Small Estates
Filing Procedures -
Petition for Assignment
Checklist - Small Estate
Michigan law prohibits court employees from providing legal advice and completing forms, petitions, or documents. MCL 700.1211.
Click here for a list of legal aid\legal services which may be able to provide you with assistance.
- Click here to see if your estate can use the Petition for Assignment procedure.
- Note: Only an heir or a person who paid for the funeral bill may file this petition.
- If the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) paid a portion of the funeral please contact the Wayne County Central Administration office at 313-456-1308 to obtain a letter as to their reimbursement amount.
- Gather the following documents:
i. Death Certificate
ii. Copy of Paid Funeral Contract
iii. Letter from DHHS (see above #3 if applicable)
iv. Information about Property
i. Real Estate: Copy of tax statement with state equalized value (SEV) for year of death or appraisal (from certified appraiser) within one year of death.
ii. Automobile: Year, make, and model; also VIN number, if possible.
iii. Bank Account: Name of bank and account number or branch location. (Include this information on the MC97 form)
iv. Stocks: For each stock, name of company, number of shares, and share price on date of death. Certificate numbers or investment account numbers should also be included, if possible. - Fill out the following SCAO forms:
i. PC 556m, Petition for Assignment
ii. MC 97, Protected Personal Identifying Information - Important Note: You MUST use these forms; you cannot draft your own document.
- Click here to find out how you can file your petition.
- Submit your documents to the Court in the following order (as one PDF if submitting electronically):
i. MC 97, Protected Personal Identifying Information
ii. PC 556m, Petition for Assignment
iii. Copy of Paid Funeral Contract
iv. Death Certificate - Filing Fee
i. $25 Filing Fee + $12 Certified Letter of Authority Fee = $37 plus inventory fee based on the value of estate, see WCPC-Filing/Probate Fees for inventory fee calculator)
ii. You may calculate the inventory fee by clicking here. If you file electronically or by fax, you will receive a notification to pay with the amount of your total fees, once your filing has been accepted.
iii. Fees can be paid:- i. electronically via ePayment online or
ii. via mail by MICHIGAN CHECK or MONEY ORDER
iii. Make checks payable to: “Wayne County Probate Court”
iv. Mail checks/money order along with a letter with your case # referencing what the payment is for to:- Wayne County Probate Court
2 Woodward Ave.
1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Detroit, Mich. 48226
- Wayne County Probate Court
- i. electronically via ePayment online or