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Wexford County, MI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Wexford County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Wexford County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Wexford County Courthouse, 437 E. Division St., Cadillac, MI 49601 |
| Mailing address | No separate probate mailing address is published. Use 437 E. Division St., Cadillac, MI 49601. |
| Phone | (231) 779-9510 |
| Fax | No probate fax number is published. |
| No probate office email is published. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The court states that sessions are held daily, with Thursday intended exclusively for the probate docket. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the fee under MCL 600.880 plus the electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes the inventory fee under MCL 600.871. |
| Local forms | No local probate cover sheet, checklist or form packet is published. Use the statewide SCAO estates and trusts forms: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| E-filing | Wexford County Probate Court is not on MiFILE. File through the probate court in Cadillac. |
| Case lookup | No online lookup is available for current Wexford County probate cases. The county's probate docket page is an old posted calendar, not a live search. |
| Remote appearance | The county publishes a Probate/Family Court video-proceedings YouTube channel. For participation in a specific estate hearing, use the instructions the court gives for that case. |
| Website | Wexford County Probate Court page on the Wexford County website |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Wexford County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, title issues and family contacts. The right estate settlement path depends on what exists, who owns it, whether a Wexford County home must be sold or transferred, and whether someone needs letters of authority to act for the estate.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, policies and other assets before choosing forms. That preparation makes the first call or courthouse visit to the Wexford County Probate Court more productive.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Wexford County Probate Court serves probate matters for Wexford County from the courthouse in Cadillac. The same courthouse also houses other trial courts, but decedent-estate filings go to the probate register for the Probate Court.
Venue for the first informal or formal probate 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's property was located at death (MCL 700.3201). For a Wexford County resident, or for out-of-state decedent property located in Wexford County, the filing office is the Wexford County Probate Court in Cadillac.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Michigan probate path before filing. If the estate needs a personal representative, the role people often still call the executor, use the statewide SCAO decedent-estate forms for informal or formal probate. If a 2026 death qualifies for assignment of property or transfer by affidavit, check the $53,000 figure and the rules in MCL 700.3982 and MCL 700.3983 before using a small-estate path.
- Prepare the statewide SCAO forms. Wexford County does not publish a local probate cover sheet or checklist, so the starting point is the SCAO estates and trusts form index. Common opening forms include the informal application, the formal petition when a judge is needed, testimony to identify heirs, acceptance of appointment, and proposed letters of authority.
- File with the Wexford County Probate Court in Cadillac. Wexford County Probate Court is not on MiFILE, so filings go through the probate court at 437 E. Division St., Cadillac, MI 49601. If you are not filing in person, ask the court how it wants the packet and payment delivered.
- Pay the opening cost and plan for the inventory fee. As of August 2026, 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. A petition for assignment of property costs $25.00 as of August 2026 under MCL 600.880(2), plus the inventory fee.
- Give required notices. In an informal probate, the applicant must give written information of the probate within 28 days after the informal probate is granted. After appointment, the personal representative handles creditor notice and other notices required by Michigan law.
- Watch the local docket practice. The court states that sessions are conducted daily and that each Thursday is intended exclusively for the probate docket. If your filing needs a hearing, expect the court to assign the date and instructions.
- Follow the court's remote instructions for your case. Michigan rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, while MCR 2.407 lets the court decide how the appearance will be handled. Wexford County also publishes a Probate/Family Court video-proceedings channel, but that channel is not a substitute for the joining instructions in your notice.
- Receive authority before acting for the estate. Once appointed and qualified, the personal representative uses letters of authority to deal with banks, title companies and other institutions. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus $1.00 per page as of August 2026 under MCL 600.2546.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, keeps estate money separate, addresses creditor claims, files inventory information, pays the inventory fee, distributes property and closes the estate through the appropriate Michigan closing form or court order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Wexford County
Wexford County Probate Court does not publish a local probate cover sheet, checklist or county-specific decedent-estate packet. Estate filings use Michigan's statewide SCAO-approved PC forms, available through the estates and trusts form index at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
| Need | Michigan form set | Wexford County note |
|---|---|---|
| Open an informal estate | SCAO informal probate and appointment forms | Filed with the Wexford County Probate Court when the informal track is appropriate. |
| Ask for a judge's decision | SCAO formal probate petition and hearing forms | Use when a formal proceeding is needed and the court assigns the hearing. |
| Small-estate assignment of property | PC 556, Petition and Order for Assignment | Filed with the Probate Court if the estate qualifies under MCL 700.3982. |
| Transfer by affidavit | PC 598, Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent | Presented to the asset holder, not filed with the court, if the estate qualifies under MCL 700.3983. |
| Inventory | PC 577, Inventory (Decedent Estate) | Used to report inventory information and calculate the inventory fee. |
| Closing | SCAO closing forms, including sworn closing statements where appropriate | Choose the closing form that matches the administration path. |
Timeline
- Office access: Wexford County Probate Court publishes regular office hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Local probate docket: the court states that court sessions are conducted daily, with each Thursday intended exclusively for the probate docket.
- Hearing notice: if your estate filing needs a hearing, use the date, time and appearance instructions the court issues for that case.
- Remote format: uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions carry a statewide videoconferencing presumption under MCR 5.140, but the court decides the manner of appearance under MCR 2.407.
