Ingham Probate Court Records, Forms, Fees & Case Search 2026

Official-source Ingham County, Michigan probate guide

Ingham Probate Court Records, WebTCS, Forms, Fees, Estates & Guardianship Help

Need an Ingham Probate Court case record, hearing schedule, estate filing, will safekeeping, certified copy, guardianship packet, conservatorship deadline, or probate form? Start with the official Ingham County Probate Court page, then use the court’s current forms, WebTCS update, public-record guidance, and Probate Register instructions before relying on private record websites.

🏛️ Lansing Probate Register 📂 WebTCS update checked 📄 SCAO forms mandatory 🧾 Copy fees verified
Quick answer

Where Should Ingham Probate Court Users Start?

Start with the official Ingham County Probate Court page and the Probate Register’s Office. The court handles filing and safekeeping of wills, probating decedent estates, supervision of trusts, appointment of guardians and conservators over minors, adults and developmentally disabled individuals, and mental health treatment matters.

The Probate Court lists a June 15, 2026 implementation of WebTCS, a state case-management system, and warns that some services may take longer during the transition. For public records, the court says users may review public case records at the Probate Register’s Office during public filing hours. Copies are listed at $1.50 per page for case records, $0.30 per page for transcript copies already on file, and certification is an additional $10 per record.

Main courtIngham County Probate Court, Veterans Memorial Courthouse, Lansing, Michigan.
Public filing hours8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on days the court is open.
Phone / faxPhone 517-483-6300 and fax 517-483-6150.
Important system noteWebTCS was implemented June 15, 2026; service delays may occur during transition.
Task finder

Choose the Ingham Probate Step You Actually Need

Most users search “Ingham Probate Court,” but their real need may be a record search, a hearing schedule, a certified copy, a will or estate filing, guardianship paperwork, conservatorship class information, or a form deadline. Choose the closest task first.

Search probate records or case information

Use this for

Public probate case records, case number checks, hearing clues, estate files, trust files, guardianship or conservatorship records where public.

Best official path

Use official Ingham Probate Court resources and Probate Register public-record access.

Verify before relying

Confidential, restricted, adoption, mental health, guardianship or protected-person materials may not be publicly viewable.

Official court path

Official Ingham Probate Court Path After the WebTCS Update

The official Probate Court page says Ingham County implemented WebTCS on June 15, 2026. The court explains that this is a state system provided by Judicial Information Services, a division of the State Court Administrative Office. Because of that technology transition, users should expect that some services may take longer than usual.

1

Start with the official Probate Court page

Use it for court hours, public filing hours, mailing address, hearing locations, public-record access, copy costs, forms, fee schedule, hearing schedule, court updates and Probate Register details.

2

Use the Probate Register for public records and filings

The court says public case records may be reviewed at the Probate Register’s Office during public filing hours, with computer terminals and work spaces available.

3

Use current SCAO-approved forms

The court says form usage is mandatory under MCL 600.855 and MCR 5.113(A) when a current SCAO-approved form exists. Do not use outdated packets or private templates.

4

Call before urgent filings or copy requests

Use 517-483-6300 for Probate Court questions. Court staff cannot provide legal advice, but the office can help route procedural questions, records, hours, copies and filing location issues.

Records and case search

How to Search Ingham Probate Court Records Without Using the Wrong Portal

For record searching, begin with the official Probate Court page and public-record guidance. The court says users may review public case records at the Probate Register’s Office during public filing hours. If you need a copy, certified copy, transcript, or sealed/restricted document guidance, do not rely only on an online case result.

Need
What it means
Official next step
Public case record
A docket or public file view for estates, trusts, guardianships or conservatorships where public.
Use the Probate Register’s Office and official court resources first.
Certified copy
A copy certified by the court for banks, title companies, agencies, fiduciaries or legal use.
Confirm per-page cost and $10 certification before ordering.
Transcript
A written transcript of a hearing, trial or proceeding.
If not already filed, contact the assigned judge’s court recorder.
Restricted matter
Adoption, mental health, protected-person, guardianship, sealed or confidential information.
Call the court; do not assume public online access.
Copies, certification and transcripts

Ingham Probate Court Copy Costs and Certified Record Help

The official Probate Court page lists case-record copies at $1.50 per page, copies of transcripts already on file at $0.30 per page, certification of a copy as an additional $10 per record, and blank SCAO forms at $1 per form. Copy requests may be submitted in person, by mail, fax, phone or email.

