Filing Procedures -
Guardianships for Individual with Developmental Disability
Checklist

Important Note: It is strongly recommended you contact the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) at 313 833-2500 for assistance with preparing and filing this petition, including obtaining the required evaluations.

1. Gather the following documents:

Psychological Evaluation and Assessments: The person who files the petition for the appointment of a guardian for an individual with a developmental disability must attach a psychological evaluation and assessments of the proposed ward’s mental, physical, social, educational condition, adaptive behavior, and social skills. The psychological evaluation and assessments can be obtained through your own private sources or by contacting the Detroit-Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) at (313) 833-2500. If a facility or program director is the petitioner, then a recommendation from the Informed Consent Board is also required.

By law, the petition cannot be accepted without the psychological evaluation and assessment unless it is a request for a temporary guardian. For a temporary request, a letter from a doctor may be included stating the nature and extent of the emergency. The psychological evaluation and assessments must be completed prior to a full appointment.

2. Fill out the following forms:
   Note: DWIHN will provide assistance in almost all cases with preparing these forms.
   1. WCPC 99, Petitioner Filing Coversheet
   2. PC 658, Petition for Appointment of Guardian, Individual with Alleged Developmental Disability
      Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form PC 658
      Note: Addresses of all interested persons must be listed on petition. If missing addresses for any interested persons, after you receive the hearing information, you must arrange for publication. Click here for more information.
      
   3. PC 617, Declaration of Intent to Give Notice by Publication. Complete a seperate form PC 617 for each person to be notified by publiation
   4. MC 505, Contact Information. This must be completed with the email and phone number of the petitioner and filed in order to schedule a hearing.
   5. MC 97, Protected Personal Identifying Information
   6. WCPC 805, Acceptance of Appointment for the Developmentally Disabled (Signed by Proposed Guardian)
      Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form wcpc 805
   7. MC 97a, Addendum to Protected Personal Identifying Information
      
   8. PC659, Report to Accompany Petition to Appoint, Modify or Discharge Guardian of Individual with Developmental Disability (signed by person who prepared the psychological evaluation and assessments)
      Important Note: You MUST use these forms; you cannot draft your own document.
      
      
3. Click here to find out how you can file your petition
   
   
4. Submit your completed documents to the Court in the following order (as one PDF if submitting electronically):
1. WCPC 99, Petitioner Filing Coversheet
2. MC 97, Protected Personal Identifying Information
3. MC 505, Contact Information
4. PC 658, Petition for Appointment of Guardian, Individual with Alleged Developmental Disability
5. PC 617, Declaration of Intent to Give Notice by Publication
6. WCPC 805, Acceptance of Appointment for the Developmentally Disabled (Signed by Proposed Guardian)
7. MC 97a, Addendum to Protected Personal Identifying Information
8. PC659, Report to Accompany Petition to Appoint, Modify or Discharge Guardian of Individual with Developmental Disability (signed by person who prepared the psychological evaluation and assessments)
9. The psychological evaluation and assessments of the proposed ward’s mental, physical, social, educational condition, adaptive behavior, and social skills.
   
   
5. Filing Fee

   i. No filing Fee
   ii. $12 Certified Letter of Guardianship Fee.
   iii. If you file electronically or by fax, you will receive a notification to pay with the amount of your total Letter of Guardianship Fee once your filing has been accepted.
   iv. Letters of Guardianship can be paid:
   
   1) electronically via ePayment online or
   2) via mail by CHECK (no out-of-state checks)or MONEY ORDER
   3) Make checks payable to: “Wayne County Probate Court”
   4) Mail checks/money order along with a letter with your case # referencing what the payment is for to:
   

   Wayne County Probate Court
   

   1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
   

   2 Woodward Ave.
   

   Detroit, MI. 48226
   
   
6. Hearing Date

   i. Once the guardianship petition is processed you will be sent notice of hearing information, including ZOOM instructions.
   ii. You must serve a copy of the petition and the hearing information on all the interested persons and file a proof of service (PC564) with the court.
   iii. All hearings are being conducted by ZOOM.
   iv. You must attend the ZOOM hearing or your petition will be dismissed.

7. Attorney

   i. An attorney will be appointed to represent the person alleged to need the guardianship.
   ii. The attorney will participate in the hearing via ZOOM.

8. Letters of Guardianship

   i. After the hearing, if your petition has been granted and you have paid the $12 fee you will be sent Letters of Guardianship
   ii. They will be sent via email with an electronic certification
   iii.If you did not provide an email address they will be mailed to you

Rev. 1/22