Important Information on Filings

Filing Hours

• The Wayne County Probate Court accepts pleadings and documents for filing Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (the filing hours). Your email or fax must be received by the Court between these filing hours.
• Filings will NOT be accepted in the evenings, on weekends, or on Court holidays.

Filing Details

Filings may be submitted by email, fax, drop box at the court, or regular U.S. mail. Please review the following step-by-step instructions to help us process your filings as efficiently as possible. Please note that we are not an e-filing court and this is not an automated process. Continue to check Case Access via the court’s website for the status of your submission.

To submit documents for filing via fax or email:

1. To serve you better, please complete this form (WCPC99 Petitioner Filing Coversheet) for each filing packet/email attachment so that we can quickly identify emergencies or the need for an updated Letter of Authority and route your filing appropriately. Use this Coversheet as the first page of your single .pdf attachment. See our website instructions for what forms are required to be filed together in a single attachment.
   Click here for video instructions on how to fill out form wcpc99
2. Include SCAO form MC505 with your email contact information. The court uses the information from this form to communicate with you quickly rather than relying upon mail service. *If you are an attorney, this form is not required for your information; the court automatically pulls the email address on file for you from the State Bar of Michigan directory.
3. Email: Attach your filings to the email in one single .pdf format document with the page size no larger than 8.5 x 11" Verify that the document is the correct size by going to the documents properties. If it is larger than then 8.5 x 11, you can use the Print to Microsoft Print to PDF feature to rescale the pages. Documents above the required page sizes will not be accepted. There are apps available to convert picture images to PDF. The court cannot accept a picture of the document(s).
   1. A single .pdf attachment must be used for each filing. Please "bundle" related cases\related documents as one .pdf. A single .pdf would be submitted with multiple filings in one email, for example: filings for a guardianship and conservatorship regarding the same person, or multiple minor guardianship cases for the same family, multiple petitions for the same case.
   2. A scanned copy of an original will must be submitted as part of the .pdf file. The original will must be sent to the court (via mail, certified mail, or delivery service) and received within 14 days of the email filing; failure to do so within this time period may result in the dismissal of the case.
   3. Per MCR 1.109(E)(4)(a), the court can accept electronic signatures, including a typed signature in the following format: /s/your name.
   4. All paperwork must be complete and legible.
4. Fax: you must submit one complete document in each fax transmission (do not send separate pages in separate transmissions). All paperwork must be complete and legible.
5. Send to the correct email address or fax number depending on the type of filing. Department listing is available here: Where/How Do I File.
6. 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.

To Submit your filings by regular U.S mail or via drop box at the court follow these Instructions:

1. Please mail or deliver to the court’s drop box complete packets to:

   Probate Court
   1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
   2 Woodward Ave
   Detroit, MI 48226

2. If a fee is required, please include a check or money order payable to Wayne County Probate Court. See the Fee Schedule
3. The court does not return courtesy “received stamped” copies; please do not include stamped return envelopes as they will be discarded.
4. You may monitor your filing status under Case Access.
5. If you would like to receive documents by email, include form MC 505 with your mailed packet. Your Notice of Hearing, updated Letters, or other return documents will be emailed to you rather than mailed.

Original documents:

The only original document required to be physically filed with the court is a decedent’s will. Deliver the ORIGINAL, unredacted Will to the court via drop box or mail to:

Wayne County Probate Court
Attn: Probate Counter
1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Detroit, Mich. 48226

 

Protected Personal Identifying Information (PPII)

In order to prevent identity theft, the Michigan Supreme Court requires that as of April 1, 2022 new forms must be used which do not contain PPII. The Court will not issue public orders with PPII. Protected Personal Identifying Information includes:

1. Date of birth
2. Social security number
3. Financial account numbers
4. Passport or driver's license/state ID numbers

The state court system has developed specific forms that must be used when submitting PPII to the court. These forms are, MC 97 (Protected Personal Identifying Information) and MC 97a (Addendum to Protected Personal Identifying Information).