Case record copies$1.50/page
Transcript copies already on file$0.30/page
Certification of a copy$10/record
Blank SCAO forms$1/form
Transcript original page, when prepared$3.75/page
Transcript original minimum charge$50

Copy warning: a website printout is not the same as a certified court record. If a bank, title company, agency, school, insurer or government office needs proof, ask the Probate Register what certification is required before paying.

Estate and will help

Opening a Decedent Estate, Admitting a Will or Getting Letters in Ingham County

The Decedent Estates page says Probate Court has jurisdiction over proceedings to appoint a personal representative, administer a decedent’s estate and admit a will. It lists a $175 fee to file an application or petition, explains that an inventory fee is paid later, and says a certified copy of Letters of Authority may be received for $13 if the court issues letters.

Personal representative

Authority to handle estate tasks

Letters of Authority allow the personal representative to act for the estate. Banks, credit unions, title companies, government agencies and creditors may request a certified copy.

Inventory deadline

91 days after appointment

The estate page says the inventory must be prepared, served and presented within 91 days of appointment. The inventory fee must be paid before closing.

Notice duties

14-day and 28-day steps

The page states that Notice of Appointment is served within 14 days and Notice to Friend of the Court is served within 28 days of appointment.

Creditors

Publication and claims timing

Creditors are generally notified by publication. The page explains a creditor has four months from publication or one month after service of known-creditor notice, whichever is later, to present a claim.

Estate liability warning: the court warns that a personal representative must administer the estate according to Michigan law and may be personally liable for improper decision-making. Consult a Michigan probate attorney for legal decisions.

Forms and deadlines

Ingham Probate Forms, Inventory Deadlines and Annual Reports

The Court Forms & Resources page says current SCAO-approved forms are mandatory when one exists. It also lists local packets, annual reports, inventories, letters of authority, petitions, proofs of service, estate packets, guardianship packets and conservatorship packets.

Conservatorship inventory

Due within 56 days

Inventory PC674 is due within 56 days of Letters of Conservatorship or Guardianship, with completed Proof of Service included.

Decedent estate inventory

Due within 91 days

Inventory PC577 is due within 91 days of Letters of Authority for a decedent estate.

Accounts

$20 fee per account

The forms page says a $20 filing fee per account is due at filing, and account forms may need Proof of Service and other related forms.

Annual reports

Proof of Service required

Guardian annual report forms must be filed with Proof of Service PC564, according to the court’s forms page.

Will safekeeping

$25 listed resource

The resources page lists instructions for filing a will for safekeeping with the Probate Court and notes a $25 filing fee.

Receipts

Proper transfer proof

The forms page notes that a receipt for assets must be signed by the person entitled to the assets under MCR 1.109(E)(2)(b).

Guardianship and conservatorship

Ingham Guardianship, Conservatorship and Protected-Person Matters

The Probate Court handles appointment of guardians and conservators over minors, adults and developmentally disabled individuals. Guardianship and conservatorship records may involve sensitive protected-person information, so public access can differ from a standard estate docket.

Minor guardianship

Care and custody role

The guardianship page says the guardian takes on the role of the parent regarding care and custody of the minor and must act in the minor’s best interests.

Limited minor guardianship

Placement plan required

The court describes a placement plan covering the reason for appointment, parenting time and contact, duration, support and other agreed provisions.

Adult guardianship

Legally incapacitated adult

The guardian may be responsible for care and needs of an adult who cannot make certain day-to-day personal decisions.

DD guardianship

Partial or plenary

The court says developmentally disabled guardianships can be partial or plenary; partial guardianships expire five years after appointment, while plenary guardianships do not expire.

Conservatorship class note: the official page links to conservatorship class information and says the class is inclusive of estate guardianships of developmentally disabled individuals.

Hearings and locations

Ingham Probate Court Hearing Schedule, Filing Location and Court Addresses

The official page links to a hearing schedule and lists two hearing/trial locations depending on the assigned judge. In-person filings are accepted only at the Probate Register’s Office at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse in downtown Lansing.

Filing office

Veterans Memorial Courthouse

313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933. This is the Probate Register’s Office location for in-person filing and other services.

Lansing hearings

Chief Judge Shauna Dunnings

The official page lists Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933.

