Michigan Form PC 52 is the Notice of Hearing that a petitioner files in a Michigan probate court to tell every interested person the date, time, and place a judge will decide a probate, guardianship, conservatorship, trust, or name change petition. Anyone who files a petition under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC) — personal representatives, guardians, conservators, trustees, heirs, or pro se family members — must serve PC 52 on every interested person before the hearing.
The form looks short, but a tiny mistake on the service boxes or the names of interested persons can void the hearing under MCR 5.108, force an adjournment, and delay the estate by 28 days or more. According to data published by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO), Michigan probate courts processed more than 110,000 estate, guardianship, and conservatorship filings last year, and clerks reject or kick back roughly one in seven notices of hearing for defective service or missing interested persons.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📜 What PC 52 does, who must sign it, and which statute makes it required
- 🗓️ The exact 14-day, 7-day, and 3-day notice deadlines under MCR 5.108
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every box, with sample entries
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out scenarios: probate, adult guardianship, and minor conservatorship
- ⚖️ The mistakes that get hearings adjourned and how to avoid them
What Form PC 52 Is and Who Must File It
Form PC 52 is the SCAO-approved Notice of Hearing used in every Michigan probate court. The form’s current revision date is printed in the lower-left corner — confirm you are using the latest version on the SCAO probate forms page before you file, because clerks reject outdated revisions on sight. The form is required by MCL 700.1401 and the service rules in MCR 5.105.
Anyone who files a petition in probate court must also file PC 52. That includes a personal representative probating a will, a petitioner for guardianship of an incapacitated adult, a conservator asking the court to allow an annual account, a trustee seeking instructions, and a pro se parent filing a name change. The petitioner — not the court — is responsible for filling out PC 52, scheduling the hearing with the clerk, serving every interested person, and filing proof of that service.
The notice solves one specific problem: due process. Michigan law gives every interested person the right to appear and object before a judge changes a person’s legal status, distributes assets, or restricts liberty. Skipping or botching PC 52 means the resulting order can be set aside on appeal under MCR 2.612, and the petitioner may have to start the entire petition over.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every document below before you open PC 52. Missing even one piece sends most filers back to the clerk’s window twice, and the Michigan One Court of Justice self-help center lists incomplete interested-person lists as the top reason notices bounce.
- The underlying petition (e.g., PC 559 for informal probate or PC 651 for adult guardianship), because PC 52 must reference it by exact title.
- The court file number, which the clerk assigns when you file the petition; without it the notice cannot be docketed.
- The county and probate court address, because Michigan has 83 county probate courts and PC 52 must name the correct one.
- A complete list of interested persons with current mailing addresses, including heirs, devisees, the ward, the ward’s spouse, adult children, and any nominated fiduciary under MCR 5.125.
- Date, time, and courtroom of the hearing, scheduled with the probate register before you serve anyone.
- Name and bar number of the attorney, if represented; pro se filers leave that block blank but must still print their own name and address.
- A method of service for each recipient — first-class mail, personal delivery, or publication — chosen under MCR 5.105.
- A copy of the published notice text and the newspaper’s contact info, if any interested person is unknown or has an unknown address.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope and proof-of-mailing certificate for each mailed copy, so you can sign the Proof of Service on the back of PC 52 truthfully.
If you are unsure whether a person is “interested,” err on the side of including them. Michigan probate judges routinely strike orders entered after notice that left out a sibling, a stepchild, or a creditor.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The only official source for PC 52 is the SCAO probate forms index maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court. Download the fillable PDF directly from the PC 52 link so the revision date and barcode print correctly; clerks reject scans of older photocopies that have lost the SCAO header.
You can also pick up a paper copy at the counter of any county probate court, or your attorney can pull it from a practice-management system. Avoid third-party form sites — many host outdated versions that omit the 2023 service-method checkboxes, and Wayne County Probate Court has publicly listed those bad copies as a top rejection reason.
For e-filing, log in to MiFILE through TrueFiling and select the probate court for your county. MiFILE is mandatory in roughly two dozen Michigan counties for attorneys and optional for pro se filers; the rest still accept paper at the counter or by mail. The portal accepts the PDF as-is and stamps it with an electronic file mark that doubles as your filing receipt.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form PC 52 Line by Line
PC 52 has one front page divided into a caption block, a hearing block, an interested-persons block, and a signature block. The back contains the Proof of Service. Use the official field labels exactly as printed; clerks match them by name, not by paraphrase.
