Washtenaw County Probate Court
Estates for people who lived in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Chelsea, Dexter and the rest of Washtenaw County are handled here.
Probate matters for anyone whose last residence was in Washtenaw County are heard by the Washtenaw County Probate Court, part of the Washtenaw County Trial Court, in downtown Ann Arbor. Unlike Oakland County, Washtenaw still accepts probate filings at the counter and through the mail, which makes the process a little more familiar for families handling an estate themselves.
Where the court is
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 E. Huron Street, PO Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 |
| Probate Court | (734) 222-3072 |
| In-person filing | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays |
| Mail filing | Accepted at the address above |
What it costs to open an estate
- the filing fee is $175, payable or waived at the time of filing;
- certified letters of authority are $12.00 per copy, and that fee cannot be waived , certified copies are not released until it is paid;
- an inventory fee is calculated later on the value of the probate estate;
- a filer who cannot afford the costs may request a waiver on form MC 20 (the letters fee is still due);
- fees paid are final; there are no refunds regardless of the outcome.
The informal estate package
Most uncontested Washtenaw estates are opened informally. The court asks that the whole package be assembled before anything is routed for review, which is why incomplete applications sit. A typical informal filing includes:
- PC 558, Application for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative;
- MC 97 and MC 97a, the protected personal identifying information forms;
- a certified death certificate;
- PC 565, Testimony to Identify Heirs and Devisees;
- PC 568, Register's Statement;
- PC 571, Acceptance of Appointment, signed;
- PC 572, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative;
- the original will and any codicil.
Depending on the family, the court may also want PC 567 (renunciation and nomination), PC 566 (supplemental testimony for non-heir devisees), or PC 557 with proof of service.
The original will has to be deposited
How long a Washtenaw estate takes
A straightforward estate with a cooperative family and no real estate can wrap up in about five to eight months, largely because Michigan gives creditors four months from publication of the notice to present claims. Add a house that has to be cleaned out, listed and sold, or a disagreement among the heirs, and a year is realistic.
Common Washtenaw situations
Ann Arbor households often hold a mix of University of Michigan retirement accounts, brokerage accounts and a long-held home. Retirement accounts pass by beneficiary designation, not by the will, so the single most useful hour a family can spend is confirming who is actually named on each account. The house is usually what drags an estate into probate; and the usual reason is that a trust was signed years ago but the deed was never changed.
How we help Washtenaw County families
Attorney Badri Yono Jr. of Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C. works with families throughout Michigan on administering estates that are already in probate and on building plans so the next generation does not have to file at all. A flat fee is quoted in writing before any work begins.
Court addresses, hours and fees are drawn from the Washtenaw County Trial Court's own published materials 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.