Michigan Probate Records

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Probate records are court records created after an individual’s death that relate to a court’s decisions regarding the distribution of the estate to the heirs or creditors and the care of any dependents. These documents are important to family history researchers because they usually exist for time periods before civil birth and death records were kept. While probate records are one of the most accurate sources of genealogical evidence, they have limitations.

Jurisdictions

Probate and estate matters in Michigan were recorded by the clerk of the probate court in each county. Probate records were kept beginning in 1817, except in Wayne County, which began keeping probate records in 1797.

These records include wills, guardianships, administrator bonds, estate inventories, and other records. They are usually indexed. You can obtain them by writing or visiting the county courthouse.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of probate files from most Michigan counties up to the year 1900, and some indexes or calendars to 1970.