Top-Right Box: Court File Number
This field asks for the unique number the probate clerk assigned when you filed your petition. Write the number exactly as it appears on the file-stamped petition, including the year prefix and the suffix letters such as DE, GA, or CA. Marcus Bell, the personal representative for his late father’s estate, writes 2026-123,456-DE because his decedent’s estate file was opened in 2026.
If you have not filed the underlying petition yet, you cannot complete PC 52 — file the petition first and ask the clerk for the file number at the counter or in the MiFILE confirmation email. The most common mistake is writing a docket number from a related circuit court case; that mismatch sends the notice to the wrong file and the hearing date never makes the docket. A widespread misconception is that the file number is optional for the first notice — it is not, and the clerk will not stamp PC 52 without it.
Caption: Court County
This field asks which county’s probate court will hear the matter. Write the county name in all caps as it appears on the petition, for example OAKLAND or MARQUETTE. Janet Owusu, filing in Detroit, writes WAYNE because Wayne County Probate Court has venue over her mother’s estate.
If the decedent owned property in more than one county, venue lies where the decedent was domiciled at death under MCL 700.3201. Filers who guess the wrong county lose the filing fee and must refile from scratch. A common misconception is that you can file in the county where the will was signed — venue follows domicile, not the notary’s address.
Caption: Estate / Matter of
This field asks for the legal title of the case. For a decedent’s estate, write Estate of [full legal name], Deceased; for a guardianship, write In the matter of [full legal name], a legally incapacitated individual; for a minor, write In the matter of [full legal name], minor. Carlos Rivera writes Estate of Elena Rivera, Deceased on his father-in-law’s probate notice.
Use the name exactly as it appears on the death certificate, birth certificate, or prior court order — middle initials and suffixes count. A typo here triggers a clerk’s “name discrepancy” hold that can take a week to clear. Many filers wrongly believe nicknames are acceptable; they are not, and the order entered after the hearing must match the caption letter for letter.
Hearing Block: Petition / Motion
This field asks which petition or motion the hearing will decide. Copy the exact title from the petition you filed, such as Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative (Testate/Intestate) or Petition to Appoint Guardian of an Incapacitated Individual. Aisha Thompson writes Petition to Allow Account of Conservator because she is a court-appointed conservator filing her annual account.
Cite the form number in parentheses if it helps the clerk locate the petition, e.g., (PC 559). If you paraphrase the title, the docket clerk may not connect the notice to the underlying petition, and the hearing will not be scheduled. Filers often think “Petition” is enough — it is not; judges require the specific relief requested so interested persons know what is at stake.
Hearing Block: Date, Time, and Judge
These fields ask when and before whom the hearing will occur. Schedule the hearing with the probate register before completing PC 52, then write the date as MM/DD/YYYY, the time in 12-hour format with AM or PM, and the judge’s full name and bar number. Marcus writes 07/15/2026 at 9:00 AM before Hon. Patricia Fresard, P-12345.
Build in enough lead time to satisfy MCR 5.108: 14 days for mail, 7 days for personal service, and at least 3 weeks for publication. The biggest mistake is picking a date that does not leave enough time for service — the judge will adjourn the hearing and you will refile PC 52. A widespread misconception is that the 14-day clock starts when you mail the notice; it actually ends 14 days before the hearing date, so count backward.
Hearing Block: Location and Courtroom
This field asks for the street address of the courthouse and the specific courtroom number. Write the full street address — 1305 Coolidge Highway, Pontiac, MI 48341, Courtroom 5 — not just the city. Janet writes 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226, Courtroom 1307 for the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.
If your county uses Zoom or remote hearings, add the meeting ID and the URL on the same line so unrepresented interested persons can find it; Michigan’s Virtual Courtroom Directory lists every active link. Filers who write only “Probate Court” force interested persons to call the clerk, and elderly recipients may simply not appear. A common misconception is that listing the courthouse address is enough — judges expect the courtroom number too.
TO: Interested Persons Block
This field asks you to list every interested person entitled to notice under MCR 5.125. Print each person’s full legal name and current mailing address; if the list runs long, attach an additional sheet labeled Attachment A — Interested Persons and write See attached in the box. Carlos lists his wife Maria Rivera, his brother-in-law Diego Rivera, and the nominated personal representative Elena Rivera Trust c/o Fifth Third Bank, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45263.
For unknown heirs, write unknown heirs of [decedent] and plan to publish notice in a county-approved newspaper. Leaving out a single interested person is the number-one reason Michigan probate orders get vacated; the missing person can move to set aside the order any time within the limitations period. Many filers wrongly assume minor children do not need notice — they do, served on a parent, guardian, or guardian ad litem under MCR 5.125(A)(3).
