Michigan Probate Court Forms and Filing Paths

It is not legal advice. Verify current requirements with the county probate court, relevant agency, or qualified Michigan counsel before acting.

Michigan probate filings use SCAO forms published by Michigan Courts. The form choice depends on whether you need a small-estate assignment, an affidavit collection path, informal probate, or formal probate.

Use current forms from Michigan Courts, then check the county probate court for local copy, fee, and hearing rules.

Four Estate Forms Families Often See

These forms do not replace legal review. They help route the filing after you know the estate facts.

PC 556: Petition and Order for Assignment

PC 556 supports the MCL 700.3982 assignment process. The form asks for the decedent's death date, county residence or Michigan estate location, real and personal property values, lien amounts, funeral and burial expense information, and proposed assignment.

This path uses a court order. It may fit when funeral and burial expense rules are handled and the estate fits the statutory cap.

PC 558: Informal Probate Application

PC 558 is the application for informal probate and/or appointment of a personal representative. It asks for the applicant's relationship to the decedent, death information, domicile, spouse, children, devisees, heirs, and other interested persons.

Informal probate can work when there is no dispute that needs formal court resolution.

PC 559: Formal Probate Petition

PC 559 is the petition for probate and/or appointment of a personal representative. It can be used for testate or intestate matters. The form asks for estimated real estate and personal estate values and the petitioner's relationship to the decedent.

Formal probate may be needed when a judge must decide appointment, heirship, testacy, or another contested question.

PC 598: Successor Affidavit

PC 598 supports collection of certain assets under MCL 700.3983. The form requires the signer to state that more than 28 days have passed, no real property is included, the estate fits the adjusted cap, no personal representative appointment exists or is pending, and no petition for assignment has been filed.

This path is not a real estate transfer path.

Filing Fees

Michigan Courts publishes probate court fee tables. The table lists a $150 fee for many petitions or applications to commence civil actions in probate court, a $20 fee for many later motions or petitions, and a separate inventory fee schedule for decedent estate cases.

County courts may have local payment methods, copy fees, and hearing scheduling rules.

Before Filing

Gather:

• Certified death certificate
• Original will, if one exists
• Names and addresses of interested persons
• Asset values and lien amounts
• Funeral and burial bills
• Title and account records
• Proposed recipient shares
• County court filing instructions

Next steps: compare these forms with the Michigan probate guide and the Michigan small-estate guide. Before filing, review the Michigan probate costs and fees guide and the Michigan probate deadlines and creditor claims guide.

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Sources:

• Title: SCAO Probate Court Forms. Publisher: Michigan Courts. Publication Date: not listed. URL: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/probate-court-forms/
• Title: Petition and Order for Assignment, PC 556. Publisher: Michigan Courts, SCAO. Publication Date: form revision 3/25. URL: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc556.pdf
• Title: Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative, PC 558. Publisher: Michigan Courts, SCAO. Publication Date: form revision 12/22. URL: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc558.pdf
• Title: Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative, PC 559. Publisher: Michigan Courts, SCAO. Publication Date: form revision 12/22. URL: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc559.pdf
• Title: Affidavit of Decedent's Successor for Delivery of Certain Assets Owned by Decedent, PC 598. Publisher: Michigan Courts, SCAO. Publication Date: not listed on extracted form text. URL: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc598.pdf
• Title: Probate Court Fee Tables. Publisher: Michigan Courts. Publication Date: February 2025. URL: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/court-administration/resources/pfee.pdf

This guide provides general information about Michigan probate forms. Use the current SCAO form and county probate court instructions before filing.