Back to Michigan
Washtenaw County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Washtenaw County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Washtenaw County Probate Court, court code P81 |
| Courthouse address | Washtenaw County Courthouse, 101 E. Huron Street, Room 1104, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
| Mailing address | Washtenaw County Trial Court, P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 |
| Phone | (734) 222-3072 |
| Fax | (734) 222-3019, listed as a contact fax, not as a published probate filing channel |
| [email protected] for non-fee probate filings submitted as separate PDF attachments | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Filings received after 4:30 p.m. are treated as filed the next business day. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026, plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986; MCL 600.871). The court does not accept filing-fee payments through its online payment portal. |
| Local forms | No local probate petition, application, cover sheet or checklist is published. Washtenaw uses the statewide SCAO probate forms and publishes two local forms a probate filer may meet: the Request and Order for Zoom Appearance and the Trial Court Documents Request Form. |
| E-filing status | MiFILE is active at the Washtenaw County Trial Court for civil, domestic and name change case types, but probate is listed by the court as a case type not currently accepted for e-filing. Probate opening papers are filed on paper at the counter or by mail. |
| Case search | Yes. The Washtenaw County Trial Court online case and calendar search includes civil, family and probate case records and calendar entries. Public case documents are not accessible online and must be ordered from the court. |
| Remote appearance | The court publishes a probate-inclusive Request and Order for Zoom Appearance. File the request at least 48 hours before the hearing. The judge decides whether Zoom is allowed for that hearing. |
| Website | https://www.washtenaw.org/probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Washtenaw County, make a working list of what the person owned, how each asset was titled, what debts exist, and whether any institution will require letters of authority. That asset picture determines whether you are mailing a small-estate filing to Ann Arbor, opening an informal estate through the probate register, or preparing for a formal hearing before a judge.
Sunset can help with estate settlement before the first filing by searching across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts, policies and other assets, then organizing what you find into the form packet and next steps for Washtenaw County.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Washtenaw County estate at the Washtenaw County Probate Court in the Washtenaw County Courthouse, 101 E. Huron Street, Room 1104, Ann Arbor. The county has other court locations in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea and Saline for district court matters, but estate filings go to the Probate Court counter in Ann Arbor.
Michigan venue turns on domicile. A Michigan resident's first informal or formal probate proceeding belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Michigan, venue may be in a Michigan county where the decedent had property at death (MCL 700.3201). Washtenaw County communities include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Barton Hills, and the county's townships. Because Milan crosses a county line, a Milan address should be checked against the decedent's county of domicile before filing.
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, title documents and possible heirs before filing. If the estate may qualify for assignment of property or transfer by affidavit, use the indexed $53,000 amount for 2026 deaths and the year-of-death rule (MCL 700.3982, 700.3983).
- Choose the Michigan path and the statewide SCAO form. Informal probate uses PC 558, formal probate uses PC 559, assignment of property uses PC 556, and letters of authority are issued on PC 572 when a personal representative is appointed.
- File the opening papers with the Washtenaw County Probate Court. Bring them to room 1104 at 101 E. Huron Street in Ann Arbor or mail them to P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Opening papers carry a fee, so they are not accepted by email.
- Pay the statutory court charges with the filing. Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026, plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986; MCL 600.871). A petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 in 2026, plus any inventory fee that applies (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.871). Washtenaw's online payment portal is not for filing fees.
- Give the required notices. On the informal track, Michigan law requires notice after informal probate is granted. If a hearing is set, follow the notice instructions on the SCAO form or court notice.
- Use Washtenaw's local filing channels for later papers. Non-fee probate filings may be emailed to [email protected] as separate PDF attachments. Anything received after 4:30 p.m. is treated as filed the next business day, and the court asks that the same document not be sent by both email and mail.
- Ask for remote appearance if needed. Washtenaw publishes a Request and Order for Zoom Appearance with a probate case-type box. File it at least 48 hours before the hearing. The judge may grant Zoom and provide a meeting ID, or may require an in-person appearance.
- After appointment, order certified copies of the letters of authority if banks, brokers or a title company need them. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page in 2026 under the statewide rate, and Washtenaw's records office also publishes ordinary copy charges (MCL 600.2546).
