Search Washtenaw County Probate Court Records

Washtenaw County Probate Court Office

The Washtenaw County Probate Court is at 101 E. Huron St. in Ann Arbor, MI 48107. The mailing address is P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. You can call the court at (734) 222-3072. Register Molly Shikora runs the office. Her email is schikorm@ewashtenaw.org. The court is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Walk-ins can request to view case files at the counter. Staff are helpful and can pull records for you while you wait.

Washtenaw County is part of the 22nd Circuit Court. The county also has the 14A District Court in Ypsilanti, the 14B District Court in Ypsilanti Township, and the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor. But probate matters all go through the single probate court at the Huron Street courthouse. Under MCL 700.1302, the probate court has exclusive jurisdiction over estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.

You can learn more about the court at the Washtenaw County Probate Court website. The site has office hours, contact info, and links to forms and filing guides.

Searching Washtenaw County Probate Records Online

Washtenaw County has its own online case search tool at tcweb.ewashtenaw.org. This is separate from the statewide MiCOURT system. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Results show case summaries, party names, docket entries, and hearing schedules. This tool is free and available to anyone. It covers Washtenaw County probate court records as well as circuit and district court cases.

The MiCOURT Case Search is another option. Pick Washtenaw County from the list and select the probate court type. Enter a name or case number. Both systems work, but the county's own tool tends to have more detail for local cases. Try both if you do not find what you need on the first search. Between the two tools, most Washtenaw County probate court records filed in recent years should come up.

Some records are not available online. Mental illness cases, juvenile matters, adoptions, name changes, and personal protection orders are restricted under Michigan court rules. If you need access to one of these restricted file types, contact the court to ask about the process.

Washtenaw County Probate Record Copies and Fees

Copies of Washtenaw County probate court records cost $1.50 per page. Certified copies are accepted by other courts and agencies. The court takes cash, checks, and bank cards for payment. If you are at the courthouse, you can pay at the counter and get copies right away for most files. The clerk will pull the case and make copies while you wait, though busy days may take a bit longer.

To request copies by mail, send your request to the Washtenaw County Probate Court at P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Include the party name, case number if known, and what documents you need. Send a check or money order for the estimated fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take about a week to process. You can also email Register Molly Shikora at schikorm@ewashtenaw.org to ask about a case before sending your request.

Washtenaw County Estate and Probate Filings

Estate cases are a major part of the Washtenaw County probate court workload. When someone in the county dies, their estate may need to go through probate under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code at MCL 700.1101. Michigan has three paths for this. Informal probate uses Form PC 558 and works for simple estates. Formal probate uses Form PC 559 and has more court involvement. Small estates under $15,000 can skip the process with an affidavit under MCL 700.3982.

Filing fees in Washtenaw County range from about $150 to $210 depending on the case type. The inventory fee is a separate charge under MCL 600.871. It scales with the value of the estate. An estate under $1,000 pays $5 plus 1% over $500. Bigger estates pay more on a sliding scale. These fees are on top of the filing cost and go to the court.

Washtenaw County probate court records for estate cases include the will, petition, letters of authority, inventories, creditor claims, accountings, and final closing orders. All of these are public. Anyone can ask to see them at the clerk's office or search for them online.

Restricted Records in Washtenaw County

Not all Washtenaw County probate court records are open to the public. Michigan court rules restrict access to certain case types. Mental illness proceedings are confidential. Juvenile guardianship cases may have limits on who can view files. Adoption records are sealed. Name change cases and personal protection orders also have restrictions in place. These rules exist to protect the privacy of the people involved.

If you need a restricted record, you will need to file a motion with the court. The judge decides whether to grant access. In some cases, only parties to the case or their attorneys can see the files. Contact the Washtenaw County Probate Court at (734) 222-3072 to ask about the rules for the specific type of record you need. The staff can explain what steps you need to take.

Guardianship and Conservatorship in Washtenaw County

The Washtenaw County Probate Court appoints guardians for minors and incapacitated adults. Conservatorships handle finances and property. These are common case types in a county with a large population. The files hold petitions, medical evaluations, bond documents, annual reports, and court orders. Most guardianship records are public. Mental health-related cases are not.

To start a guardianship, file Form PC 625 for adults or Form PC 603 for minors. Conservatorship petitions use Form PC 630. All forms are free at the SCAO probate forms page. Michigan Legal Help has guides that walk you through the process step by step. If you need an attorney, the State Bar of Michigan runs a referral service.

Legal Resources for Washtenaw County

Several organizations offer help with probate matters in Washtenaw County. Michigan Legal Help provides free self-help tools. The State Bar's referral line connects you with local probate lawyers. Legal Services of South Central Michigan may help low-income residents at no cost. The University of Michigan Law School also runs clinics that sometimes handle probate-related matters for qualifying clients.

Electronic filing through MiFILE is available in Washtenaw County for many case types. This saves a trip to the courthouse and creates a digital record right away. The Michigan Courts website has links to rules, forms, and contact info for all county probate courts across the state. MCL 600.855 requires all filings to use SCAO-approved forms, so make sure yours are current before you file.

Nearby Counties and Cities

Residents of Ann Arbor file probate cases at the Washtenaw County Probate Court. If you need records from nearby counties, these courts handle their own filings: