What to Do When Someone Dies in Alcona County, Michigan

How probate works in Alcona County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.

Probate Court Record

Alcona County Probate Court

Alcona County · 23rd Circuit Court

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM

Office

106 Fifth Street, Harrisville, MI 48740

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

Mail and offices

Mail

P.O. Box 385 Harrisville, MI 48740

Fax

1-989-724-9499

Departments

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Alcona County

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Alcona County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 106 Fifth Street, Harrisville. The court sits in the 23rd Circuit Court.

The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Michigan intestacy law when there is no will.

Most Michigan estates take 7 months to 12 months to move through this process. 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 a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.

What Probate Costs in Alcona County

What probate costs in Alcona County, Michigan comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 106 Fifth Street, Harrisville. The court is part of the 23rd Circuit Court.

Michigan charges $175MCL §§ 600.880(1), 600.1986(1)(a)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.

Estimate the costs for this estate:

Attorney fees in Michigan are negotiated, typically 1.7%Modeled estimate under MCR 5.313(A) (attorney entitled to reasonable compensation; MRPC 1.5(a) factors); MCL 700.3721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%Modeled estimate under MCR 5.313(A) (attorney entitled to reasonable compensation; MRPC 1.5(a) factors); MCL 700.3721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.

Michigan allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payMCL 700.3719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.

Michigan requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.

Probate in Michigan typically runs 7 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.

How to File Probate at the Probate Court

Probate cases in Alcona County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 23rd Circuit Court.

Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Court Administrator.

Can You File Without an Attorney?

In Michigan, informal probate is availableMCL 700.3302Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.

For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Alcona County Self-Filing Assessment.

What to Bring

Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Court: TWO copies of the death certificate (or of alternative documentation of death if no certificate), one of them redacted of protected personal identifying information (MCR 5.302(A)(1); MCL 700.3301, 700.3402); Original will and any codicils, if testate (MCL 700.3301(1)(b)(i), 700.3402(1)(c); MCR 5.302(A)(3)); Testimony to Identify Heirs (PC 565) — mandatory with the commencing application or petition (MCR 5.302(B))MCL 700.3301-700.3311 (informal); MCL 700.3401-700.3414 (formal); MCL 700.3103, 700.3601 (letters)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Alcona County

In Michigan a death is registered locally, and in Alcona County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by County Clerk's Office, Alcona County as well as by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services - Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics.

Vital Records Office Record

County Clerk

Alcona County · County Clerk's Office

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM

Office

106 5th Street, Harrisville, MI 48740

Mail

P.O. Box 269 Harrisville, MI 48740

Fax

1-989-724-9459

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

Medical Examiner

Alcona County · Alcona County Medical Examiner

Serves this county

Mid Michigan Medical Examiner Group

Cremation authorization

Signed by this office

Mail and offices

Mail

2141 Plett Road PMB 111 Cadillac, MI 49601

Fax

1-231-440-0806

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in Alcona County

Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds.

Deeds and other real property documents for Alcona County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 106 5th Street, Harrisville, MI 48740. Phone: 1-989-724-9450. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 269, Harrisville, MI 48740.

The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.

Recording Office Record

Register of Deeds

Alcona County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM

Office

106 5th Street, Harrisville, MI 48740

Mail

P.O. Box 269 Harrisville, MI 48740

Fax

1-989-724-9459

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Forms that put a death on the title

Probate Attorneys Serving Alcona County

Michigan allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Alcona County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.

Probate attorney fees in Michigan are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask an Alcona County firm to quote a structure up front.

A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.

FirmAlpena, MI

Wenzel Bennett & Harris, P.C.

Since 1980 · Serves 4 counties

Downtown Alpena firm that regularly handles estates in Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency and Alcona Counties. Guides personal representatives through probate with or without a will, advises successor trustees administering revocable trusts, and represents clients in contested will, trust, guardianship and conservatorship matters. Also prepares Medicaid applications for nursing-home care.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more

Office
109 N Second Avenue, Suite 200Alpena, MI 49707

FirmCharlevoix, MI

Northern Michigan Elder Law PLC

Serves 22 counties

Elder law firm with offices in Charlevoix, Traverse City and East Jordan, serving 20 Northern Michigan counties and handling estate administration on Mackinac, Beaver and Drummond Islands. Handles probate and trust administration, trust disputes and will or trust contests, and conservatorship and guardianship matters, alongside Medicaid and veterans benefits planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more

Office
103 W Belvedere AvenueCharlevoix, MI 49720

FirmBig Rapids, MI

Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center

Serves 4 counties

Big Rapids elder law firm with further offices in Cadillac, Gaylord and Traverse City, and homebound appointments on request. Takes families through probate and trust administration after a death, from debts and taxes to transferring title to the heirs, and obtains court approval for guardians and conservators with the required accountings. Medicaid and veterans benefits planning sit beside it.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office
218 Maple Street, Suite ABig Rapids, MI 49307
Free consultation

FirmLansing, MI

Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C.

Since 1902 · Serves the whole state

Lansing firm tracing its origins to 1902, with a Trusts and Estates group in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Holland, Southfield and Detroit serving families, family businesses and fiduciaries throughout Michigan. The group handles trust and estate administration and trust and estate litigation, alongside gift tax, business succession, and Medicaid and elder law planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more

Office
313 S Washington SquareLansing, MI 48933

FirmLansing, MI

Fraser Trebilcock Davis Dunlap & Cavanaugh, P.C.

Since 1883 · Serves the whole state

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more

Office
124 W Allegan Street, Suite 1000Lansing, MI 48933

FirmKalamazoo, MI

Keilen Law, PLC

Serves the whole state

Kalamazoo firm with a Grand Rapids office, handling probate administration in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and across Michigan. Brings and defends will and trust contests and breach of fiduciary duty claims against trustees and personal representatives. Drafts wills, trusts, special needs trusts, and Medicaid plans, with a fixed price quote for estate plans.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 4 more

Office
141 E Michigan Avenue, Suite 602Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Free consultation
See all 10 firms serving Alcona County →

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

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Data sourced from Michigan statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.

Tools for Settling an Estate in Michigan

Free tools for settling an estate in Michigan: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Michigan.

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.

See the Steps

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.

See the Steps

Can I Self-File Probate?

In Michigan, informal probate is availableMCL 700.3302Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.

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