Probate in Oakland 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 Oakland 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
Oakland County
Address
Phone
Hours
Located in Courthouse Tower. Weapons and cutting instruments are NOT permitted. Same-day processing requires being in line by 3:30 PM. E-filing exceptions: depositing original wills, emergency mental health petitions, gross estate fee payments.
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 Oakland County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Dept 457, Pontiac. 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 Oakland 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 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Dept 457, Pontiac.
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 Oakland 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 Oakland 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 InformationPaper Filing Required For
Not 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 Oakland 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 Oakland County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown, at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 12E, Pontiac, MI 48341. Phone: (248) 858-0581. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.
The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Oakland County accepts electronic recording through CSC.
Recording Office Record
Oakland County · Clerk/Register of Deeds · Lisa Brown
Address
Phone
Hours
E-recording
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 Oakland 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 Oakland 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.
FirmTroy, MI
Boutique Troy firm helping metro Detroit families in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb Counties establish wills, trusts, financial and health care powers of attorney, living wills, and advance health care directives.
PracticesEstate PlanningPowers Of AttorneyProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmTroy, MI
Troy estate planning and probate firm serving Southeast Michigan (Oakland, Wayne, Macomb) since 1970. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, probate litigation, special-needs planning, and elder law. Two generations of the Mayoras family lead the practice.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationElder Lawand 2 more
FirmAnn Arbor, MI
Serves Washtenaw, Livingston, and western Wayne County families from Ann Arbor, with a second office in Petoskey. Handles trust and estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and elder law work including Medicaid and special needs planning. Estate and elder law has been the firm’s focus for more than 30 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more
FirmBingham Farms, MI
Bingham Farms estate planning and probate firm serving Oakland County and metro Detroit since 1991. Handles probate administration, trust administration, and probate and trust litigation -- filing initial petitions, inventorying assets, resolving creditor claims, and defending contested estate plans.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationElder LawProbate Administration
FirmBrighton, MI
Brighton estate-planning and elder-law firm serving Livingston, Oakland, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties. Handles trust and will planning, Medicaid and long-term-care asset protection, and trust administration for families settling a relative's estate. Led by a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a credential held by only a small number of Michigan attorneys.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawTax PlanningMedicaid PlanningWills Trusts
FirmSt. Clair Shores, MI
St. Clair Shores firm serving Macomb County families through the Macomb County Probate Court in Mount Clemens, with more than 35 years in practice. Helps clients select and execute wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and handles estate litigation, will contests, and special-needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationSpecial Needs PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
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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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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Step-by-step tools for families in Oakland County, Michigan.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
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