Notice Statement: Purpose of Hearing
This field asks for a plain-English description of what the judge will decide. Write one or two sentences that mirror the relief requested in the petition, for example The court will decide whether to admit the will dated June 1, 2018 to probate and appoint Marcus Bell as personal representative. Aisha writes The court will decide whether to allow the conservator’s annual account for the period 01/01/2025 through 12/31/2025.
Avoid legalese — interested persons read this sentence to decide whether to attend, and confused recipients call the clerk’s office instead of appearing. A vague description like probate matters gives the judge grounds to adjourn for inadequate notice. Filers often think this is the same as the petition title; it is not — the title names the document, while this sentence explains the consequence.
Petitioner / Attorney Signature Block
This field asks for the signature, printed name, address, phone number, and email of the person giving notice. Pro se filers sign their own name and leave the bar number blank; attorneys sign and add their P-number. Janet signs as Janet Owusu, 4421 Cadieux Road, Detroit, MI 48224, (313) 555-0142, janet.owusu@email.com.
Sign in blue or black ink — counties differ on whether they accept e-signatures, but MiFILE accepts /s/ format for e-filed documents. Forgetting to sign is the second-most common rejection reason at the clerk’s window; the document is treated as if it never existed. A misconception is that the petitioner’s spouse or adult child may sign for them — only the petitioner or counsel of record may sign.
Date of Notice
This field asks for the date the petitioner signs and issues the notice. Write the date in MM/DD/YYYY format on the same day you sign and serve the document, because the proof-of-service deadline runs from this date. Marcus dates his notice 06/20/2026 because he is mailing it 25 days before the July 15 hearing.
If you sign today but do not mail until next week, change the date to match the actual mailing day; backdating the notice is grounds for sanctions under MCR 1.109(E). The most common mistake is dating the notice the day it was drafted rather than served, which makes the timeline impossible to verify. Filers often believe the date can be “any day before the hearing” — it cannot, because MCR 5.108 measures notice from the actual service date.
Back of Form: Proof of Service
This page asks you to certify, under penalty of perjury, that you served every person on the TO block. Check the correct method box — first-class mail, personal delivery, or registered/certified mail — list each name and address served, write the date of service, then sign and print your name. Carlos checks first-class mail, lists Maria, Diego, and the trust, and dates his proof 06/20/2026.
A non-party adult must perform personal service; the petitioner cannot serve themselves. Filing PC 52 without the proof of service completed is a fatal defect — the judge will adjourn the hearing on the record. Many filers wrongly believe certified mail is required; first-class mail is sufficient under MCR 2.107(C)(3), though certified mail provides stronger proof if a recipient denies receipt.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Marcus Bell, Personal Representative for His Late Father’s Estate
Marcus is probating his father’s will in Wayne County. He scheduled a hearing on his Petition for Probate and Appointment of Personal Representative.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Court File Number | 2026-123,456-DE |
| Court County | WAYNE |
| Estate / Matter Of | Estate of Robert Bell, Deceased |
| Petition Title | Petition for Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative (Testate) |
| Date and Time of Hearing | 07/15/2026 at 9:00 AM |
| Judge | Hon. Freddie G. Burton Jr., P-22198 |
| Location | 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226, Courtroom 1307 |
| Interested Persons | Marcus Bell (son), Tasha Bell-Greene (daughter), Linda Bell (surviving spouse) |
| Purpose Statement | The court will decide whether to admit the will dated 03/12/2019 to probate and appoint Marcus Bell as personal representative. |
| Date of Notice | 06/20/2026 |
| Service Method | First-class mail to all three interested persons |
Scenario 2: Aisha Thompson, Petitioner for Adult Guardianship of Her Mother
Aisha is asking the Oakland County Probate Court to appoint her as guardian for her mother, who has advanced dementia.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Court File Number | 2026-456,789-GA |
| Court County | OAKLAND |
| Estate / Matter Of | In the matter of Grace Thompson, a legally incapacitated individual |
| Petition Title | Petition to Appoint Guardian of an Incapacitated Individual (PC 625) |
| Date and Time of Hearing | 08/04/2026 at 1:30 PM |
| Judge | Hon. Kathleen A. Ryan, P-39378 |
| Location | 1305 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341, Courtroom 339 |
| Interested Persons | Grace Thompson (proposed ward), Aisha Thompson (daughter), David Thompson (son), Maple Grove Care Center (current placement) |
| Purpose Statement | The court will decide whether Grace Thompson is legally incapacitated and whether Aisha Thompson should be appointed as her guardian. |
| Date of Notice | 07/14/2026 |
