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Probate in Berrien County, Michigan

When someone who lived in Berrien County dies, probate is handled by the county probate court. This page points you to that court and summarizes the Michigan rules that apply — the small-estate threshold, the key deadlines, and the instruments Michigan uses. For your own dates and numbers, use the free calculators linked below.

Where to file

Probate is filed in Berrien County, where the person who died last lived. Local forms, e-filing rules, and scheduling vary by county — confirm with the county probate court.

Find your court — Michigan Trial Court Directory

Does this estate need full probate?

Michigan lets smaller estates skip full probate using the Petition and Order for Assignment (PC 556) / Affidavit of Decedent’s Successor (PC 598) for estates up to $53,000.

Check your estate Source — MCL 700.3982, 700.3983 (2026 COLA-adjusted, 2023 factor 1.057; §3982(5) lien cap $264,000) — MI Treasury EPIC notice, Table B

Key probate deadlines in Michigan

Lodge the will with the court: No fixed statutory deadline — varies, confirm with the probate court.
File the estate inventory: 91 days after appointment as personal representative
Creditor-claim period closes: 4 months after first publication of the notice to creditors

Compute the exact dates from a date of death Source — MCL 700.3706(1) (inventory, 91 days from appointment, at fair market value); MCR 5.307(A) (inventory-fee information, 91 days from letters); MCL 700.3801(1) (publish notice to creditors upon appointment; 4-month claim window); MCL 700.2516 (will delivery); MCL 700.3954(1) (no closing statement earlier than 5 months after appointment)

Good to know in Michigan

The court empowers the personal representative with Letters of Authority for Personal Representative.
The estate closes with the Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration.
Michigan has no state estate or inheritance tax.

Talk it through, or find a local pro

Ask the guide a question about probate in Berrien County, or browse vetted probate attorneys and real-estate advisors who work in Michigan.

Browse the directory

Selling an inherited home? Estimate the tax with the capital-gains calculator. Just getting started? Print the Michigan after-a-death checklist.

This tool provides general educational information, not legal advice. Statutory thresholds and deadlines vary by state and county and change over time; results are estimates based on the date of death you enter. Kindeed is not a law firm. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Where a value is shown as “varies — confirm locally,” we don’t hold a verified figure and you should confirm it directly with the probate court or a licensed professional.