Probate Court

NOTICE: Effective September 9, 2022, the following hearings are presumed to be conducted via Zoom unless: 1) a participant requests to physically appear in person; or 2) a participant is found to be unable to adequately use the technology; or 3) the court determines that the use of videoconferencing is inappropriate:

  • Uncontested guardianships and/or conservatorships
  • Uncontested estates
  • Scheduling conferences

ALL other zoom participation MUST be pre-approved.


All attorneys and litigants must disclose the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and must verify the accuracies of all citations.

Duties & Responsibilities

The primary areas over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction are:
  • Trust proceedings
  • Matters relating to the estate of a deceased person
  • Guardianships and conservatorships
  • Persons found to be mentally ill or developmentally disabled
  • Condemnation and drain cases
  • Juvenile delinquent cases
  • Dependent and Neglect cases
  • Adoptions
  • Name changes
  • Secret Marriages
  • Emancipation
  • Filing of wills and Codicils for safekeeping
  • Acknowledgements of Paternity
  • Recall petitions and hearings for such matters as school board members, township officials
  • Clinton County Youth Home and the Child Care Fund