Genesee County Probate Court
Estates for people who lived in Flint, Grand Blanc, Flushing, Fenton, Davison and the rest of Genesee County are handled here.
The Genesee County Probate Court is on the fifth floor of the courthouse on South Saginaw Street in downtown Flint. It handles decedents' estates, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships, and mental health matters for county residents.
Where the court is
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 900 S. Saginaw St., 5th Floor, Room 502, Flint, MI 48502 |
| Phone | (810) 257-3528 |
| Alternate line | (810) 257-3234 |
| Counter hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
The counter closes early
Opening an estate
The path is the same one used across Michigan. An uncontested estate is usually opened informally: an application for probate and appointment of a personal representative, testimony identifying the heirs, the acceptance of appointment, the protected personal information forms, a certified death certificate, and the original will if one exists. Once letters of authority are issued, the personal representative can deal with the banks, the house and the bills.
From there the obligations are notice to the heirs and to creditors, publication, an inventory of the probate assets, payment of valid claims and taxes, and a final accounting or sworn statement to close. Michigan gives creditors four months from publication to present claims, which is the floor on how fast any estate can finish.
Fees are set by the court and change periodically; call the probate records office or check the court's fee schedule before you write the check.
Small estates
Not every Genesee estate needs full administration. Michigan has simplified procedures for small estates, and there are separate paths for transferring a vehicle and for a modest bank balance. If the only assets are a car, a checking account and personal belongings, ask the court about those options before opening a full estate.
What we see in Genesee County
Genesee families often have most of their wealth in one house and one retirement account. That combination is easy to plan for and expensive to ignore: the retirement account passes by beneficiary form outside the will, and the house, unless it is in a trust or covered by a properly drafted deed, goes through probate on its own. Fixing both is usually a single afternoon of work.
How we help Genesee County families
Attorney Badri Yono Jr. of Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C. works with families throughout Michigan on estates already in probate and on plans designed to stay out of it. A flat fee is quoted in writing before any work begins.
Court address, phone numbers and hours are drawn from the Genesee County Probate Court's own website and can change without notice; confirm with the court before you rely on them. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Talk with Attorney Badri Yono Jr.
Tell us about your family and we'll connect you directly with Attorney Badri Yono Jr. of Foster Swift; with a flat fee quoted in writing before any work begins.