Local nuance
Wexford County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Wexford County estate |
|---|---|
| Standalone county Probate Court | Wexford County is not part of a multi-county probate district. A Wexford County estate is opened at the Probate Court in Cadillac. |
| Thursday probate docket | The court states that each Thursday is intended exclusively for the probate docket. A hearing date still comes from the court's notice or scheduling instructions. |
| No MiFILE for probate | Wexford County Probate Court is not on the statewide MiFILE probate list, so do not try to start a Wexford probate case through MiFILE. |
| No current online probate lookup | The county has online access for some other court matters, but not for current Wexford County probate cases. The page titled Probate Court Docket is an old posted calendar, not a live case lookup. |
| Video-proceedings channel | The county publishes a Probate/Family Court video-proceedings YouTube channel. That shows public video access for some proceedings, but it does not tell a party how to join a specific estate hearing. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Wexford County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the Cadillac-area or Wexford County home is titled and whether any asset actually needs probate. If probate is needed, file the appropriate statewide SCAO forms with the Wexford County Probate Court in Cadillac. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before the spouse starts estate settlement paperwork or asks for letters of authority. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate has no Michigan real property and a 2026 death fits within $53,000 under MCL 700.3983, transfer by affidavit may avoid a court filing. If a court order is needed, assignment of property under MCL 700.3982 is filed in Wexford County. | Sunset helps sort assets by institution and prepare the right packet so the adult child can limit unnecessary travel to Cadillac. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Wexford County real property often requires a personal representative with letters of authority unless a small-estate assignment path fits. If a hearing is needed, Thursday is the court's published probate docket day. | Sunset helps organize asset information, generate forms and connect the family with a Michigan probate attorney when real property or court orders are involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Wexford County Probate Court | The local filing office for Wexford County estates. The court publishes daily sessions and a Thursday probate docket. | 437 E. Division St., Cadillac, MI 49601. Phone (231) 779-9510. Website: Wexford County Probate Court page on the Wexford County website |
| SCAO estates, trusts and miscellaneous probate forms | Statewide Michigan probate forms used for Wexford County estate filings. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/ |
| Inventory fee calculator | Michigan Judiciary tool for estimating the inventory fee owed by an estate. | https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/ |
| Michigan Legal Help | Plain-language Michigan self-help information and tools for small estates, informal probate, formal probate and estate settlement topics. | https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Traverse City office | Free civil legal help for eligible Wexford County residents who meet income guidelines or are age 60 or older. Ask at intake whether your estate question fits their help areas. | 735 S. Garfield Ave., Ste. 120, Traverse City, MI 49684. Phone (231) 941-0771. Toll free (888) 941-9599. Website: https://www.lsnm.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Michigan probate attorney for a Wexford County estate when real property must be sold or title must be cleared, when the estate is too large for assignment of property, when heirs disagree, when a will is challenged, when creditors press claims, or when the matter needs a judge on the Thursday probate docket rather than informal action by the probate register. Sunset connects families with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance policies and other assets that may affect the Wexford County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the family and asset information into the Michigan probate forms used by Wexford County Probate Court, so you can file a cleaner packet with fewer missing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves Wexford County real property, a contested issue, creditor pressure or a required hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Michigan probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps and decide whether they need attorney help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Wexford County?
File Wexford County probate matters with the Wexford County Probate Court at the Wexford County Courthouse, 437 E. Division St., Cadillac, MI 49601. Decedent-estate filings go through the probate register for the Probate Court.
Does Wexford County Probate Court use MiFILE?
No. Wexford County Probate Court is not on the statewide MiFILE probate list. Use the Probate Court in Cadillac for filing instructions.
Can I look up a Wexford County probate case online?
No current online lookup is available for Wexford County probate cases. The county's page titled Probate Court Docket is an old posted calendar and is not a live case search. Call the Probate Court at (231) 779-9510 for questions about a specific file.
When are Wexford County probate matters heard?
The court states that sessions are conducted daily, with each Thursday intended exclusively for the probate docket. Your notice or court communication controls the actual date and time for your case.
Can I appear remotely for a Wexford County probate hearing?
Michigan rules presume videoconferencing for uncontested decedent-estate petitions and motions under MCR 5.140, and MCR 2.407 lets the court decide how the appearance will be handled. Wexford County publishes a Probate/Family Court video-proceedings channel, but you still need the court's instructions for your specific hearing.
Does Wexford County have its own probate forms?
No local probate cover sheet, checklist or county-specific estate packet is published. Use the statewide SCAO estates and trusts forms at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/Estates-Trusts/.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Wexford County?
As of August 2026, opening a decedent estate costs $175.00, made up of the fee under MCL 600.880 plus the electronic filing system fee under MCL 600.1986. The estate also owes an inventory fee under MCL 600.871. Use the Michigan Judiciary inventory fee calculator at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/inventory-calculator/.
Do I have to travel to Cadillac for a small estate?
Not always. For a 2026 death, transfer by affidavit may be available for qualifying estates within $53,000 under MCL 700.3983 and is presented to the asset holder rather than filed with the court. If you need assignment of property under MCL 700.3982, that petition is filed with the Wexford County Probate Court.
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.