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Deceased Estates: Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative/Unsupervised Administration
Below are the forms that must be completed to start an estate proceeding informally in Oakland County Probate Court. These forms are insertable pdf documents that may be completed in Adobe or may be printed, then completed. Applications result in unsupervised administration (case type suffix is “DE”). For complete information on starting an estate, please refer to the following information: Some of the following forms (primarily those with a form number beginning “PEMH”) reside on this web site and the file size is listed. Other forms (most documents having form numbers beginning with “PC”) are linked directly to the form on the State Court Administrative Office web site. Forms to start an estate informally may be hand-delivered or mailed. The staff will check that venue is appropriate; that all necessary forms are presented and completed correctly; and that the correct filing fee is enclosed. A copy of the death certificate indicating an Oakland County residence must be attached to the petition as well.
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Fees
Publication
Forms to Start an Estate Informally
Gross Estate Fee (also known as the "Inventory fee") pursuant to PA 543 of 1978
Mailing Address
Fees
Cash (except by mail), checks or money orders made out to “Oakland County Probate Court:” - The filing fee to commence an estate is $150.
- Letters of Authority cost $12 each.
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Publication
If publication is required and he personal representative chooses to publish in the Legal News, a check made out to Oakland County Legal News for $78.30 must be included, unless other arrangements are made.
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Forms to Start an Estate Informally
The following forms must be completed: These froms may be required based on the specific situation: If the application is accepted and the Register’s Statement is issued, the court will issue Letters of Authority, which are proof of the personal representative’s authority to act. The second page of the Letters includes valuable information about duties and due dates. Letters on decedent estates in Oakland County do not include expiration dates. There are no restrictions on informal Letters. The estate will proceed as an unsupervised estate, unless further action is taken. Unlike supervised estates, there is limited court involvement. Only the following documents are required during administration: This document must specifically describe all of the decedent’s assets and their value as of the date of death. Real estate is valued at two times the state equalized value (SEV) or by an appraisal as of the date of death. A legal description must be included. The name and address of each financial institution listed must also be included. In an unsupervised estate, this document must only be presented to the court within 91 days of the date of the Letters of Authority for the court to determine the gross estate fee. The court will not file it unless the personal representative requests that it be filed. Otherwise, the court will view the Inventory to calculate the fee, then return it to the personal representative. There is no filing fee, but see below regarding the Gross Estate Fee.
Accounts are not filed with the court on unsupervised estates.
If the personal representative is unable to complete estate administration within one year, this document must be filed with the court within 28 days of the first anniversary and all subsequent anniversaries during which the administration remains uncompleted. It must specify the reason for the continuation of the administration. There is no filing fee.
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Gross Estate Fee (also known as the "Inventory fee") pursuant to PA 543 of 1978
This is a graduated fee based on the gross value of all estate assets as of the date of death. Mortgages may not be deducted for purposes of calculating this fee. It must be paid no later than the filing of the Petition for an Order of Complete Estate Settlement, the Sworn Statement or one year after appointment, whichever is earlier. The court must calculate the exact fee for you. Cash (except by mail), checks or money orders only; made out to "Oakland County Probate Court." | Examples of gross estate fees: | | Gross Estate Value | Gross Estate Fee Due | | $ 5,000 | $38.00 | | $10,000 | $69.00 | | $25,000 | $144.00 | | $50,000 | $238.00 | | $100,000 | $363.00 | | $200,000 | $488.00 | | $500,000 | $863.00 |
Before an estate may be closed, the procedures indicated in Closing a Decedent's Esate (file size 55k) must be followed. NOTICE: This is meant as a brief description of this topic and is not meant to be all-inclusive. Consult the statutes and court rules or an attorney for additional information about the duties and responsibilities of a personal representative, including extensive service requirements. Probate staff is prohibited from giving legal advice and providing specific guidance on administration.
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Mailing Address
Oakland County Probate Court
First Floor-East Wing
Oakland County Courthouse
1200 N. Telegraph Road
Pontiac, MI 48341-0457 Telephone 248-858-0260 Fax 248-452-2016
Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please arrive by 4:00 for same day processing. Maps & Directions to the Courthouse.
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