Probate in Delta County runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Delta County, settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Delta County
Address
Phone
Hours
MiFILE e-filing required for attorneys. Administrator: Lindsey LaMarch. Located in Delta County Building.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
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 Delta County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 310 Ludington Street, Escanaba. E-filing here is required, not optional — true in only 5 Michigan counties.
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. The 4 monthsMCL 700.3803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Delta 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 310 Ludington Street, Escanaba.
Michigan charges $150MCL § 600.880(1)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Probate Court (https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Michigan are negotiated, typically 1.7%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Michigan requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
Probate in Michigan typically runs 7 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
If you're handling probate yourself in Delta County, Michigan, you can file at the Probate Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Delta County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Delta County Self-Filing Assessment.
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
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 Delta County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Clerk/Register of Deeds Nancy Przewrocki, at 310 Ludington Street, Suite 104, Escanaba, MI 49829. Phone: (906) 789-5100. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:00pm.
The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Recording Office Record
Delta County · Clerk/Register of Deeds · Nancy Przewrocki
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $30 |
MCL 600.2567(1)(a); MCL 600.2567a
Verified September 6, 2026 · Source
Michigan allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Delta 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 — typically 1.7%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Delta 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.
FirmEscanaba, MI
Long-established Escanaba firm founded in 1941, among the oldest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Handles probate, wills and trusts, and trust administration alongside civil litigation, real estate, and corporate work for Delta County and surrounding UP communities.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmMarquette, MI
Marquette firm, one of the oldest and largest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, providing estate planning, probate, and trust administration across the central and western UP for over 100 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningProbate Administration
FirmIshpeming, MI
Upper Peninsula firm established in 1980 with attorneys practicing in all 15 U.P. counties. Home to the first Certified Elder Law Attorney in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, specializing in Estate Planning, nursing home issues, Medicaid applications, and asset protection.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more
Solo PracticeSault Ste. Marie, MI
Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette law office practicing trust and estate law since 1985. Handles wills, trusts, probate administration, formal accounting of estates and trusts, probate appeals, and trust and estate litigation including will contests, undue influence challenges, fiduciary misconduct, and creditor claims throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationBusiness Lawand 3 more
FirmHoughton, MI
Upper Peninsula firm with offices in Houghton and Marquette and over 100 years of combined attorney experience. Estate planning and probate practice serves Houghton, Keweenaw, and Marquette Counties along with the surrounding communities of Calumet, Hancock, Negaunee, and Ishpeming.
PracticesEstate PlanningCriminal DefenseFamily LawPersonal Injuryand 2 more
FirmDetroit, MI
Leading law firm established in 1854 providing expert estate planning and probate counsel throughout Michigan. Handles estate tax audits, fiduciary matters, probate litigation, and complex estates in excess of $100 million. Services include revocable living trusts, life insurance trusts, generation-skipping trusts, GRATs, charitable planning, and international estate plans.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTax Planningand 2 more
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.
Data sourced from Michigan statutes and official state code. How we research.
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Vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
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Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Step-by-step tools for families in Delta County, Michigan.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
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Browse vetted Michigan attorneys handling probate matters.