| Service Method | Personal service on Grace; first-class mail to David and Maple Grove |
Scenario 3: Carlos Rivera, Petitioner for Conservatorship of His Minor Nephew
Carlos is asking the Kent County Probate Court to appoint him conservator of his 9-year-old nephew, who inherited a settlement.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Court File Number | 2026-789,012-CA |
| Court County | KENT |
| Estate / Matter Of | In the matter of Lucas Rivera, minor |
| Petition Title | Petition to Appoint Conservator (PC 639) |
| Date and Time of Hearing | 09/10/2026 at 10:00 AM |
| Judge | Hon. David M. Murkowski, P-37272 |
| Location | 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Courtroom 2C |
| Interested Persons | Lucas Rivera (minor, age 9), Maria Rivera (mother), unknown father, Carlos Rivera (petitioner/uncle) |
| Purpose Statement | The court will decide whether to appoint Carlos Rivera as conservator of Lucas Rivera’s settlement funds totaling approximately $42,000. |
| Date of Notice | 08/17/2026 |
| Service Method | First-class mail to mother; publication in Grand Rapids Legal News for unknown father |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file PC 52 in three ways: in person at the county probate court counter, by U.S. mail, or electronically through MiFILE. Pick the channel your county supports — the trial court directory lists each court’s e-filing status.
In person. Bring the signed original PC 52 plus copies for each interested person to the probate clerk’s window. There is no separate filing fee for PC 52 because it travels with the underlying petition; the petition itself carries a fee that ranges from $25 for a name change to $175 for a decedent’s estate under the statutory fee schedule. Pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card depending on county policy. Processing is same-day; keep your time-stamped copy as proof of filing.
By mail. Send the original PC 52 and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the probate court at the address listed on the county court page. Include a check for the underlying petition fee made out to the County Probate Court. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days, and the clerk will mail back a conformed copy as your proof of filing.
By e-filing through MiFILE. Log in to TrueFiling, choose your county and case, upload the signed PDF, and pay the petition fee plus a roughly $8 e-filing surcharge by credit card or ACH. Processing is usually within 24 hours, and the system emails a stamped Notice of Electronic Filing that serves as your proof of filing. Save that PDF — you will need it if any interested person disputes service.
What Happens After You File
Once PC 52 is filed and served, the clerk dockets the hearing on the judge’s calendar and the countdown begins. Interested persons have until the hearing to file written objections under MCR 5.119, and the petitioner should monitor the docket through MiCOURT case search for any objection or response.
At the hearing, the judge confirms that PC 52 was served correctly before reaching the merits. If service was good, the judge takes evidence on the petition and either grants relief on the spot, takes the matter under advisement, or sets a follow-up date. If service was defective — wrong address, late mailing, or missing interested person — the judge adjourns and orders the petitioner to re-serve, which typically pushes the case back 28 to 35 days.
After the order enters, the clerk distributes copies to every person who appeared and to anyone who filed a written request. The petitioner should keep the file-stamped PC 52 and proof of service for at least seven years, because Michigan allows orders to be challenged years later under MCR 2.612(C).
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Leaving out an interested person. The order can be set aside, and the missing person may sue for damages.
- Using an outdated revision of PC 52. The clerk rejects the filing and the petitioner restarts service.
- Picking a hearing date too close to today. MCR 5.108 timing fails and the judge adjourns.
- Mailing notice without a Proof of Service. The hearing proceeds without proof and the judge may strike the petition.
- Writing the wrong court file number. The notice never reaches the assigned judge’s docket.
- Paraphrasing the petition title. The clerk cannot match the notice to the petition and rejects it.
- Failing to publish for unknown heirs. Notice is constitutionally defective and the order is void.
- Forgetting to sign the front and the proof of service. Both signatures are required; missing either one nullifies notice.
- Listing only the city instead of the courthouse street address. Recipients arrive at the wrong building and miss the hearing.
- Backdating the date of notice. The court can sanction the petitioner under MCR 1.109(E).
- Serving by email when the recipient has not consented. Email service is invalid without written consent under MCR 2.107(C)(4).
- Using a non-petitioner family member to serve papers. Personal service must be performed by a non-party adult.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do schedule the hearing date with the probate register before printing PC 52, because clerks will not hold a slot otherwise.
- Do double-check the interested-person list against MCR 5.125, since each petition type has its own list.
