Probate Court - Tuscola County
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PROBATE COURT

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The Probate Court is a court of statutory jurisdiction. It is primarily concerned with estates and the protection of incapacitated or mentally ill individuals. It exercises its jurisdiction and supervision of probating wills and the administration of trusts. It hears cases pertaining to guardianships and conservatorships for adults and minors. It also concerns itself with the commitment for hospitalization and/or treatment of mentally ill person, the mentally handicapped and the addicted person.

Probate Court Staff

Judge : Hon. Nancy L. Thane

Probate Register : Janie Hemerline

Deputy Probate Register : Crystal Knoblock

Deputy Probate Register : Kristi Phipps

Probate/Family

Phone: 989-672-3850
Fax: 989-672-2057

These numbers handle both scheduling and records questions for the probate court. They also handle scheduling questions for the family division. For questions regarding family division records, please call the County Clerk at 989-672-3775.

Email: tuscolaprobate@tuscolacounty.org

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Mental Health Proceedings

If there is an individual who you believes needs to be admitted to the hospital for examination of their mental health, a petition and pick-up order needs to be completed and filed with the Court.

Mental Health Petition and Pick-Up Order

Tuscola County Probate Court

Instructions for Petition/Application for hospitalization

Please read carefully

Court personnel cannot give legal advice

The forms must be fully and accurately completed. The failure to comply with the below instructions will result in the Court rejecting your petition. Should you be unable to understand or complete the forms as directed below, you should then contact an attorney for assistance.

Public act 386 of 1998, as amended by public act 52 of a 1999, court personnel shall not provide or offer to provide legal advice or legal counsel to a fiduciary or an interested person and shall not complete a form, petition, or document for a fiduciary or interested person.

  1. Filing Procedure
    1. Present the forms which have been typed or printed legibly to the Clerk in the Probate Court, 440 N. State St., Caro, MI 48723. We may be reached by phone at (989) 672-3850.
    2. It is the responsibility of the petitioner to contact hospital to secure a bed prior to filing paperwork with the Court.
  2. Forms needed when filing Petition/Application for Hospitalization

Drain Commission - Board of Review/Appeal

Tuscola County Probate Court

Instructions for Drain Commission - Board of Review

Please read carefully

Court personnel cannot give legal advice

The forms must be fully and accurately completed. The failure to comply with the below instructions will result in the Court rejecting your petition. Should you be unable to understand or complete the forms as directed below, you should then contact an attorney for assistance.

Public act 386 of 1998, as amended by public act 52 of a 1999, court personnel shall not provide or offer to provide legal advice or legal counsel to a fiduciary or an interested person and shall not complete a form, petition, or document for a fiduciary or interested person.

  1. Filing Procedure
    1. Present the forms which have been typed or printed legibly to the Clerk in the Probate Court, 440 N. State St., Caro, MI 48723. We may be reached by phone at (989) 672-3850.
  2. Fees

    The court will accept:

    Cash, money orders, or personal checks (w/ driver's license & phone number)

    1. Appeal/Application of Board of Review -- $150
  3. Forms needed when filing Appeal/Application of Board of Review

    Please see MCL 280.155

Safe Deposit Box

Tuscola County Probate Court

Instructions for opening of safe deposit box

Please read carefully

Court personnel cannot give legal advice

The forms must be fully and accurately completed. The failure to comply with the below instructions will result in the Court rejecting your petition. Should you be unable to understand or complete the forms as directed below, you should then contact an attorney for assistance.

Public act 386 of 1998, as amended by public act 52 of a 1999, court personnel shall not provide or offer to provide legal advice or legal counsel to a fiduciary or an interested person and shall not complete a form, petition, or document for a fiduciary or interested person.

  1. Filing Procedure
    1. Present the forms which have been typed or printed legibly to the Clerk in the Probate Court, 440 N. State St., Caro, MI48723. We may be reached by phone at (989) 672-3850.
  2. Fees

    The court will accept:

    Cash, money orders, or personal checks (w/ driver's license & phone number)

    1. Petition to Open Safe Deposit Box -- $10
  3. Forms needed when filing to Open Safe Deposit Box
  4. Forms needed after Opening Safe Deposit Box

Safekeeping of Wills

Tuscola County Probate Court

Instructions for putting wills in safekeeping

Please read carefully

Court personnel cannot give legal advice

The forms must be fully and accurately completed. The failure to comply with the below instructions will result in the Court rejecting your petition. Should you be unable to understand or complete the forms as directed below, you should then contact an attorney for assistance.

Public act 386 of 1998, as amended by public act 52 of a 1999, court personnel shall not provide or offer to provide legal advice or legal counsel to a fiduciary or an interested person and shall not complete a form, petition, or document for a fiduciary or interested person.

  1. Filing Procedure
    1. Present the Original Will in a Will Envelope correctly labeled.
  2. Fees

    The court will accept:

    Cash, money orders, or personal checks (w/ driver's license & phone number)

    1. Safekeeping of Will -- $25

Delayed Registration of Foreign Birth

Tuscola County Probate Court

Instructions for delayed registration of foreign birth

Please read carefully

Court personnel cannot give legal advice

The forms must be fully and accurately completed. The failure to comply with the below instructions will result in the Court rejecting your petition. Should you be unable to understand or complete the forms as directed below, you should then contact an attorney for assistance.

Public act 386 of 1998, as amended by public act 52 of a 1999, court personnel shall not provide or offer to provide legal advice or legal counsel to a fiduciary or an interested person and shall not complete a form, petition, or document for a fiduciary or interested person.

  1. Filing Procedure
    1. Present the forms which have been typed or printed legibly to the Clerk in the Probate Court, 440 N. State St., Caro, MI 48723. We may be reached by phone at (989) 672-3850.
  2. Fees

    The court will accept:

    Cash, money orders, or personal checks (w/ driver's license & phone number)

    1. Delayed Registration of Foreign Birth -- $150
  3. Forms needed when filing Delayed Registration

Probate Court Policies

Stamped Copies

As of February 11, 2013, the Probate Court will be changing their procedure in regards to "True Copies" supplied to the Court with the original documents. We will no longer be stamping "True Copy" to your copies, but will rather use a "Copy" stamp to let you know that we filed your original document.

We will also now only be stamping one copy. Therefore, when submitting your original document if a stamped copy is needed, please only submit one copy. If more than one copy is submitted, we will still only stamp one copy and send the rest back.

Adjournments

The Court is willing to consider granting an adjournment if :

  • A stipulated order is presented to the Court prior to the hearing date/time.
  • OR

  • If a stipulated order is not applicable then a motion for adjournment must be filed and noticed in front of the Honorable Nancy L. Thane.

Minor Reviews

The Court will order a Minor Guardianship Review :

  • A new minor guardianship petition is filed.
  • A petition to modify or terminate a minor guardianship is filed.
  • Every year when the minor is under six years of age.
  • A year after a minor guardianship is put into place.
  • Every three years for every minor guardianship after the first year.

Telephone Requests

The Court is willing to consider granting a telephone testimony request if :
  • A request is filed before the hearing date/time.
  • AND

  • The hearing is not in regards to a contested guardianship case or parenting time case.
Tuscola County