Probate in Kent County

Probate Court Record

Kent County Probate Court

Kent County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

180 Ottawa Avenue Northwest, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Kent County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Kent County? →Settling an estate in Kent County →

Trust Administration Firms Serving Kent County

Muskegon firm with a Grand Haven office, handling probate court matters throughout West Michigan and serving clients in Muskegon, Mason, Oceana, Newaygo, Kent, Lake and Ottawa Counties. Its trust and estate administration team opens probate estates, publishes creditor notices, and prepares small-estate affidavits, accountings and federal estate tax returns; it also handles guardianships.

Since 1949Serves 7 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawConservatorship+5

Cadillac firm with a Reed City office and over 50 years of service, citing one of the largest estate administration practices in northwest Michigan. Helps personal representatives and trustees with intestate estates, unusual assets such as oil and gas rights, post-death tax planning, will and trust contests, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Also handles guardianships and conservatorships.

Serves 2 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+5

Lansing firm in the Boji Tower, tracing its practice to 1883 and the Michigan member of SCG Legal. Its trusts and estates team works with personal representatives and trustees through probate and trust administration, represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in estate and trust disputes, and handles guardianship and conservatorship petitions and Medicaid planning.

Since 1883Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+7

Downtown Traverse City multi-practice firm representing individuals throughout Michigan, and financial institutions across the state, the Midwest and the country. Handles probate and estate administration and trust administration, and offers guardianships and conservatorships, alongside wills, trusts, special needs trusts and Medicaid planning.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawConservatorship+4

All 14 Michigan trust administration firms serving Kent County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Michigan

Free Michigan forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Michigan.

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Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Pour-Over Will

In Michigan, a pour-over will is signed before 2MCL 700.2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.

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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Michigan

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Michigan: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Michigan.

How Do I Settle a Trust?

Settling a trust in Michigan happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeMCL 700.7101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 63 daysMCL 700.7814, 700.7905; MCL 700.7109Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.

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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?

In Michigan, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.7708Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Michigan: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 91 daysMCL 700.3706, 700.3707, 700.3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsMCL 700.3801, 700.3803, 700.3804, 700.3805, 700.3806; MCR 5.208, MCR 5.106Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 5 months to 7 months.

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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?

Michigan requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040MCL 206.51Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?

Inherited assets in Michigan take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular ratesMCL § 206.51 (statutory base 4.25% with annual revenue-trigger reduction formula)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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