Michigan Form PC 587 is the Petition and Order to Open Safe Deposit Box to Locate Will or Burial Deed, a State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) probate form that lets an interested person ask a Michigan probate court for permission to open a deceased person’s safe deposit box solely to search for a will, deed to a burial plot, or life insurance policy. The petition is authorized under MCL 487.14013 and the Michigan Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), and it is filed in the probate court of the county where the decedent lived.
Roughly 1 in 4 American adults dies without anyone knowing where their will is stored, and Michigan banks process thousands of court orders each year to drill or unlock boxes belonging to decedents. Getting PC 587 right matters because a rejected petition delays the funeral and the probate, and a sloppy inventory can expose the petitioner to claims from heirs and creditors.
- 📝 How to fill out every line of the current SCAO version of PC 587 in plain English
- 🏦 What the bank, the probate register, and the judge each need from you
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out walkthroughs (surviving spouse, adult child, named non-relative lessee)
- 💵 Filing fees, channel-by-channel filing steps, and what to expect after the order is signed
- ⚖️ The most common mistakes, field-level traps, and the statutes that drive each rule
What Form PC 587 Is and Who Must File It
Form PC 587 is a single-page hybrid document. The top half is a petition signed by an interested person under oath, and the bottom half is the order the judge signs giving the bank permission to let the petitioner look inside the box. The current SCAO revision date is printed in the lower-left corner of the form, and you should always download the version posted on the SCAO probate forms page to make sure you have the latest one.
The form solves a narrow but urgent problem. When someone dies, their safe deposit box is sealed by law under MCL 487.14013, and the bank cannot let anyone open it without a court order, a personal representative’s letters of authority, or another statutory exception. PC 587 is the fastest path because it does not require opening a full probate estate first.
Anyone who qualifies as an “interested person” under MCR 5.125 may file PC 587. That includes the surviving spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, a nominated personal representative, a creditor with a claim, or a person named on the safe deposit box lease. The petitioner does not need to be a Michigan resident, but the box and the decedent’s domicile must be in Michigan.
The order from the judge does not give the petitioner ownership of anything inside the box. It only allows the bank, in the presence of a bank officer, to remove a will (which the bank then mails to the probate court), a deed to a burial plot (released to the person handling the funeral), and a life insurance policy (released to the named beneficiary). Everything else stays in the box until a personal representative is appointed.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. Missing details are the number-one reason probate registers reject PC 587 at the counter, and each rejection adds days you usually do not have when a funeral is pending.
- Certified death certificate. The probate register will not accept the petition without proof of death, and the bank will not honor the order without one either.
- Safe deposit box lease or rental agreement. This document shows the box number, the branch address, and who signed as lessee. If you cannot find it, call the bank’s records department to confirm the box exists.
- Decedent’s full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and last address. The court matches these against the death certificate exactly. A nickname or middle-initial mismatch can void the order.
- Petitioner’s full legal name, address, and phone number. The clerk uses this to mail back the signed order, and the bank uses it to identify you at the branch.
- Petitioner’s relationship to the decedent. This establishes “interested person” standing under MCR 5.125.
- Bank name, branch address, and box number. The order names the specific bank, so a typo means the bank can refuse access.
- A government-issued photo ID. Required at filing (in person) and again at the bank when you present the signed order.
- Filing fee in the correct payment form. The Michigan probate filing fee for this kind of petition is set under MCL 600.880b and is currently $20 in most counties, payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card depending on the court.
- Names and addresses of other interested persons. Some judges require you to list heirs even on PC 587, especially in Oakland and Wayne counties.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope if you file by mail, so the clerk can return the signed order.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
PC 587 is a free, fillable PDF on the SCAO court forms library. Type “PC 587” in the search bar, and the most current revision will load at the top of the results. Save the file to your computer before typing in it, because most browsers will not save your entries inside the embedded PDF viewer.
You can also pick up a paper copy at the probate counter of any Michigan county courthouse. The Wayne County Probate Court, Oakland County Probate Court, Kent County Probate Court, and Macomb County Probate Court all keep stacks at the public window. Filling it out by hand in blue or black ink is fine, but printed answers are easier for the judge to read and reduce the chance of a clerical rejection.
For e-filing, Michigan’s statewide MiFILE portal accepts PC 587 in counties that have rolled out e-filing for probate. As of 2026, that includes most of the populous counties, but a handful of rural counties still require paper. Check your specific county on the Michigan One Court of Justice case search page before you e-file.
