What to Do When Someone Dies in Menominee County, Michigan

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

Probate Court Record

Menominee County Probate Court

Menominee County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

839 10th Avenue, 1st Floor, Menominee, MI 49858

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

Self-represented filing

AllowedThe court posts an informal probate packet and a petition and order for assignment packet for small estates on its estates page.

Accepted payment

  • At the counterProbate court fees and costs can be paid online from the court's fines, costs and fees page with the name and case number.

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Menominee 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 Menominee, probate runs through the Probate Court at 839 10th Avenue, 1st Floor, Menominee.

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 Menominee County

What probate costs in Menominee 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 839 10th Avenue, 1st Floor, Menominee.

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 Menominee County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.

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 Menominee 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 Menominee County

In Michigan a death is registered locally, and in Menominee County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by County Clerk's Office, Menominee 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

Menominee County · County Clerk's Office

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

839 10th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Menominee, MI 49858

Local rule

  • Records date from 1867. A mailed request carries the Request for Vital Records form, a check or money order and a copy of the requester's driver's license.

Verified November 4, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

Medical Examiner

Menominee County

Published contact

None published by the county. The office is created by MCL 52.201(1).

Verified November 4, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in Menominee 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 Menominee County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 839 10th Avenue, 1st Floor, Menominee, MI 49858. Phone: 1-906-863-2822. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (open through lunch).

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

Recording Office Record

Register of Deeds

Menominee County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (open through lunch)

Office

839 10th Avenue, 1st Floor, Menominee, MI 49858

Fax

1-906-863-8839

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Forms that put a death on the title

Probate Attorneys Serving Menominee County

Michigan allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Menominee 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 a Menominee 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.

FirmMarquette, MI

Kendricks Bordeau, P.C.

Serves 7 counties

Marquette firm with a by-appointment office in Hancock, serving clients across the Upper Peninsula for more than 100 years. Administers and settles estates through probate and trust administration, and plans long-term care Medicaid eligibility and special needs trusts. Estate plans include wills, trusts, and planning for family camps and cottages.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office
128 W Spring StreetMarquette, MI 49855
Virtual consultations

FirmEscanaba, MI

Miller, Parmet & Budkis, P.C.

Since 1941 · Serves 4 counties

Escanaba firm at the corner of North 9th and Ludington Streets that has served Michigan's Upper Peninsula since 1941. Handles wills, trusts and probate, including guardianships and conservatorships, for Delta County families and the surrounding UP. Estate work sits beside real estate, business, family law and civil litigation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts

Office
816 Ludington StreetEscanaba, MI 49829

FirmIron Mountain, MI

Ryan & Lynch Law

Since 1978 · Serves 3 counties

Iron Mountain firm founded in 1978 by attorney Peter Ryan, serving Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northeastern Wisconsin. Assists personal representatives through probate and trust administration, from valuing the estate and locating beneficiaries to paying taxes and debts and transferring assets, and handles nursing home, Medicaid and spend-down planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more

Office
307 East C StreetIron Mountain, MI 49801

FirmIshpeming, MI

Steward & Sheridan, PLC

Serves 15 counties

Ishpeming firm near the Marquette County Probate Court whose attorneys practice in all 15 Upper Peninsula counties. Handles probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and will and trust disputes, and plans for nursing home care, Medicaid applications and special needs trusts. James Steward was the first Certified Elder Law Attorney in the Upper Peninsula.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more

Office
205 South Main StreetIshpeming, MI 49849

Solo PracticeSault Ste. Marie, MI

David E Bulson LLC Attorney at Law

Since 1985 · Serves 5 counties

Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette office serving Michigan's Upper Peninsula since 1985. Guides executors through probate, prepares formal accountings of estates and trusts, and litigates will contests, undue influence claims, removal of trustees and executors, surcharge actions, creditor claims and probate appeals. Wills and trusts, bankruptcy and real estate round out the practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
402 Ashmun StreetSault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

FirmHoughton, MI

Numinen, DeForge & Toutant, PC

Serves 3 counties

Upper Peninsula firm with offices in Houghton and Marquette serving Houghton, Keweenaw and Marquette Counties, including Calumet, Hancock, Negaunee and Ishpeming. Advises executors on their duties and represents the estate in court when a will or other probate document is challenged, alongside wills, trusts, living wills and special needs trusts.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateCriminal DefenseFamily Lawand 2 more

Office
400 E Houghton AveHoughton, MI 49931
Free consultation
See all 13 firms serving Menominee 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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