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Schoolcraft County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Schoolcraft County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Schoolcraft County Probate Court, also described by the county as the 5th Judicial Probate Court, in the 5th Probate District with Alger County |
| Courthouse address | Schoolcraft County Courthouse, Room 129, 300 Walnut Street, Manistique, MI 49854 |
| Mailing | No separate probate mailing address is posted. Use the courthouse address unless the probate register gives different instructions. |
| Phone | (906) 341-3641 |
| Fax | No probate fax number is posted |
| Hours | Probate counter hours are not posted. Call (906) 341-3641 before traveling or mailing time-sensitive papers. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 for 2026, under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 for 2026 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee. |
| Local forms | No local probate cover sheet, checklist, or estate packet is posted. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms. |
| MiFILE status | Schoolcraft probate is live on MiFILE as PD5-2. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to do so. |
| Case lookup | The county probate page links MiCOURT Case Search for PD5~2, the Schoolcraft half of the 5th Probate District. |
| Remote appearance | No Schoolcraft-specific remote instructions are posted. Uncontested decedent-estate hearings are presumed eligible for videoconferencing under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, unless the court requires in-person attendance. |
| Website | schoolcraftcounty.net, 5th Judicial Probate Court page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Schoolcraft County, make a practical list of the estate's assets, debts, beneficiaries, and any real property. The right estate settlement route depends on what the person owned, how title was held, whether a personal representative is needed, and whether a court order is necessary.
Sunset can help with that first inventory step by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets. That gives you a clearer picture before you file in Manistique, use MiFILE, or decide that a noncourt transfer option may fit.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Schoolcraft County Probate Court serves estates for people domiciled in Schoolcraft County, including Manistique and the townships of Doyle, Germfask, Hiawatha, Inwood, Manistique, Mueller, Seney, and Thompson. 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 county where the decedent left property (MCL 700.3201).
Schoolcraft shares the 5th Probate District with Alger County. The district has a shared probate judge, but it keeps separate filing counters. For a Schoolcraft County estate settlement, file through the Schoolcraft side in Manistique and use the probate MiFILE court code PD5-2 if filing electronically.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, interested persons, and any will. Decide whether the estate needs full administration, assignment of property, transfer by affidavit, or another Michigan probate path.
- Choose the correct statewide SCAO form. Informal estate openings generally use PC 558, formal proceedings use PC 559, assignment of property uses PC 556, and transfer by affidavit uses PC 598, which is presented to the asset holder rather than filed with the court.
- File with the Schoolcraft County Probate Court at the Schoolcraft County Courthouse, Room 129, 300 Walnut Street, Manistique, MI 49854. If using MiFILE, select PD5-2 for the Schoolcraft probate court, not D93-2 for the separate district court.
- Pay the court charges that apply. A 2026 decedent estate opening is $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, and the estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A 2026 assignment of property petition is $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee.
- Give required notices. 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 publishes and sends creditor notices as required by MCL 700.3801.
- Attend any hearing the court schedules. No Schoolcraft hearing days are posted. If a hearing is set, follow the notice from the court for the date, time, and whether the appearance is by videoconference or in person.
- After appointment, obtain certified letters of authority for the personal representative. Certified copies cost $10.00 for 2026 plus $1.00 per page under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, pays valid claims and expenses, files inventory information within 91 days of letters of authority under MCR 5.307, distributes property, and closes the estate when Michigan law allows.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Schoolcraft County
Schoolcraft County does not post a local probate cover sheet, checklist, or estate packet. Michigan uses statewide SCAO probate forms, and MCR 5.307(E) limits extra required filings in informal, unsupervised estates.
