the online case index for this court. |
| Live hearing-schedule display | The court links a public hearing-schedule display. Treat it as a live schedule, not as a promise that estates are heard on a particular day. |
| MiFILE page is for another court | The county's MiFILE page is headed for the 73A District Court. Sanilac County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. |
| Online payment code | Sanilac publishes Pay Location Code 1563 for Probate Estate, Conservator and Guardianship payments. |
| Lunch closure | The probate office is closed from noon to 1:00 p.m., so plan courthouse trips around that daily closure. |
| No local estate forms | The probate page points families to SCAO forms and does not publish a Sanilac decedent-estate packet. |
Recent updates
| Local update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Current county website | The Sanilac County Probate Court page is on sanilaccounty.gov. |
| Lunch closure | The court publishes a noon to 1:00 p.m. lunch closure for the probate office. |
| Online case search and payments | The court links MiCOURT Case Search for P76 and publishes Pay Location Code 1563 for probate-related payments. |
| MiFILE distinction | The county's MiFILE page is for the 73A District Court, not Sanilac County Probate Court. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Sanilac County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the Sandusky-area or other Sanilac County home is titled and whether it passes outside probate. If probate is needed for other assets, file the correct SCAO papers with the Sanilac County Probate Court in Room 213 and account for the spouse's Michigan protections under EPIC. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare the family for a Sanilac filing or an attorney conversation. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If no Michigan real property is involved and the estate fits the 2026 death figure of $53,000 under MCL 700.3983, transfer by affidavit may avoid a court filing. If assignment of property is needed, use PC 556 and file with the Sanilac probate register. Ask the court how to deliver papers if you cannot travel to Sandusky. | Sunset helps sort assets, choose between a court filing and a transfer by affidavit, and keep the estate settlement checklist moving from out of state. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Sanilac County real property often requires a personal representative with letters of authority unless the assignment of property path fits the 2026 death figure of $53,000 under MCL 700.3982. If a full administration is needed, open the estate in Sanilac County Probate Court and plan for inventory, creditor notice, and closing. | Sunset helps locate accounts and debts, build a probate packet, and connect the family with a Michigan probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Sanilac County Probate Court | The local filing office for Sanilac County estates. | Room 213, 60 West Sanilac Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, MI 48471. (810) 648-3221. https://www.sanilaccounty.gov/courts/probate_court.php |
| Sanilac County probate case search | Search Sanilac probate files in MiCOURT for court P76. | https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/?redirectUrl=%2Fcourt%2FP76 |
| Sanilac County court hearing schedule display | View the live public hearing-schedule display linked by the court. | https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/court-display/display/public/RXIulWTX20KBobhVWQ4XWA |
| Pay Sanilac County Probate Court fees online | Use Pay Location Code 1563 for Probate Estate, Conservator and Guardianship payments. | https://www.govpaynow.com/gps/user/plc/1563 |
| SCAO probate forms | Access the Michigan probate forms linked by the Sanilac court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/probate-court-forms/ |
| SCAO estates and trusts forms | Find estate-specific PC forms for opening, administering, and closing an estate. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | 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 and small-estate information. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Counsel & Advocacy Law Line, Lakeshore Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for eligible Sanilac County low-income and senior residents, including estate and small-estate topics listed by the provider. | (888) 783-8190. https://lakeshorelegalaid.org/ |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State court directory entry for Sanilac County Probate Court. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/ |
When to hire an attorney
A Michigan probate attorney is especially useful when Sanilac County real property must be sold or its title cleared through the estate, when the estate is too large for a small-estate option, when heirs disagree, when creditor issues are active, or when the personal representative lives outside Michigan. Sunset connects to a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions, organizes what is found, and helps families understand what may belong in the estate settlement and what may pass outside probate.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture into an organized task list and probate packet for the Michigan path that fits, including the Sanilac County filing location and the SCAO forms families commonly need.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Sanilac estate has real property, conflict, creditor pressure, or a formal court issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find accounts, prepare next steps, and decide whether they need court filing support or legal help.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Sanilac County?
File with the Sanilac County Probate Court at the Sanilac County Courthouse, Room 213, 60 West Sanilac Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, MI 48471. The probate office phone number is (810) 648-3221.
Is Sanilac County Probate Court on MiFILE?
No. Sanilac County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. The MiFILE page on the county website is for the 73A District Court, not the Probate Court.
Can I look up a Sanilac County probate case online?
Yes. The court links to MiCOURT Case Search for Sanilac County Probate Court, court P76. Use it as an online case index, not as a promise that document images or every filing detail will be available.
Does Sanilac County publish probate hearing days?
The court links a live public hearing-schedule display, but it does not publish a standing decedent-estate hearing day or a filing-to-hearing wait. Check the display and call the probate office if you need the current setting for a specific matter.
Can I appear remotely for a Sanilac County probate hearing?
The court does not publish a probate-specific remote-hearing page. Michigan court rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, while MCR 2.407 lets the court decide how the hearing will be held. Ask the probate office how to appear in your case.
Does Sanilac County have local probate estate forms?
No local decedent-estate packet is published. Sanilac County Probate Court links to the Michigan SCAO probate form index, and estate filings use the statewide PC forms.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Sanilac County?
Current August 2026: opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the $150.00 commencement fee under MCL 600.880 and the $25.00 electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Sanilac publishes Pay Location Code 1563 for probate payments.
Do I have to travel to Sandusky to start a Sanilac County probate case?
The published filing office is the probate register's counter in Room 213 at the Sanilac County Courthouse. If you cannot travel to Sandusky, call (810) 648-3221 to ask how the court wants your filing delivered.
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.