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory, use the Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator, pay the inventory fee, distribute property, keep proof of distributions, and close by the Michigan procedure that fits the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County Probate Court does not publish a local probate petition, application, cover sheet or checklist for decedent estates. Its forms page sends probate filers to the statewide SCAO probate form collection, and Michigan court rules limit what extra documents may be required in informal, unsupervised estates (MCR 5.307).
| Form or resource | How it is used in Washtenaw County |
|---|---|
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Use the statewide PC forms for Washtenaw estate filings. The index is at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/. |
| PC 558 | Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative, filed with the Probate Court when the informal track fits. |
| PC 559 | Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative, used when a formal proceeding before a judge is needed. |
| PC 556 | Petition and Order for Assignment, filed with the court when the assignment of property path fits. |
| PC 598 | Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent. This transfer by affidavit form is presented to the holder of the asset, not filed with the court. |
| Request and Order for Zoom Appearance | A local Washtenaw Trial Court form that includes a probate case-type box. File it at least 48 hours before the hearing if you want to ask to appear by Zoom. |
| Trial Court Documents Request Form | A local records form for ordering copies of court documents by mail. It is not an estate-opening form. |
Fees
Washtenaw does not add a local surcharge to Michigan's statutory probate filing fees. The local money issue to watch is copies. As published in August 2026, ordinary copies of court documents cost $2.00 per page, and certified or exemplified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page. The certified-copy amount matches the statewide certified-copy rate, including certified copies of letters of authority (MCL 600.2546).
Washtenaw's online payment portal is not for filing fees. The court states that portal is for felony and juvenile delinquency fines, fees and costs, not filing fees. Probate filing fees are paid at the counter or by mail with the papers.
Timeline
- Counter hours: the probate counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays.
- Same-day filing cutoff: a filing received after 4:30 p.m. is treated as filed the next business day.
- Remote-appearance request: file Washtenaw's Request and Order for Zoom Appearance at least 48 hours before the hearing if you want to ask to appear by Zoom.
- Copies: the records office says small copy requests up to 30 pages are handled while you wait, and larger or mailed requests are processed under the court's published copy procedure.
Local nuance
Washtenaw County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Probate is not accepted through MiFILE in Washtenaw | The courthouse uses MiFILE for civil, domestic and name change case types, but the court lists probate as not currently accepted. Estate opening papers go to room 1104 or by mail. |
| Email is limited to non-fee probate filings | The court accepts non-payment probate filings at [email protected] as separate PDF attachments. Opening an estate carries a fee, so it is not an email filing. |
| 4:30 p.m. cutoff | Filings received after 4:30 p.m. are treated as filed the next business day. |
| Do not duplicate delivery | The court asks filers not to email and mail the same document, because that creates duplicate filings. |
| Zoom request form covers probate | Washtenaw publishes a local Request and Order for Zoom Appearance with a probate box. It must be filed at least 48 hours before the hearing, and the judge decides whether video is allowed. |
| Online payment portal does not take filing fees | Do not use the portal for probate filing fees. Pay at the counter or by mail with the papers. |
| Online case search is index-level | The trial court search includes probate, but public documents are not online. Order copies from the court. |
| Wills for safekeeping | The court holds wills for Washtenaw County residents. A will deposited with the court may already be in the court file after a death notice is published. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Washtenaw path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and account titles. If the Ann Arbor area home passes outside probate by title, the estate may be smaller than expected. If an estate must be opened, file in room 1104 or by mail, and use the inventory fee calculator for date-of-death values. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, home-title questions and beneficiary assets before deciding whether a court filing is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Michigan small-estate path fits, use the statewide form for that path and mail fee-bearing papers to P.O. Box 8645. Later non-fee papers may be emailed to [email protected]. If a hearing is set, request Zoom at least 48 hours ahead. | Sunset organizes the asset list, generates the correct Michigan packet and helps reduce unnecessary travel to Ann Arbor. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires a personal representative and certified copies of letters of authority for the title company. File the opening papers with the Probate Court, order certified copies from the records office, and plan for the inventory fee. | Sunset helps gather financial information, prepare the probate packet and connect the family with a Michigan probate attorney when a sale or title issue makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it helps with | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Washtenaw County Probate Court | The local court for opening a Washtenaw estate and asking filing-channel questions. | 101 E. Huron Street, Room 1104, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone (734) 222-3072. [email protected]. https://www.washtenaw.org/probate-court |