| Need | Common statewide form | Schoolcraft note |
|---|---|---|
| Informal probate or appointment | PC 558, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Filed with the Schoolcraft County Probate Court, or through MiFILE as PD5-2 if using MiFILE |
| Formal probate or appointment | PC 559, Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative | Use when a judge's order is needed |
| Assignment of property | PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment | Filed with the court. For a 2026 death, the statewide figure is $53,000 under MCL 700.3982, subject to the statute's rules. |
| Transfer by affidavit | PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent | Not filed with the court. For a 2026 death, the statewide figure is $53,000 under MCL 700.3983, and the estate must not include real property. |
| Letters of authority | PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative | The authority document banks and other institutions usually ask for after appointment |
| Inventory | PC 577, Inventory (Decedent Estate) | Inventory information is due within 91 days after letters of authority under MCR 5.307 |
Local nuance
Schoolcraft County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| 5th Probate District | Schoolcraft shares a probate district with Alger County, but Schoolcraft estates are filed at the Manistique counter. |
| Two MiFILE entries for Schoolcraft | Use PD5-2 for a probate estate. D93-2 is the separate 93rd District Court entry and is not the probate estate court code. |
| MiCOURT link | The county probate page links MiCOURT Case Search for PD5~2, which is the Schoolcraft side of the 5th Probate District. |
| Posted hours | The county does not post probate counter hours. Call (906) 341-3641 before traveling. |
| No posted probate email or fax | Use the probate phone number or the courthouse address unless the probate register gives other instructions. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Schoolcraft County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First confirm how the home is titled and whether any asset actually needs probate. If a personal representative is needed, file in Manistique or use MiFILE as PD5-2. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues so the spouse can avoid opening an estate that is not needed for the estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate fits Michigan's transfer by affidavit rules, PC 598 may be presented to the asset holder after the statutory waiting period. If a court order is needed, use PC 556 for assignment of property and work with the Schoolcraft counter or MiFILE PD5-2. | Sunset helps gather asset information, generate the probate packet, and coordinate with local counsel if travel to Manistique can be avoided. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of estate real property usually requires authority for a personal representative unless title passes outside probate or another Michigan path applies. File the estate with the Schoolcraft County Probate Court in Manistique. | Sunset helps organize the estate settlement, identify financial accounts, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Schoolcraft County 5th Judicial Probate Court | Local probate filing counter for Schoolcraft County estates | Schoolcraft County Courthouse, Room 129, 300 Walnut Street, Manistique, MI 49854. Phone: (906) 341-3641. |
| Michigan Trial Court Directory | State judiciary directory for Michigan trial courts | courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory |
| SCAO estates and trusts forms | Statewide probate forms used in Michigan decedent estates | courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan probate inventory fee calculator | State judiciary calculator for the inventory fee under MCL 600.871 | courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate information and guided tools | michiganlegalhelp.org |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Escanaba office | Civil legal-aid provider serving Schoolcraft County | 504 Ludington St., Escanaba, MI 49829. Phone: (906) 786-2303. Toll free: (888) 786-2303. Email: [email protected]. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider getting legal advice if the estate includes real property to sell, a dispute among heirs or devisees, an unclear will, creditor problems, a missing heir, or a need for supervised administration. Counsel can also help an out-of-county personal representative choose the correct Schoolcraft filing route and avoid using the wrong MiFILE court code. 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 families locate accounts, insurance, and other assets before choosing a Schoolcraft County probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for Michigan SCAO forms, including the people, assets, debts, and documents that shape the estate settlement.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney who understands Schoolcraft County filings and MiFILE.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the next steps, gather information, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Schoolcraft County?
File a Schoolcraft County decedent estate with the Schoolcraft County Probate Court at the Schoolcraft County Courthouse, Room 129, 300 Walnut Street, Manistique, MI 49854. Schoolcraft shares the 5th Probate District with Alger County, but a Schoolcraft estate is filed on the Schoolcraft side.
Can I use MiFILE for a Schoolcraft County probate case?
Yes. Schoolcraft probate is available on MiFILE as PD5-2. Attorneys must use MiFILE. Self-represented filers may use MiFILE but are not required to do so.
Which MiFILE court code should I choose for a Schoolcraft estate?
Choose PD5-2 for the Schoolcraft probate court. Do not choose D93-2 for a decedent estate, because that is the separate 93rd District Court entry.
Is there an online case lookup for Schoolcraft County probate?
The county probate page links MiCOURT Case Search for PD5~2, which is the Schoolcraft side of the 5th Probate District. The amount of estate information shown online depends on the court system and the case.
Does Schoolcraft County have local probate forms?
No local probate cover sheet, checklist, or estate packet is posted for Schoolcraft County. Use the statewide SCAO probate forms for Michigan estates.
What does it cost to open a Schoolcraft County estate?
For 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 under MCL 600.880 and MCL 600.1986, plus the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. A 2026 petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 under MCL 600.880, plus any inventory fee.
What are the Schoolcraft County Probate Court hours?
The county does not post probate counter hours. Call the probate court at (906) 341-3641 before traveling to Manistique or sending time-sensitive papers.
Can I appear remotely for a Schoolcraft County probate hearing?
No Schoolcraft-specific remote appearance instructions are posted. Under MCR 5.140 and MCR 2.407, videoconferencing is presumed for uncontested decedent-estate hearings unless the court requires in-person attendance. Follow the hearing notice from the court.
Do I have to travel to Manistique to handle a Schoolcraft estate?
Not always. MiFILE is available for Schoolcraft probate as PD5-2, and self-represented filers may use it. If you are not using MiFILE, call (906) 341-3641 for current filing instructions before making the trip.
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.