What to Do When Someone Dies in St. Clair County, Michigan
Probate in St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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
Probate Court
St. Clair County
Address
201 McMorran Boulevard, Room 2700Port Huron, MI 48060
Paper filing availableE-filing optionalSelf-filing allowed
Located in Room 2700. RSVP for workshops: (810) 985-2176. Mental Health Court program for individuals with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities facing criminal charges. County Clerk (filing guidance): 810-985-2200.
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 St. Clair County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 201 McMorran Boulevard, Room 2700, Port Huron.
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 St. Clair County
What probate costs in St. Clair 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 201 McMorran Boulevard, Room 2700, Port Huron.
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.
The Probate Court accepts e-filing (https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
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.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
Probate documents in St. Clair County can be filed in person at the Probate Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Decedent estate opened by small-estate assignment, informal application, or formal petition depending on estate size
Small estates under the annually-adjusted threshold use the Petition and Order for Assignment (PC 556). Estates over the small-estate threshold or requiring a personal representative appointment proceed by informal Application (PC 558) via the Probate Register or by formal Petition heard by the judge. Forms needed to open a file include PC 558 Application, PC 565 Testimony to Identify Heirs, PC 571 Acceptance of Appointment, the will (if any), and the death certificate.
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.
Transferring Property in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Register of Deeds Angie Waters, at 200 Grand River Avenue, Suite 103, Port Huron, MI 48060. Phone: (810) 989-6930. Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00am-4:30pm (closed 12:00-1:00pm); Fri 10:30am-4:30pm (closed 12:00-1:00pm).
The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
St. Clair County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
St. Clair County · Register of Deeds · Angie Waters
Address
200 Grand River Avenue, Suite 103Port Huron, MI 48060
Michigan allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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.
Huntington Woods estate-and-probate firm serving Metro Detroit's Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County probate courts. Handles contested and uncontested estate and trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate litigation including will contests, trust disputes, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims. Founder Howard Collens has practiced estate law for over 30 years.
St. Clair County firm whose estate planning and probate group serves Port Huron and surrounding communities. Handles wills, trusts, patient advocate designations, durable powers of attorney, probate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and business succession planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningConservatorshipGuardianshipBusiness Successionand 2 more
Mount Clemens firm serving Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair County families from South Main Street, in the county seat where Macomb County Probate Court sits. Handles probate and probate litigation, wills and trusts, special needs trusts, and elder law including Medicaid planning. Founded in 1903 and the oldest continuously operating firm in Macomb County.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more
Office
176 South Main Street, Suite 1Mount Clemens, MI 48043
St. Clair County estate planning and elder law firm providing personalized estate plans through a defined four-step process: consultation, research, custom plan development, and review.
Clinton Township firm serving Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair County families through the Macomb County Probate Court in Mount Clemens. Builds revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and Medicaid plans, and administers estates after a death whether distribution runs through a will or Michigan's intestacy statutes. Offers a free case evaluation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawMedicaid Planningand 2 more
Office
17001 Nineteen Mile Road, Suite 1DClinton Township, MI 48038
Grand Rapids and Northville firm practicing exclusively in estate planning and estate administration -- no other areas of law. Handles will and trust drafting, powers of attorney, probate, and trust settlement for West Michigan and metro Detroit families. Veteran- and woman-led.
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.
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.
Enter estate details
Select your state and enter an estate value to see a detailed cost estimate.
Quick examples:
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.
$
Total probate assets (exclude beneficiary-designated accounts)
Can you self-file probate?
Enter your state and estate value to get a personalized recommendation with estimated cost savings.
Score-based assessment with reasoning
Cost comparison vs. hiring an attorney
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.
St. Clair County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in St. Clair County, Michigan.