| Washtenaw County Trial Court filing instructions | Counter hours, email rules, e-filing limits, the 4:30 p.m. cutoff and Zoom forms. | https://www.washtenaw.org/3109/Current-Court-Operations |
| Washtenaw County Trial Court case and calendar search | Search civil, family and probate case records and calendar entries. Documents must be ordered from the court. | https://tcweb.ewashtenaw.org/PublicAccess/default.aspx |
| Ordering copies of court documents | Copy ordering procedure, ordinary copies, certified copies and the records phone line. | (734) 222-3024. https://www.washtenaw.org/records-request |
| Free monthly probate advice through the Washtenaw County Bar Association | The Probate Court publishes that free advice on basic probate matters is available monthly by appointment. | Call (734) 996-3229. https://www.washtenaw.org/probate-court |
| Wills held for safekeeping | Check how Washtenaw holds wills for county residents and what happens after a death notice is published. | https://www.washtenaw.org/wills-for-safekeeping |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | The statewide PC form set used for Washtenaw probate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator | Calculates the inventory fee owed by an estate. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan probate and small-estate information. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Washtenaw County Office | Free civil legal help for eligible Washtenaw County residents and older adults. Ask at intake whether the estate settlement question fits the office's current priorities. | 15 S. Washington Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Phone (734) 665-6181. Toll free 1-888-665-6181. https://lsscm.org/how-to-get-help |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts and other property before you choose a Washtenaw County probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Once the asset picture is clear, Sunset helps prepare the Michigan forms and filing checklist for the path that fits, including the local Washtenaw delivery rules for room 1104, mail and non-fee email filings.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a house sale, contested heirs, creditor pressure, formal proceedings or an out-of-state personal representative, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools at no cost, with optional attorney help available when the situation calls for it.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Washtenaw County?
File at the Washtenaw County Probate Court, Washtenaw County Courthouse, 101 E. Huron Street, Room 1104, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Mail probate filings to Washtenaw County Trial Court, P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107.
Can I e-file a Washtenaw County probate case?
No. Washtenaw uses MiFILE for some trial court case types, but the court lists probate as a case type not currently accepted for e-filing. Opening papers go in person or by mail.
Can I email probate papers to the Washtenaw County Probate Court?
Only some papers. The court accepts non-fee probate filings at [email protected] as separate PDF attachments. Documents that require a filing or copy fee are not accepted by email, so estate-opening papers must be filed at the counter or by mail.
What time does a filing have to reach the court in Washtenaw County?
The counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A filing received after 4:30 p.m. is treated as filed the next business day.
Can I appear by Zoom for a Washtenaw County probate hearing?
You can ask. Washtenaw publishes a Request and Order for Zoom Appearance with a probate case-type box. File it at least 48 hours before the hearing. The judge decides whether Zoom is allowed and provides the meeting ID if the request is granted.
How do I look up a Washtenaw County probate case?
Use the Washtenaw County Trial Court online case and calendar search at https://tcweb.ewashtenaw.org/PublicAccess/default.aspx. It includes probate case records and calendar entries, but public case documents are not online. Order documents from the court.
Does Washtenaw County have local probate forms?
No local probate petition, application, cover sheet or checklist is published for decedent estates. Washtenaw uses the statewide SCAO probate forms, and its own forms page sends probate filers to the SCAO collection.
How much does it cost to open probate in Washtenaw County?
Opening a decedent estate costs $175.00 in 2026, plus the inventory fee (MCL 600.880; MCL 600.1986; MCL 600.871). The inventory fee depends on estate value, and the Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator is the best tool for estimating it.
Do I have to travel to Ann Arbor if I live out of state?
Not always. Fee-bearing opening papers may be mailed to the court, later non-fee papers may be emailed, and you can ask for Zoom at least 48 hours before a hearing. If an original document, payment issue or in-person hearing is required, the court may still require an in-person step.
Can I pay a Washtenaw County probate filing fee online?
No. The court's online payment portal is not for filing fees. Pay probate filing fees at the counter or by mail with the 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.