The form itself is one page, but the fillable PDF expands the petition section if you type long answers. Always print the final version, sign in ink (or apply a court-accepted electronic signature through MiFILE), and keep an unsigned digital copy for your records.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form PC 587 Line by Line
The form is divided into a top caption block, a numbered petition body, a signature line, the order section, and a final order signature line. Walk through each piece in order and do not skip a field, even if it seems obvious. Sample entries are italicized throughout so you can tell them apart from the instructions.
Caption: Court Name and County
The top-left box asks for the probate court name and the county. The court is the probate court of the county where the decedent lived at the time of death, not where the bank or the petitioner is located. Write “STATE OF MICHIGAN, PROBATE COURT, COUNTY OF WAYNE” in all caps so the clerk can read it instantly.
If the decedent lived in Michigan but kept the safe deposit box in another state, this form does not apply, and you will need to use that state’s equivalent process. If the decedent lived out of state but had a Michigan safe deposit box, file in the Michigan county where the box is located, and attach a short cover letter explaining the situation. Common mistake: filers write the county where the bank sits, which sends the petition to a court that has no jurisdiction and forces a refile. The misconception here is that “the bank’s county” controls; it does not, the decedent’s domicile does, under EPIC § 700.1302.
Caption: File Number
Leave the file number blank if you have not opened a probate estate. The clerk assigns a temporary “miscellaneous” or “M” file number when the petition is accepted. If a probate estate is already open for this decedent, copy the existing file number from the Letters of Authority (PC 572) into this box exactly, including dashes.
For example, Maria Lopez leaves the file number blank because she is filing PC 587 before any probate has started. Marcus Johnson, who already opened an estate two weeks earlier, writes 2026-123456-DE. Common mistake: petitioners invent a number or copy the case number from a different county case, which causes the clerk to reject the filing. The misconception is that you must have a file number to file; you do not, and most PC 587 petitioners are filing exactly because no estate exists yet.
Caption: Court Address and Telephone
Fill in the street address and main phone number of the probate court. You can find both on the Michigan probate court directory. Type the address in the same format the court uses on its own website, including suite or floor numbers.
For Wayne County, Maria Lopez writes “1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48226” with the phone “(313) 224-5706”. The nuance: some counties have separate probate buildings from the main courthouse, so do not just copy the circuit court address. The common mistake is writing the petitioner’s address here, which then routes mail back to the petitioner instead of the court. The misconception is that this field is optional; SCAO requires it on every probate filing.
Item 1: Decedent’s Name
This line asks for the full legal name of the person who died. Write it exactly as it appears on the certified death certificate, last name first, then first and middle, in all caps for readability. If the decedent went by a nickname, list the legal name first and the nickname in quotes.
Maria Lopez writes “LOPEZ, ROBERTO ESTEBAN” because that is how the death certificate reads. The nuance: if the decedent had aliases or used a maiden name on the bank lease, add “a/k/a Roberto E. Lopez” so the bank can match the box. The common mistake is using a nickname like “Bobby Lopez,” which the bank then refuses to match against the lease, blocking access. The misconception is that minor spelling differences do not matter; banks treat one-letter mismatches as fatal.
Item 2: Date of Death
Enter the date of death in MM/DD/YYYY format. Pull this date from the death certificate, not from memory or a funeral home printout, because the death certificate is the controlling document.
Marcus Johnson writes “03/14/2026” for his father’s date of death. The nuance: if the death certificate lists a “found on” date instead of an actual date of death (common in cases where the decedent lived alone), copy that date and add a short note in the petition body explaining the discrepancy. The common mistake is writing today’s date, the funeral date, or the date the family learned of the death. The misconception is that an estimated date is acceptable; the court wants the certified date, even if it is approximate on the death certificate itself.
Item 3: Petitioner’s Relationship and Standing
This field asks how you are connected to the decedent and why you have standing to file. Write a short, specific phrase such as “surviving spouse,” “adult son,” “nominated personal representative under decedent’s will,” or “co-lessee of safe deposit box.”
Janet Whitfield writes “surviving spouse” because she was married to the decedent for 22 years. The nuance: if you are not a relative but are named on the box lease, write “named co-lessee on safe deposit box agreement dated 06/12/2018,” which establishes standing under MCL 487.14013. The common mistake is writing “friend” or “executor,” neither of which alone proves standing under MCR 5.125. The misconception is that being the funeral planner gives you standing; it does not.
