Probate Information
How to Start a Wayne County Probate Case
Learn...How to Administer a Wayne County Probate Case
Learn...How to Close a Wayne County Probate Case
Learn...How to Complete Forms
Learn...Directions for Giving Notice of Hearing
Learn...Guardianship and Estates Ombudsman
Learn...Probate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Learn...List of Court Approved Mediators
Learn...Administrative Information
Learn...Request For Accommodations
Learn...Mental Health Services Brochure - from DWMHA
Learn...Behavioral Health Unit (BHU)
Learn...Where Do I File/Contact Us 
Learn... How to Start a Wayne County Probate Case
- Conservatorship
- Decedent's Estate
- Guardianship
- Involuntary Mental Health Treatment
- Trust Matters
- Trust - Petition to Establish
- Trust - Petition for (partial or limited) Supervision
- Wills (Submission to Court During Lifetime)
How to Administer a Wayne County Probate Case
- Conservatorship:
- Inventory - Conservatorship
Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 583
Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 584
Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 669
Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 673m
Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 676 - Decedents Estate
- Training for Newly Appointed Personal Representatives
- Inventory - Decedent Estate
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 574
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 577
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 587
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 590
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 591
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 593
- Guardianship
- Adoptions
- Training for Newly Appointed Guardians
- Guardianship for an Individual with a Developmental Disability
- Inventory - Individual with Developmental Disability
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 634
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 654
- Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 663
How to Complete Forms
Please visit the Court’s YouTube channel for video instructions on how to complete various Probate forms.
Note: Financial Institution Addresses now Required on all Accounts and Inventories: MCR 5.203(D), amended effective November 15, 2005, requires that notice of a fiduciary’s suspension must be given to “…any financial institution listed on the most recent Inventory or Account where the fiduciary has deposited funds…”. In order to comply with this directive, effective immediately, financial institution address information must be put on every Account and Inventory submitted to the Wayne County Probate Court.
- Settlements and Judgments Involving Minors and Legally Incapacitated Individuals
- Waiver and Consent -- Sample Language
- Fill out the forms. These can be printed out from this website. Fill them out (type them or use dark ink).
- Make sure your forms are completely filled out.
- Did you sign all of them?
- Are all the interested persons listed, along with their addresses, including zip codes?
- You may wish to get a waiver and consent form signed by each interested person. Except for guardianships, getting these forms may make it easier to start your case.
- If you need help filling out the form, contact an attorney.
How to Close a Wayne County Probate Case
- Conservatorship
- Decedent's Estate
- Guardianship
Probate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
General Probate Court Frequently Asked Questions
- Administrative Closings: What is an Administrative Closing?
- Bonds: What is a bond? When would a bond be obtained?
- Copy Request: How do I request a copy of a document(s) on a case? How do I receive a copy of a court file?
- Courtroom Contact: How do I contact a courtroom?
- ePayment Instructions: How do I pay online? Can I pay online
- ePayment Expectations: I paid online, where is my hearing date/Letter of Authority, certified copy?
- (opens in new window)Government Parties: Where can I find addresses for Miscellaneous Government Parties for Notification in Probate Proceedings?
- Hearings: How do I attend a Zoom hearing?
- Hearings: When is my hearing? How do I access filings on my case?
- Hearings: I didn’t get a hearing notice, how do I access it?
- Independent Evaluator List: Where can I find a list of Independent Evaluators?
- Interpreters: How do I get an interpreter for my hearing?
- Jobs: How can I get a job at Wayne County Probate Court?
- Legal Aid: Where can I find Legal Aid/Legal Services?
- Legal Advice: How do I receive an interpretation of the law? How do I receive procedural advice? How can I receive research of the law? Do I need a guardianship?
- Letters of Authority - How do I obtain an updated Letter of Authority with a new expiration date?
- No known Heirs: What is the decedent is not survived by any known heirs? Who do I notify?
- Notice of Hearing: How do I give Notice of a Hearing to the interested parties on the case? Who do I have to notify?
- Transcript: How do I obtain a written transcript? How do I obtain a copy of my hearing? Do I need a transcript to appeal?
- Where do I file: Where do I file documents?
- Will Copy: How do I obtain a copy of my will that I filed with the court?
- Will Filing: How do I submit a will?
- Will Advice: How do I create a will, do I need an attorney to create a will?
- Will Search: How do I find out if a will is on file for someone else? How do I receive a copy of someone else's will?
Minors and Adults Frequently Asked Questions
- Adoption: How does a guardian authorize an adoption of a ward?
- Adoption Records: How do I get access to Adoption records?
- Child Custody Action and Minor Guardianship Proceeding, what is the difference?
- Child Support Questions
- Guardianship/Conservatorship for Adult Questions
- Guardianship/Conservatorship for Minors Questions
- Juvenile Court Questions
- Name Change: How do I obtain a copy of a name change order?
- Power of Attorney questions
- Sale of Real Estate: What is the process to sell real estate in a Probate Case?
- Settlements and Judgements Involving Minors and Legally Incapacitated Individuals
Decedent Estate and Trust Frequently Asked Questions
- Dead Bodies: How can I move a body (disinterment)? How can I get a casket opened (exhumation)?
- (opens in new window)Cost of Living Adjustments: What are the EPIC Cost of Living Adjustments for each year?
- Tax Exemption: What are the Federal Estate Tax Exemption Amounts?
- Intestate Succession: Who receives the assets when someone dies without a will?
- Medical Records of the Decedent: How can I obtain medical records of the decedent?
- (opens in new window)Michigan Public Administrators: Who are the Public Administrators in Michigan?
- Money from Employer: What happens to the unpaid wages or fringe benefits from the decedent's employer?
- Motor Vehicles: How can a vehicle be transferred out of the decedent's name?
- Reopening Decedent's Estate Questions
- Sale of Real Estate: What is the process to sell real estate in a Probate case?
- Will Filed With the Court: How do I obtain a copy of my will that I filed with the Court?
- Will Search: How do I find out if a will is on file for someone else? How do I receive a copy of someone else's will?
Guardianship and Estates Ombudsman
For more information, please click here.
Mediation/Dispute Resolution
A party may request that a matter or a particular issue be referred to mediation and the court may refer a matter to mediation at any time. Please review the following links for additional information about mediation of WCPC cases.
(opens in new window)- List of Court Approved Mediators
- Mediation Guide - Questions and Answers
- (opens in
new window)Mediator Application (MC 281)
- WCPC ADR Plan
- Mediation Status Report (MC 280) to be completed by Mediator
Administrative Information
- Site Map
- Privacy Statement\Disclaimer
- (opens in new window)Michigan Legal Help(link:http://www.michiganlegalhelp.org/)
- Language Access Plan (LAP) Coordinator\Language Access Plan
-
(opens in new window)Website Standards and Guidelines
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.
Rev. 7/23