What to Do After a Death in Eaton County, Michigan
The first weeks after losing someone involve time-sensitive tasks. Here's what to prioritize and what can wait.
When handling an estate in Eaton County, the first few weeks involve several time-sensitive tasks that can't wait. Most executors start with securing property and ordering death certificates before turning to the Probate Court for guidance on whether probate is required.
Certified death certificates are needed at nearly every step—the Probate Court, banks, insurance companies, and government agencies all require originals. Ordering extra copies through Eaton County vital records early saves time later.
1. Order Death Certificates
Calculate the number of death certificates you'll need for banks, courts, and insurers:
2. Estate Settlement Checklist
Track your progress through the probate process:
Once appointed as personal representative, Michigan law requires filing an inventory of estate assets with the Probate Court within 91 daysMCL 700.3706Verified Apr 15, 2026. The inventory includes identifying and valuing all property owned at the time of death—real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, and personal belongings.
Michigan requires publishing a notice to creditors in a local newspaper. Creditors then have 4 monthsMCL 700.3803Verified Apr 15, 2026 to file claims against the estate.
Start by securing the deceased's property—collect mail, lock up valuables, and document everything. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and stop benefit payments before overpayments create a debt the estate must repay.
Contact banks and credit card companies immediately to freeze accounts and prevent unauthorized transactions.
When you're ready to start the probate process, contact the Probate Court at 517-543-4185 to confirm what documents you'll need. You can file in person or by mail—families handling probate themselves don't need to use e-filing.
Life insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries—no probate required. File claims early, as these funds can help cover immediate estate expenses while the probate process is underway.
An attorney may be worth the cost when the estate involves contested assets or complex valuations that Probate Judge Amanda G. Pollard at the Probate Court will need to rule on.
Attorney fees in Michigan typically range from 2%MCL 700.3721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 15, 2026 to 4%MCL 700.3721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Apr 15, 2026 of estate value, with many Charlotte-area attorneys offering flat-rate arrangements for straightforward estates without disputes.
Professional help is especially worthwhile when the estate triggers Michigan estate tax requirements, involves procedures the executor hasn't navigated before, or raises liability concerns.
Legal Sources
- MCL 700.3706
- MCL 700.3721 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- MCL 700.3803
Data sourced from Michigan statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before anything court-related, handle three things: get the doctor or coroner to sign the death certificate, secure the home and any valuables, and locate the will. Only then does probate planning make sense.
Plan on 8–12 certified copies. Each financial institution, title company, insurer, and the Eaton County probate court will ask for an original. Ordering too few is the most common delay families run into. Use the Michigan death certificate calculator for a personalized count.
Michigan does not set a strict filing deadline for opening probate, but delay has costs: the creditor claim period is 4 months, assets stay frozen until probate opens, and some banks refuse to act without letters. Most families file within 30–60 days.
Funeral homes typically report the death to Social Security. Bank and brokerage notifications are on the executor — accounts freeze on notification, so timing matters. The Michigan estate settlement checklist walks through the order.
Yes. A revocable living trust keeps the estate out of Eaton County probate entirely — no filing, no hearings, no public record. Families who plan ahead settle in weeks instead of months. Create a revocable trust online before the next generation has to go through what you're handling now.
Probate Court
Eaton County
1045 Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone:
517-543-4185Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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