Probate Court

Contact the Court
Location Phone Hours
Barry County Courts & Law Building
206 W. Court St., Ste. 302
Hastings, MI 49058
Main: (269) 945-1390
Fax: (269) 948-3322
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
 ** Photo ID required for all Petitioners **

The Probate Court has jurisdiction in the areas of estates and trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships and mental commitment proceedings. Probate judges are elected on a nonpartisan ballot for six year terms, subject to the same requirements as other judges. A major function of the court is the administration of deceased estates. It is the court’s task to interpret wills in the event of uncertainty or conflict over the will’s meaning. The court may also determine rights to an estate where the person has died “intestate” (without a will). This function of the court demonstrates one of the important purposes of courts in our society — they make a formal record of the legal status of property. For a helpful resource guide to medical and legal decisions prepared by the Michigan Legislature, please click this link: A Guide to Medical and Legal Decisions: Planning for Your Peace of Mind.