Due to the amendments of MCR 1.109 and 8.119 relating to PPII, images of court documents filed up through March 31, 2022 are not available to view online on our website via Case Access. Any public document filed on or after April 1, 2022 is available to view online. See our Copy Request instructions here for more information on how to obtain copies of documents dated prior to April 1, 2022. You may choose to come onsite to see images of public documents in the file, including public documents filed prior to April 1, 2022.

*For all Filers, Including Attorneys/GALs/Court-Appointed Counsel: Do not include protected personal identifying information on documents that you file with the court except through either MC97 or MC97a. You are responsible for redacting any PPII in documents you submit to the court or take other protective measures. SCAO forms have been updated to remove fields for PPII and to require that the information instead to be listed on a second separate form, either mc97 or mc97a. For more information, please go to SCAO’s website here: Protecting Personal Identifying Information (michigan.gov)

Processing of Filing

You should monitor the status of your filing by going to Case Access (header above) and searching the case number or name. Please be aware that the filing system at Wayne County Probate Court is a manual electronic process, as this Court is not yet a true “e-filing court”. After your filing has been processed, you will receive notice to pay any requisite fees. You do not need to email the court once payment is made. To make payment of fees and to check the status of your filing, see the Court’s website under Case Access; follow the instructions.

Hearing dates may not be scheduled, and updated Letters may not be received for roughly one to three days after payment has been made.

Timing Goals and Expectations
Processing of documents after submission by customer	1-3 business days after documents submitted for filing
Pleading set for hearing and hearing notice sent to customer who filed document(s)	1-3 business days after court receives payment of filing fees
Hearing date for pleading filed with court	4-6 weeks after payment of filing fees
Letter of authority from court after initial appointment	The letter and payment information will be entered 2-7 Business Days from date of hearing or filing of Acceptance of Appointment and bond if ordered, whichever is later. The letter will be sent to the attorney of record (if any) or fiduciary (if no attorney) 1-3 business days after payment of fee.
Letter of authority from court after request for copy of existing or updated Letter of Authority	The letter will be sent to the attorney of record (if any) or fiduciary (if no attorney) 1-3 business days after payment of fee
Entry of Register's Statement and receipt of Letter of Authority after filing of Application for Probate and Appointment of Personal Representative	1-3 business days after payment of fee
Entry of Order Assigning Assets and receipt of certified order by customer after filing of Petition for Assignment (Small Estate)	1-3 business days after payment of fee
Entry of Order into following hearing date (viewable through Case Access)	2-7 business days from date of hearing

Please continue to monitor our website for updates and other important information.

How to submit your Non-Emergency Filing

How to submit your Non-Emergency Filing.

How to submit your Emergency Filing

How to submit your Emergency Filing.

Hearing Information

If your filing also requires a hearing (almost all petitions except for Petitions/Order for Assignment (small estates)):

1. After the fee is paid, you will receive BY EMAIL your notice of hearing packet, which includes the date and time of the hearing, the instructions to participate in the hearing via zoom, and a copy of your petition.
2. It is the petitioner’s responsibility to serve notice of the hearing on the interested parties and submit a proof of service to the court PRIOR TO THE HEARING. If publication is required, click here for more information.
3. If your filing fee has not been paid or if you have not completed service (filed the proof of service with the court), YOUR HEARING WILL NOT GO FORWARD and your petition may be dismissed.
4. Click here for ZOOM hearing information. To obtain the Zoom Meeting ID and other information about hearings, please see: WCPC - How to Attend a Hearing at WCPC
5. For questions related to the hearing, you may contact the courtroom (for the judge assigned to your case) directly using the directory WCPC-Contact Us.
6. Following the hearing held via Zoom, you will receive BY EMAIL your certified Letters of Authority once you have been appointed and qualified with filing of an Acceptance of Appointment and bond, if applicable Letters ($12 each) must be paid for via ePayment or onsite at the court in order to receive them.
7. Please visit Case Access to view hearing information and case status.

How to Request Updated Letters of Authority

Requesting Updated Letters of Authority.

ImageAccess

You can view public document images from case files via the Case Access link on this site. The following items are not be accessible via Case Access:

• Confidential documents
• Sealed cases
• Settlement agreements
• Death certificates entered separately from other filings
• Letters of authority of all types entered after 8/1/2019

Court rule amendments to MCR 1.109(D) & 8.119(H) effective April 1, 2022 regarding protected personal information (PPII) prevent the Court from allowing access to documents containing PPII via our website. Public access computers are available at the courthouse. To obtain copies of court documents, see the Copy Request page of this website.

Electronic Certified Copies

Effective July 2020, the Wayne County Probate Court no longer issues fiduciary letters (letters of authority, guardianships, and conservatorships) and other certified copies of documents with a raised seal. The Court utilizes an electronic seal only to validate the authenticity of the original document.

Parties relying on certified orders/letters should consider the following:

• If you have any questions about the authenticity of the document being presented to you, please go to the Wayne County Probate Court’s website, www.wcpc.us, under Case Access, search and select the case (either by case name or case number). The entry of the Letter of Authority will be shown on the Docket page. The fiduciary and party names are also available on the Party page.

Parties utilizing certified orders/letters should consider the following:

• Note the language on the letters indicate “The Letters of Authority are valid only if issued with the official seal of the Wayne County Probate Court,” a raised seal is not required.
• Pg 2 of the letter indicates:
  • Effective July 2020, the Wayne County Probate Court no longer issues fiduciary letters (letters of authority, guardianships, and conservatorships) with a raised seal, only an electronic seal is used. If you have any questions about the authenticity of the document being presented to you, please go to the Wayne County Probate Court’s website, www.wcpc.us, under Case Access, search and select the case (either by case name or case number). The entry of the Letter of Authority will be shown on the Docket page. The fiduciary and party names are also available on the Party page.
    
• Provide a copy of the case history from our website by going to the Wayne County Probate Court’s website, www.wcpc.us, under Case Access, search and select the case (either by case name or case number). The entry of the Letter of Authority will be shown on the Docket page. The fiduciary and party names are also available on the Party page. Print these pages.
• Provide a copy of this website page, indicating the official Court policy.

Publication and/or Notice to Unknown Creditors

For petitions where publication is required and\or notice to unknown creditors, please be aware that the Detroit Legal New publishes per their normal schedule. Contact them at wayneprobate@legalnews.com or 313 409-6398 to arrange for publication.

Self-Help Resources

All probate court forms are available to download here. Check our Probate Information tab for general information about specific probate case types (for example, opening a decedent’s estate or filing for guardianship).

Michigan Legal Help is a website with several articles covering probate topics and you can also search for legal aid organizations that serve your area or topic.

SCAO has many helpful resources for participating in remote hearings and other materials related to court capacities around the state.

Questions\Further Information

Questions may be directed to info@wcpc.us.

 

Selected Performance Measures

Selected Performance Measures	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Average number of weeks until hearing date	5.1	4.6	4.4	5.6	5.3
Number of new filings	9,688	11,682	11,513	12,468	11,597
Number of hearings scheduled	26,137	26,523	24,922	27,312	29,649
Number of active cases(excluding mental health)	34,161	32,132	31,141	31,852	31,345
Percentage of estate proceedings adjudicated within 35 days	72%	67%	59%	61%	67%
Percentage of guardianship and conservatorship proceedings adjudicated within 90 days	79%	86%	82%	83%	82%
Percentage of mental commitment petitions adjudicated within 14 days	97%	97%	99%	99%	98%
Clearance rates ( the number of outgoing cases as a percentage of incoming cases)	96%	97%	96%	99%	99%
Number of full time staffing positions (as of 12/31)	68	65	69	69	73

Judges of Probate

Hon. David Braxton, Chief Judge
Hon. David A. Perkins, Chief Judge Pro Tempore
Hon. Judy A. Hartsfield
Hon. Terrance A. Keith
Hon. Lawrence J. Paolucci
Hon. Michael J. McClory
Hon. Todd E. Briggs
Hon. Macie Tuiasosopo Gaines