- Do keep a certificate of mailing or USPS tracking receipt for every mailed notice, because it is your only defense if a recipient denies receipt.
- Do publish notice in a county-approved legal newspaper for unknown heirs, because publication is the only constitutional substitute for personal notice.
- Do confirm the courtroom and judge the day before the hearing, because probate dockets shift frequently.
- Do file the proof of service at least one business day before the hearing so the judge can verify it on the bench.
- Don’t use a generic word-processor template, because it usually omits the SCAO header that the clerk scans.
- Don’t rely on memory for dates — count backward 14 days on a calendar to confirm the mail deadline.
- Don’t sign the proof of service before you actually mail or hand-deliver every notice.
- Don’t assume Zoom information appears on the docket automatically; type the meeting ID into the location box.
- Don’t serve notice by social media or text message — it is not authorized under MCR 2.107.
- Don’t discard the green certified-mail receipts, because they are your evidentiary record if a contest arises.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing Pro Se | Filing With an Attorney |
|---|---|
| Saves $300–$1,500 in legal fees on a routine probate notice. | Reduces the risk of clerk rejection from roughly 1 in 7 filings to under 1 in 50. |
| Forces the petitioner to learn EPIC and probate procedure, which helps in later filings. | Attorney handles the MCR 5.125 interested-person analysis, which has the most case law. |
| Petitioner controls the service timeline directly. | Attorney has MiFILE access and can file within hours instead of days. |
| Pro se filers can use the Michigan Legal Help interactive PC 52 builder for free. | Attorney can spot defects in the underlying petition that would void the notice anyway. |
| No conflict of interest if the petitioner is the only heir. | Attorney can appear at the hearing if the petitioner is unavailable, preserving the date. |
| Attorney malpractice insurance covers errors that delay distribution. |
The trade-off is risk versus cost. Pro se filers who are organized and willing to read MCR 5.108 carefully can complete PC 52 successfully on the first try. Filers facing a contested estate, an unknown heir, or a complex guardianship benefit from counsel because one missed interested person can unwind months of work.
FAQs
Do I need to file PC 52 if every interested person signs a waiver?
No. If every interested person signs and files Form PC 561, the Waiver/Consent, the court does not require PC 52 for that hearing.
How many days before the hearing must I mail PC 52?
Yes, timing matters: under MCR 5.108, mail service must be complete at least 14 days before the hearing, personal service at least 7 days, and publication at least 14 days.
Can I serve PC 52 by email?
No. Email service is invalid in Michigan probate unless the recipient has filed written consent under MCR 2.107(C)(4) or the court has ordered electronic service.
Do I write the decedent’s nickname or legal name in the caption?
No. Always write the legal name exactly as it appears on the death certificate, because the order must match letter for letter.
What goes in the “TO” block if I do not know an heir’s address?
Yes, you still list them — write the heir’s name followed by address unknown and serve by publication in a county-approved newspaper.
Do I have to sign both the front of PC 52 and the proof of service on the back?
Yes. Both signatures are mandatory; the front signature gives notice and the back signature is your sworn proof you served everyone.
Is there a filing fee for PC 52?
No. PC 52 carries no separate fee; the cost is tied to the underlying petition fee under MCL 600.880.
Can I file PC 52 online?
Yes. Most Michigan probate courts now accept e-filing through MiFILE / TrueFiling, and a growing list of counties make it mandatory for attorneys.
Do minor children get listed in the interested-persons block?
Yes. Minors are interested persons, but service is made on a parent, guardian, or guardian ad litem under MCR 5.125(A)(3).
Does my spouse have to sign PC 52 if I am the petitioner?
No. Only the petitioner or attorney of record signs; a spouse who is also an interested person receives notice but does not sign.
What happens if I miss one interested person on the list?
No good outcome — the resulting order is voidable, the missing person can move to set it aside, and you may have to re-serve and rehear the petition.
Do I refile PC 52 if the judge adjourns the hearing?
Yes. A new hearing date requires a new PC 52 served on every interested person under the same MCR 5.108 timing rules.
Can the petitioner personally hand-deliver PC 52 to interested persons?
No. Personal service must be performed by a non-party adult; the petitioner can mail notice but cannot personally serve it.
Does PC 52 work for trust matters too?
Yes. PC 52 is the standard notice in trust petitions filed under MCL 700.7203, with qualified trust beneficiaries listed in the TO block.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 558 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 593 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 622 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 51 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 634 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 560 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 570 (w/Examples) + FAQs