Find Livonia Probate Court Records
Livonia probate court records are handled by the Wayne County Probate Court in Detroit. There is no separate probate court in Livonia. Every estate filing, guardianship case, and conservatorship matter for Livonia residents goes through the county courthouse at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Wayne County manages probate records for all 43 cities, townships, and villages in the county, and Livonia is one of the larger ones. You can search records online, visit Detroit in person, or submit a request through the mail. This page explains how to find Livonia probate court records step by step.
Livonia Quick Facts
Wayne County Probate Court Serving Livonia
The Wayne County Probate Court is at 1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit, MI 48226. Phone: (313) 224-5685. This court has exclusive jurisdiction over Livonia probate court records under MCL 700.1302. The court covers decedent estates, trusts, guardianships for minors and adults, conservatorships, and mental health cases. From Livonia, the drive to the courthouse in downtown Detroit takes about 25 to 35 minutes, depending on traffic.
Wayne County probate records date back to 1797. That is the oldest set in Michigan. Even though Livonia is a newer suburban community, any estate or guardianship case involving a Livonia resident becomes part of that long record.
The City of Livonia website has local government information and department contacts.
Livonia residents can use the city site to find local services and connect with county court resources.
Searching Livonia Probate Court Records Online
The quickest way to search for Livonia probate court records is through the Wayne County Probate Court Case Access system. Enter a name or case number. The tool shows case type, filing date, and hearing details. It is free and works from any computer or phone.
The MiCOURT statewide search is another tool you can try. It covers courts across Michigan, including Wayne County. For Livonia cases, the county system is usually more complete. Try both if you are having trouble finding a particular record.
Not every old case is in the online system. If your search comes up empty, the record may still exist on paper at the courthouse. Call (313) 224-5685 and ask. The staff can check their physical files and let you know if the record is there.
The Wayne County Probate Court website provides filing resources and case search tools for Livonia probate court records.
Use the court site to check fees, find forms, and look up cases for Wayne County.
Livonia Estate Probate Filings
When a Livonia resident dies, the estate may go through probate at the Wayne County courthouse. Michigan law under MCL 700.1101 governs the process through the Estates and Protected Individuals Code. The personal representative files the will and a petition to open the case. Informal probate costs about $150 to $190. Formal probate, for cases with disputes or complex assets, runs $170 to $210 or more.
Estates worth $15,000 or less can bypass probate entirely. MCL 700.3982 allows heirs to use a simple affidavit instead. The court clerk can provide the form and explain the requirements.
All filings must use SCAO-approved forms, per MCL 600.855. You can get them at the SCAO forms page.
Livonia Guardianship and Conservatorship Records
Guardianship and conservatorship cases for Livonia residents are filed at the Wayne County Probate Court. These create public records that can be searched by name or case number. Filing fees range from $105 to $495 depending on what type of petition is being filed. The court notifies all parties and schedules a hearing. Once filed, the documents remain on record at the courthouse.
Inventory fees for estates and conservatorships follow the scale set in MCL 600.871. The amount depends on the total value of assets being managed.
Livonia Probate Resources and Legal Help
Livonia Public Library has genealogy resources that can help with family research tied to probate records. While the library does not hold probate files, it can help you find names, dates, and other details that make your court record search easier.
For legal help, the State Bar of Michigan runs a referral service. The Michigan Legal Help website has free step-by-step guides for handling probate cases without a lawyer. The Michigan Courts website links to court rules, forms, and contact information for every probate court in the state.
Note: The 16th District Court at 32765 Five Mile Rd. in Livonia handles traffic and civil matters but does not hear probate cases.
Livonia County Court Link
All Livonia probate court records are filed through Wayne County. Visit the Wayne County page for full courthouse information and filing details.
Nearby Cities
Other nearby cities with probate court record pages: