Wayne County, Michigan Probate Court Records

In Wayne County, the probate court typically handles the probating of wills and administration of decedent estates, guardianships and conservatorships, trust-related affairs, and involuntary hospitalization of incapacitated adults and other dependent individuals.

Wayne County probate court records comprise official case files generated or recorded in connection with probate matters, including papers submitted by interested parties (such as petitions, inventories, accountings, and claims) and documents issued by the court (orders, letters of authority, and judgments). Together, this paperwork constitutes the court’s record of what was requested, the evidence provided, and the judge's decision.

In Michigan, the elements of a standard probate file vary from one county to another. However, a standard Wayne County probate documentation comprises the following decedent estate files:

• Will and codicils (if the decedent had a valid will): These documents are usually filed or attached when seeking informal probate or appointment.
• Application or Petition to open the estate and appoint a personal representative
• Letters of Authority for Personal Representative: This form confirms that an individual has been appointed and qualifies as a personal representative of an estate.
• Notice to Creditors: published notice in estate administration
• Notice to known creditors: This form informs known creditors of the timeframe within which they may make a written claim.
• Proofs of service/publication affidavits: These are legal documents that prove that legal papers or notices were delivered to the appropriate person in a court case.
• Estate Inventory : Form filled by the personal representative listing the decedent’s assets and values as of the date of death.
• Creditor claims : This is the standard form used to present claims against an estate (or other protected proceedings, where applicable).
• Court orders resolving disputed claims: Files of contested claims may include motions/objections and resulting orders.
• Accounts/accountings filed by a fiduciary may include PC 583 (Account of Fiduciary, Short Form) or PC 584 (Account of Fiduciary, Long Form).
• Sworn closing statement, summary proceeding (small estates) : This form is typically used to close certain estates without a hearing when the requirements are met.
• Court orders approving accountings/authorizing distributions/discharging the personal representative : These forms typically come up as the case approaches closure.

Public Access to Probate Court Records in Wayne County

In Michigan, access to public court records is governed by court rules and local administrative orders, not the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Under Michigan Court Rule MCR 8.119 and related rules, court records, including probate case files, are generally considered public unless restricted by statute, court rule, or a court order. Consequently, the public may access Wayne County probate court records under court rules, such as the Michigan Trial Court Records Management Standards.

Probate records that are accessible to the public include routine estate filings and docket entries. Requesters may also search public case history maintained by the Wayne County Probate Court via an online case-access/docket search tool. However, it is worth noting that the term “probate records” encompasses several types of cases, and some are restricted or sealed by law, court rule, or order.

Typical exemptions and restrictions that requesters may expect include court-sealed or restricted records (e.g, sealing specific documents) and minor and juvenile-related matters (with limited access to parents, guardians, and attorneys). Others include information classified as confidential or sealed from public portals (e.g., certain protected identifiers or nonpublic filings) and mental health information protected by state law (e.g., the Mental Health Code’s confidentiality provision).

Methods for Searching Wayne County Probate Court Records

Requesters seeking Wayne County probate court records may access such documents online or in person:

• Wayne County Probate Court site: Wayne County provides online access to public probate court records via the “Case Access” link on its website. Using a case number or party name (decedent, personal representative, petitioner, guardian/conservator, ward), users can search the portal for electronic docket information related to public probate affairs. They may also refine their searches using date filters (filing year or date range) or case type (estate, guardianship, adoption, name change, etc.).
• In-person courthouse records access: Interested parties may visit the Wayne County Probate & Juvenile Court to inspect (at the clerk’s counter) or make copies of public records during regular business hours. Individuals (in possession of a case number, a party name, or a timeframe) seeking specific probate documents (e.g., a particular order, will, inventory, or accounting) may submit a records request to the appropriate office via the county’s Copy Request page.
• General county public-records request channel: Requesters who are uncertain which office holds a probate record of interest may submit a public records request through the county-level request portal.

Note: Information available online may vary by county or judicial district. While some counties display only dockets, others may show document images or require in-person requests for older records.

How to Find Wayne County Probate Cases Online for Free

In Wayne County, the primary official online system for accessing free probate cases is the Probate Court’s “Case Access.” This portal provides access to full electronic dockets for all civil case types, including probate records. Users may search by name or case number. The portal provides access to various case types, except those that are sealed or classified as confidential. The portal typically displays extensive information, including a case summary (e.g., case number, type, status, file date, judge, and next event), parties, events, docket (docket entries or activity), linked case, financial (all fees paid, owed, etc.) receipt, and disposition.

Information listed as unavailable on the county’s Case Access portal includes images of confidential documents, sealed cases, settlement agreements, death certificates, letters of authority of all types entered after August 1, 2019, addresses, Social Security numbers, or phone numbers, and case information from before 1976, when records were first computerized.

Accessing Wayne County Probate Court Records in Person

Individuals wishing to access probate records in person may visit the county courthouse. At the probate courthouse, you can look up cases on public access terminals by using a case number (if available), a party name (such as decedent, petitioner, personal representative, guardian/conservator, or ward), filing year, date range, or case type. This index search is essential because most probate filings share similar names. Therefore, a requester must have the correct file before requesting copies.

After retrieving the case, the requester may ask the clerk for the entire case file for inspection or request certified or plain copies of specific items (e.g., will, letters of authority, inventory, orders). Typically, requesters are not expected to provide identification to view most public probate files. However, they may be required to provide ID or proof of authority for restricted, sealed records or other confidential filings.

Wayne County probate court and other counterparts across the state usually charge copying fees per page, per document, or per set for certification. Some courts may also charge search or retrieval fees for older archived files; these fees vary by jurisdiction.

Requesting Wayne County Probate Court Records by Mail

To request public Wayne County probate court records by mail, requesters may follow the step-by-step process below.

1. Obtain basic case information (if available)

Before submitting their mail request, applicants may identify the case and obtain the case number through Wayne County’s Case Access system. Using the free online search tool, they may obtain the case number, the party or decedent name, and, if displayed, the document titles or dates.

2. Draft a request letter

In most counties, including Wayne County, applicants are typically required to use a request form (e.g., the WCP81 Copy Request form ) to obtain document copies. A standard request form is expected to contain information such as:

• Decedent/party full name (and aliases, if any)
• Case number (if known)
• Approximate filing year or date range (if case number is unknown)
• Applicant’s contact info (mailing address, phone, email)
• Type of document being requested (e.g., copy of the will, decree admitting will, letters testamentary/administration, final accounting, etc.)
• Whether certified copies or plain copies are required

3. Include payment (or be ready to pay court-calculated fees)

Most Michigan counties, including Wayne County, utilize fee schedules outlined in their local administrative orders. For instance, Wayne County charges $2.00 per page for standard copies, and $11.00 for the first page, plus $1.00 for each subsequent page per document (for certified copies). In Wayne County and certain Michigan jurisdictions, the total cost payable is sent to the applicant after the court calculates it. Subsequently, the applicant may pay online or by mail. Most courts typically accept checks or money orders (payable to the court) for mail requests.

4. Include contact information and a self-addressed envelope

Most clerks require applicants to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) that is large enough to hold the copies they are requesting. The mail request is also expected to include the applicant’s full name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and a prepaid shipping label for large files.

5. Mail to the relevant office or department

Lastly, applicants are expected to send their request mail to the appropriate office or department. Those who are unsure where to send their mail may check the probate court's website for the phone or email address of the probate court’s Records Department.

Wayne County Probate Court Record Access Methods

Applicable Fees for Wayne County Probate Court Record Requests

Accessing Wayne County Probate Court records often involves various fees, depending on whether the requester obtains the documents online or requests plain or certified copies.

• Online access charges (when applicable): Generally free (especially for non-confidential documents filed from April 1, 2022 onward).
• Copy fees (plain copies): The court charges a per-page copy fee for standard (non-certified) paper or electronic copies
• Certification fees: Certified (and, in some contexts, “exemplified”) copies often involve a per-document certification charge and a per-page charge for the certified set.
• Search/retrieval/“record of actions” fees: The court may charge a flat search-of-case-history fee (separate from per-page copies) when a requester does not have a case number or needs a case history or register of actions. A retrieval or handling fee may apply to records archived off-site.
• Mail and delivery costs: These typically apply to postage or shipping for mailed requests and to any required self-addressed stamped envelope.