Item 4: Bank Name and Branch Address
Identify the financial institution and the specific branch holding the box. Use the bank’s official legal name (e.g., “JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.” not “Chase”) and the full street address of the branch.
Aisha Bennett writes “Fifth Third Bank, National Association, 1701 Golf Rd., Rolling Meadows Branch, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.” The nuance: if the box was moved to a different branch after a merger, list the current branch and add a parenthetical noting the original branch on the lease. The common mistake is using the bank’s marketing name or a holding company name; the order then names an entity that does not legally hold the box, and the bank refuses to honor it. The misconception is that any branch of the same bank can open the box; only the branch where the box is physically located can.
Item 5: Safe Deposit Box Number
Write the box number exactly as it appears on the lease or on the bank’s records. Box numbers can include letters, hyphens, and leading zeros, all of which matter to the bank’s vault system.
Aisha Bennett writes “Box 0427-A.” The nuance: if you do not know the box number, call the bank’s customer service line with the death certificate handy, and they will confirm the number to an interested person under MCL 487.14013. The common mistake is guessing or transposing digits. The misconception is that the bank can find the box from the decedent’s name alone at the time of access; vault staff need the exact number printed on the order to pull the right box.
Item 6: Purpose of Opening
PC 587 limits access to three specific items: a will, a deed to a burial plot, and a life insurance policy. Check or list every category you have reason to believe is in the box. Do not check items you have no reason to expect, because doing so signals to the judge that you may be fishing.
Janet Whitfield lists “will, deed to burial plot at Forest Lawn Cemetery, life insurance policy issued by Northwestern Mutual” because her late husband told her all three were in the box. The nuance: if you only suspect a will is there but want to look for the other items as a precaution, list all three; the order then covers a broader search at no extra cost. The common mistake is listing items the form does not authorize, like jewelry or cash, which the judge will strike. The misconception is that the petitioner gets to keep what is found; the bank only releases the burial deed and life insurance, and the will goes straight to the court.
Petitioner’s Signature, Date, and Address
Sign in blue or black ink directly above the signature line, print your name below, and include your full mailing address and phone number. The signature is made under oath by virtue of MCR 1.109(D)(3), which means lying on this form is perjury.
Maria Lopez signs “Maria Lopez” and prints “MARIA LOPEZ, 14820 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe, MI 48230, (313) 555-0182” on 05/12/2026. The nuance: the signature does not need to be notarized for PC 587 in most counties, but a few local probate rules require it, so check your county’s local form. The common mistake is printing a name in the signature box and signing on the print line, which the clerk will reject. The misconception is that an attorney can sign for the petitioner; only the petitioner can swear to the petition’s facts.
Order Section: Bank Authorization
The bottom half is the proposed order. Most of it is pre-printed; you only need to copy the bank name and box number from items 4 and 5 into the order’s blanks so the judge sees a clean, ready-to-sign document. Type these in matching format to the petition above.
Marcus Johnson fills in “Fifth Third Bank, National Association” and “Box 0427-A” in the order section, mirroring his Item 4 and Item 5 entries. The nuance: some judges sign a separate, custom order, but the form’s built-in order works in 99% of cases. The common mistake is leaving the order blanks empty for the judge to fill in; many judges return the petition unsigned because they expect the petitioner to prepare a complete order. The misconception is that the order is the court’s job; in Michigan probate practice, the moving party drafts the order under MCR 2.602.
Judge’s Signature Line
Leave this line blank. The probate judge or register signs after reviewing your petition. Do not write “/s/” or any placeholder, because that can be misread as an attempted forgery.