Mason hearings

Judge Richard J. Garcia

The official page lists Mason Historical Courthouse, 341 South Jefferson Street, Mason, Michigan 48854.

Before attending: verify the assigned judge, courtroom, hearing type, remote/Zoom instructions if any, closure notices, and whether your matter is at Lansing or Mason before traveling.

Records users confuse

Adoption Records, Name Change Records and Other Wrong-Office Problems

The official Probate Court page includes important routing notes that are easy to miss. Adoption records in the custody of the Probate Court were transferred to the 30th Circuit Court in the late 1990s. The Probate Court has name change records for cases filed in 1997 and before; name change cases filed in 1998 and after are handled through the 30th Circuit Court.

Record type
What the court says
Best next step
Adoption records
Transferred to the 30th Circuit Court in the late 1990s.
Use Circuit Court adoption resources, not Probate Court copy requests.
Name change before 1998
Probate Court has name change records for cases filed in 1997 and before.
Contact Probate Court with the filing year and name details.
Name change after 1997
The court says to contact 30th Circuit Court for cases filed in 1998 and after.
Use Circuit Court name change resources.
Map and visit help

Ingham Probate Court Map, Address, Phone and Public Filing Hours

The court’s mailing address and Probate Register’s Office location are listed as 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933. The court is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM except holidays and closures, and public filing hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on days the court is open.

Ingham County Probate Court — Veterans Memorial Courthouse

Address: 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48933

Avoid mistakes

Common Ingham Probate Court Search and Filing Mistakes

WebTCS transition

Expecting instant results during system change

The court says WebTCS was implemented June 15, 2026 and some services may take longer while staff adjust to new workflows.

Wrong record proof

Treating online information as a certified record

A public case view may identify a file, but banks, agencies, title companies or fiduciaries may need certified letters or certified entries.

Wrong forms

Using outdated or private forms

The court says current SCAO-approved forms are mandatory when they exist. Use official Ingham and Michigan forms.

Wrong office

Mixing Probate and Circuit Court records

Adoption records and later name-change records may be routed to Circuit Court, while probate estates, guardianships and conservatorships start with Probate Court.

FAQs

Ingham Probate Court FAQs

Where is Ingham Probate Court located?

The Probate Register’s Office and in-person filing location is Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48933.

What is the Ingham Probate Court phone number?

The official Probate Court phone number is 517-483-6300. The official page also lists fax number 517-483-6150.

How do I search Ingham Probate Court records?

Start with official Ingham Probate Court resources and the Probate Register’s Office. You may review public case records during public filing hours. For certified copies, restricted records or complete file questions, contact the court directly.

What is WebTCS and why does it matter?

Ingham Probate Court says it implemented WebTCS, a state case-management system, on June 15, 2026. During the transition, some services may take longer than usual.

What are Ingham Probate Court public filing hours?

The court lists public filing hours as 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on days the court is open. The court is generally open Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except holidays and other closures.

How much are probate record copies in Ingham County?

The court lists case-record copies at $1.50 per page, transcript copies already on file at $0.30 per page, certification at an additional $10 per record, and blank SCAO forms at $1 per form.

What is the fee to file a decedent estate application or petition?

The Ingham Decedent Estates page lists the fee to file an application or petition as $175. Inventory fees and later copy or certification costs may also apply.

When is the decedent estate inventory due?

The court’s estate guidance says the decedent estate inventory is due within 91 days of appointment, and the inventory fee must be paid within one year of appointment.

Does Ingham Probate Court handle guardianships and conservatorships?

Yes. The court handles guardianships and conservatorships for minors, adults and developmentally disabled individuals, along with mental health treatment matters.

Can Ingham Probate Court staff give legal advice?

No. The official Probate Court page states that under Michigan law, judges and staff may not provide legal advice.

Best Next Step for Ingham Probate Court Users

For Ingham Probate Court records or filings, use this order: start on the official Probate Court page, account for the WebTCS transition, use the Probate Register for public-record review and copy questions, use current SCAO-approved forms, check estate and inventory deadlines, verify copy and certification fees, and call 517-483-6300 before relying on a private record site or old form packet.

This page is an independent informational guide published for ProbateCourtUSA.org. It is not Ingham County Probate Court, Ingham County, Michigan Courts, a court office, or a law firm. Always verify official filing rules, fees, record access, closures, hearings, copy requirements and legal questions directly with the court or a qualified Michigan probate attorney.

Leave a Comment