Access Lansing Probate Court Records
Lansing probate court records are filed and maintained at the Ingham County Probate Court on W. Kalamazoo Street. As the state capital, Lansing sits in the middle of Ingham County, and the probate court serves the whole county from here. You can search for estate cases, guardianship filings, and conservatorship records using the court's online search tool, by visiting the Probate Register's Office in person, or by sending a mail request. Ingham County also accepts electronic payments for certain filings. This page covers the ways to find and request Lansing probate court records.
Lansing Overview
Ingham County Probate Court in Lansing
The Ingham County Probate Court is at 313 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48933. Call (517) 483-6300 for case information. The court handles all Lansing probate court records, including estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. Its jurisdiction is defined by MCL 700.1302. The Probate Register's Office is located inside the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, which is where you go for in-person record requests and filings.
Lansing is a mid-sized city with a diverse population. The court sees a steady stream of cases, from basic estate openings to contested guardianship hearings. Staff can help you check whether a particular case is on file and tell you what copies will cost.
The court accepts ePayment for some fees. This can save you a trip if you already know the case number and what you need to pay.
The City of Lansing website has local government news and city department information.
Lansing residents can find city contacts and community services on the official site.
Searching Lansing Probate Records Online
Ingham County has an online court record search that covers both circuit and probate cases. You can search by party name or case number. The system shows case details, filing dates, and hearing schedules. It is free to use and works from any device. This is the quickest way to check if a Lansing probate court record exists without going to the courthouse.
The MiCOURT statewide search tool also includes Ingham County cases. For Lansing probate matters, the county search tends to be more thorough. But MiCOURT can be a good backup if the county site is down or if you are looking across multiple counties.
In-person searches are straightforward. Go to the Veterans Memorial Courthouse and ask the clerk to pull the case. You can view the file and get copies. Standard copies cost about $1 to $2 per page. Certified copies are $10 for the first page and $1 for each page after.
The Ingham County Courts website provides court schedules and contact information for probate and circuit courts.
Use the county courts site to find office hours, phone numbers, and links to the case search system.
Lansing Estate Probate Process
Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code, MCL 700.1101, controls how estates are probated in Lansing. The personal representative files a petition at the Ingham County Probate Court to open the case. Informal probate works for simple estates and runs about $150 to $190. Formal probate, needed when there are disputes or complex assets, costs $170 to $210 or more.
Estates worth $15,000 or less can use the small estate affidavit under MCL 700.3982. This lets heirs collect assets without going through full probate. The form is available at the courthouse or on the SCAO forms page.
The Ingham County case search portal lets you look up Lansing probate court records and check case status online.
Search by name or case number to view filing details for Ingham County probate cases.
Lansing Probate Filing Requirements
Every filing at the Ingham County Probate Court must use SCAO-approved forms, as required by MCL 600.855. Common forms include PC 558 for informal probate, PC 559 for formal probate, and PC 560 for letters of authority. You can print them from the SCAO website or get them at the courthouse. Fill them out completely before submitting. Incomplete forms get returned.
Inventory fees are set by MCL 600.871 and follow a sliding scale based on estate value. For an estate worth $25,000, the fee would be about $143.75. These fees are separate from filing costs and go to the court when the inventory is submitted.
The court also handles guardianship and conservatorship filings for Lansing residents. Fees range from $105 to $495 depending on the case type.
Note: The 54A District Court at 124 W. Michigan Ave. in Lansing handles civil and traffic matters, not probate cases.
Lansing Probate County Link
Lansing probate court records are managed by Ingham County. See the Ingham County page for more on the courthouse, fees, and filing steps.
Nearby Cities
Other city pages with probate court record information: