Search St. Joseph County MI Probate Court Records, Estates, Wills & Guardianship Filings
Use official St. Joseph County, Michigan Probate Court and Michigan court resources to search probate case information, request estate records, find SCAO probate forms, understand public vs confidential files, confirm copy costs, and locate the Probate Court office in Three Rivers.
Choose what you need below. St. Joseph County Probate Court users usually need MiCOURT case search, full probate record copies, estate opening help, guardianship or conservatorship packets, will deposit information, safe deposit box forms, or the court address and phone number.
📂 Search probate case records
Use this for: probate case lookup, estate case summaries, guardianship or conservatorship docket details, and basic Michigan case-search access.
Best official path: use MiCOURT Case Search first, then contact St. Joseph County Probate Court for full records or document copies.
Important: Michigan online case search may show case information, but full probate documents usually require a direct court request.
St. Joseph County MI Probate Court Quick Facts
St. Joseph County Probate Court is the Michigan probate court for decedent estates, mental health proceedings, guardianships, conservatorships, trust litigation, adoptions, protective orders, safe deposit box applications, and will deposits. The court office is located in the Three Rivers Courts Building at 920 W Michigan Ave, Three Rivers, MI.
What This St. Joseph County Probate Court Guide Covers
Official St. Joseph County Probate Court Path
For St. Joseph County, Michigan probate search intent, start with the official county Probate Court page and Michigan MiCOURT Case Search. The county Probate Court page lists the court’s jurisdiction, contacts, location, SCAO form guidance, and attorney-use recommendations for estates, guardianships, conservatorships, protective orders, and adoptions.
Do not confuse this court with St. Joseph County, Indiana Probate Court, St. Joseph County Clerk pages, private case-search websites, or general Michigan court pages. For Michigan decedent estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, trust litigation, adoptions, and mental health probate matters, use the St. Joseph County Michigan Probate Court path.
Use MiCOURT for available case-search information, then request full probate documents directly from Probate Court.
The county FAQ lists decedent estates, guardianships, and conservatorships as public files.
Adoptions and mentally ill files are confidential. Some developmentally disabled guardianship documents are also confidential.
Use Michigan SCAO-approved Probate Court forms and confirm local St. Joseph County filing requirements before submitting.
How to Search St. Joseph County Probate Court Records
Michigan MiCOURT Case Search may provide online case-search access for probate cases, depending on the court and case type. Online case search is a starting point, not a replacement for certified Probate Court records. Full documents, certified copies, older files, sealed records, and confidential files may require direct help from the Probate Court office.
Start with MiCOURT Case Search
Open Michigan MiCOURT Case Search and search by name or case number. Use exact spelling, alternate names, and the filing county when available.
Confirm the case type
Check whether the matter is an estate, guardianship, conservatorship, trust, mental health, adoption, protective order, or another Probate Court case type.
Save the case number
Before contacting the court, write down the case number, party name, decedent name, filing year, and document names you need.
Request full documents from the court
If you need Letters of Authority, orders, wills, estate file copies, or certified records, contact St. Joseph County Probate Court directly.
Check confidentiality limits
Adoption files, mental health files, sealed matters, and some developmentally disabled guardianship documents may not be publicly accessible.
Opening an Estate or Probating a Will in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County Probate Court handles decedent estates, applications to open safe deposit boxes, will deposits for safekeeping, and will deposit after death. The county FAQ states that if you possess the original will after a relative dies, you must deposit the will with the Probate Court within 30 days of the date of death, and you cannot act as personal representative until an estate is opened and the court appoints you.
Use this path when assets, debts, property, legal authority, or estate administration require Probate Court action.
Use this path when an original will must be deposited, reviewed, or connected to opening an estate.
A named personal representative cannot act officially until the Probate Court opens the estate and appoints them.
The court suggests using an attorney for decedent estates, conservatorships, guardianships of children, protective orders, and adoptions.
St. Joseph County Guardianship and Conservatorship Information
St. Joseph County Probate Court handles limited guardianships, guardianships for developmentally disabled individuals, guardianships, conservatorships, and protective orders. The county FAQ says that adult guardianship packets can be picked up from the Probate Court office or requested by mail, and that the process requires service of papers and court hearings.
Adult guardianship packets may be obtained from the Probate Court office or requested by mail.
The county FAQ recommends seeing an attorney for guardianship over a minor child.
Conservatorship matters involve property, money, or asset management for a protected person.
Some documents in guardianship files involving developmentally disabled individuals are confidential.
St. Joseph County Probate Forms and Michigan SCAO Forms
St. Joseph County Probate Court states that forms required by the court can be obtained from the SCAO website. Michigan Courts provides SCAO-approved Probate Court forms, including forms for estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health, adoptions, and related probate proceedings.
Michigan Probate Forms
Use the Michigan Courts SCAO Probate Court forms index for official court forms.
Open Probate FormsEstates & Trust Forms
Use this Michigan Courts category for estates, trusts, and miscellaneous probate forms.
Open Estate FormsGuardianship Forms
Use the Michigan Courts guardianship form category for SCAO-approved guardianship forms.
Open Guardianship FormsCopies, Certified Records and Probate Court Fees
The St. Joseph County Probate Court FAQ lists copy costs for probate documents. It states that photocopies are 50 cents per page, microfilm copies are $1.00 per page, and certified copies are $10.00 for the certification fee plus an additional $1.00 for each page. The court accepts cash, money order, or personal check made payable to St. Joseph County Probate Court.
Listed cost: 50 cents per page.
Listed cost: $1.00 per page.
Listed cost: $10.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page.
Cash, money order, or personal check payable to St. Joseph County Probate Court.
Will Deposit, Will Lookup and Safe Deposit Box Requests
St. Joseph County Probate Court handles will deposits for safekeeping, will deposits after death, and applications to open safe deposit boxes. The county FAQ says original wills held by the Probate Court are confidential until the testator is deceased.
If you have the original will after a death, the county FAQ says it must be deposited with Probate Court within 30 days of the date of death.
The court can release whether a will is on file only after receiving verification of the person’s date of death, such as a death certificate or obituary notice.
The FAQ lists a $25.00 cost to file an original will with Probate Court for safekeeping.
The FAQ describes a Petition to Open Safe Deposit Box for checking for a will or burial plot deed only, with a listed total cost of $21.00.
Official St. Joseph County Probate Court Links
Probate Court Website
Main official page for St. Joseph County, Michigan Probate Court.
Open Probate CourtProbate FAQ
Official county FAQ for public files, confidentiality, guardianship, wills, copy costs, and hours.
Open Probate FAQMiCOURT Case Search
Michigan court case search portal for available court case information.
Open MiCOURTEstate Forms
Michigan Courts estate, trust, and miscellaneous probate forms.
Open Estate FormsGuardianship Forms
Michigan Courts SCAO-approved forms for guardianship cases.
Open Guardianship FormsSt. Joseph County Probate Court Map and Location
St. Joseph County Probate Court is located in the Three Rivers Courts Building at 920 W Michigan Ave, Three Rivers, MI. The county FAQ lists Probate Court business hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays.
St. Joseph County Probate Court FAQs
Where is St. Joseph County Probate Court located?
St. Joseph County Probate Court is located in the Three Rivers Courts Building at 920 W Michigan Ave, Three Rivers, MI.
What is the phone number for St. Joseph County Probate Court?
The official Probate Court contact number listed by the county is (269) 467-5538.
How do I search St. Joseph County probate cases?
Start with Michigan MiCOURT Case Search for available case-search information. If you need full documents or certified copies, contact St. Joseph County Probate Court directly.
What probate files are public in St. Joseph County?
The county FAQ lists decedent estates, guardianships, and conservatorships as public files.
Which probate files are confidential?
The county FAQ lists adoptions and mentally ill files as confidential. It also says some documents in guardianship files involving developmentally disabled individuals are confidential, and will information is confidential until the testator is deceased.
Where can I find St. Joseph County probate forms?
Use Michigan Courts SCAO-approved Probate Court forms. St. Joseph County says forms required by the court can be obtained from the SCAO website.
How much are certified copies from St. Joseph County Probate Court?
The county FAQ lists certified copies at a $10.00 certification fee plus an additional $1.00 per page. Always confirm current costs with the court before ordering.