How to Submit Your Emergency Filings

If you believe your situation is an emergency, please review these guidelines and instructions:

In limited circumstances, the court may consider your petition an “emergency” and schedule a hearing within a few days of filing the petition, rather than the standard timeframe of 3-6 weeks. In most situations, the emergency hearing resolves the matter only temporarily and a full hearing will still need to be held. For example, a guardian can be appointed on a temporary basis only until the full hearing so that the interested persons can be notified and to allow time for the guardian ad litem to report to the court.

Important Note: Please do not send a copy of any Social Security card to the Court. We do not require it and cannot keep it in our records.

Examples of Emergency Petitions and links to forms:

Petitions for Immediate Funeral\Burial Arrangements pursuant to MCL 700.3206 and 700.3614.
Petition and Order PC586

Guardianships Involving Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies pursuant to MCL 700.5312
Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Incapacitated Individual PC625
or
Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor PC651
and
Acceptance of Appointment PC571
Protected Personal Identifying Information MC97

Conservatorships with Immediate Pending Evictions/Foreclosures/Shut Off Notices pursuant to MCL 700.5407
Petition for Appointment of Conservator PC639
Acceptance of Appointment PC571

Estates Where Immediate Access to Residence is Necessary under MCL 700.3614.
Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative PC559
Testimony to Identify Heirs PC565 (must be notarized)
Supplemental Testimony to Identify NonHeir Devisees PC566, if needed
Acceptance of Appointment PC571
Protected Personal Identifying Information MC97

Requests for Ex-Parte Temporary Restraining Orders
• Attorney will draft the petition or Petition and Order PC586

Emergency Petitions Filed by Adult Protective Services and Child Protective Services under MCL 400.11b(6).
• See guardianship and conservatorship section above.

Mental Health Pick-Up\Transport Orders pursuant to MCL 330.1436 and 330.1426;
Petition for Mental Health Treatment PCM201
Protected Personal Identifying Information MC97

Mental Health Petitions pursuant to MCL 330.1472a.
See a full list of Mental Health forms here

To submit your emergency request by email or fax:

Be aware that your email (whatever you write in the body of the email or the subject line) is not seen by the clerk who processes your petition. Include all relevant information (including the EMERGENCY REQUEST AND EXPLANATION of any supporting facts) in the Petition form itself and on the Petitioner Filing Coversheet wcpc99

  1. Ensure all your court forms are complete. The type of Petition and number of forms required will depend on what type of case you are filing. Click on the Information tab above for specific case types. All probate court forms are available to download here. Include:
    1. the Petitioner Filing Coversheet (wcpc99) stating that your filing is an emergency.
    2. The MC97 or MC97a if the Petition requires it (required for personal protected information such as date of birth).
    3. The MC 505 with your email contact information. The court uses this new form to communicate with you quickly rather than relying on mail service. If you do not include this form, the clerk who processes the petition will not have your email address to communicate with you about your hearing date or any questions. *If you are an attorney, this form is not required; the court automatically pulls the email address on file for you from the State Bar of Michigan directory.
  2. File your Petition and required documents with the court. Send to the correct email address or fax number depending on the type of filing. Department listing is available here.
    1. Email: If you file by email, you must attach your filings to the email in one single PDF document. The court cannot accept a picture of the document. There are apps available to convert picture images to PDF. Per MCR 1.109(E)(4)(a), the court can accept a typed signature in the following format: /s/your name. All paperwork must be complete (signed) and legible.
    2. Fax: If you file by fax, you must submit one complete document in each fax transmission (do not send separate pages in separate transmissions). All paperwork must be complete (signed) and legible.
  3. Include “emergency” in your subject line and in the Petitioner Filing Coversheet.
  4. Your emergency petition will be processed as quickly as possible and a hearing date provided to you by email (so long as you provide one) within 1-2 business days.
    1. You should monitor the status of your filing by going to Case Access and searching the case number or name. If your emergency request has not been processed within 1-2 business days, you may contact the court to ensure it has been received.
    2. If your petition is not deemed an emergency by the court, you will receive a hearing date within 3-6 weeks after you have paid your filing fee or your fee waiver has been approved.
  5. Follow the instructions here to pay your fee online prior to the hearing; the fee waiver request form (MC20) may be submitted with your petition.
  6. All hearings are being held via Zoom. If you do not attend the hearing, your petition may be dismissed. Zoom hearing information is available here.
  7. Most emergency hearings can only result in temporary orders. A full hearing will be scheduled and you will be provided with another hearing date and time. You may be required to complete and file additional forms (such as Acceptance of Appointment PC571 or Proof of Service PC564) and serve notice on the interested persons.