The nuance: in counties where probate registers have signing authority for non-contested PC 587 petitions, the register signs instead of the judge, which speeds things up considerably. The common mistake is filers writing the judge’s name on the line to be helpful; clerks treat that as a defective filing. The misconception is that you can drop the petition off and pick up a signed order the same day; even uncontested PC 587s typically take two to seven business days.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Each example below shows what one named filer enters in the most important sections. These are not full forms but the parts that change based on the filer’s situation.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, Surviving Spouse (Wayne County)
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Court and County | STATE OF MICHIGAN, PROBATE COURT, COUNTY OF WAYNE |
| File Number | (blank) |
| Court Address | 1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Item 1 — Decedent | LOPEZ, ROBERTO ESTEBAN |
| Item 2 — Date of Death | 04/22/2026 |
| Item 3 — Relationship | Surviving spouse |
| Item 4 — Bank | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48243 |
| Item 5 — Box Number | Box 1138 |
| Item 6 — Purpose | Will, deed to burial plot, life insurance policy |
| Signature | Maria Lopez, 05/12/2026 |
Scenario 2: Marcus Johnson, Adult Son, Suspected Intestacy (Kent County)
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Court and County | STATE OF MICHIGAN, PROBATE COURT, COUNTY OF KENT |
| File Number | (blank) |
| Court Address | 180 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Item 1 — Decedent | JOHNSON, ELIJAH RAY |
| Item 2 — Date of Death | 03/14/2026 |
| Item 3 — Relationship | Adult son and heir at law |
| Item 4 — Bank | Fifth Third Bank, N.A., 111 Lyon St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Item 5 — Box Number | Box 0427-A |
| Item 6 — Purpose | Will, deed to burial plot |
| Signature | Marcus Johnson, 04/02/2026 |
Scenario 3: Aisha Bennett, Named Non-Relative Co-Lessee (Oakland County)
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Court and County | STATE OF MICHIGAN, PROBATE COURT, COUNTY OF OAKLAND |
| File Number | (blank) |
| Court Address | 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac, MI 48341 |
| Item 1 — Decedent | NGUYEN, LINH THI |
| Item 2 — Date of Death | 02/08/2026 |
| Item 3 — Relationship | Named co-lessee on safe deposit box lease dated 06/12/2018 |
| Item 4 — Bank | Comerica Bank, 411 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Item 5 — Box Number | Box 88-C |
| Item 6 — Purpose | Will, life insurance policy |
| Signature | Aisha Bennett, 03/01/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
You have three filing channels in Michigan, and the right one depends on your county and your urgency. Always make two extra copies of the signed petition for your own records and for the bank.
In person at the probate court counter. Bring the original petition, the certified death certificate, your photo ID, and the filing fee. Most counties charge $20 under MCL 600.880b, payable by cash, check made out to the probate court, money order, or credit card (some counties add a 3% processing fee). Processing takes one to three business days in most counties; the clerk stamps your copy as proof of filing, and the signed order is mailed or held for pickup.
By mail. Send the petition, a copy of the death certificate, the fee by check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the probate court’s mailing address listed on the Michigan probate court directory. Processing takes five to ten business days. Keep the certified-mail receipt as proof of filing.
Through MiFILE e-filing. Log in to the MiFILE portal, upload the completed PC 587 PDF and the death certificate, pay the $20 fee plus a small e-filing service fee by credit card, and submit. Processing in e-filing counties is typically two to four business days, and the signed order downloads from the portal as a PDF you can print and take to the bank. Save the MiFILE confirmation email as your proof of filing.
In all three channels, certified copies of the signed order may cost extra (usually $1 per page plus a $10 certification fee). Banks almost always require a certified copy, not a plain copy, so order at least one when you pick up or download the order.
What Happens After You File
Once the judge or probate register signs the order, the clerk either mails it to you, holds it at the counter, or releases it through MiFILE. Take the certified copy to the branch named in the order, present your photo ID, and the bank schedules a vault appointment, usually within 24 to 72 hours.
At the appointment, a bank officer opens the box with you present. The officer inventories every item in the box on a bank form. The officer then removes only the will, the burial deed, and the life insurance policy named in the order. The bank mails the will directly to the probate court that issued the order under MCL 700.2516, hands the burial deed to whoever is arranging the funeral, and releases the life insurance policy to the named beneficiary or to the petitioner to forward to the beneficiary.
Everything else in the box stays put until a personal representative is appointed and presents Letters of Authority (PC 572). The bank gives you a copy of the inventory; keep it, because the eventual personal representative will need it for the estate’s Inventory (PC 577).
If no will is found, the search itself is documented on the inventory, which becomes evidence the decedent died intestate. The petitioner can then move forward with an intestate probate filing using PC 558 (Application for Informal Probate) or PC 559 (Petition for Probate).
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing in the wrong county. Filing where the bank sits instead of where the decedent lived sends the petition to a court without jurisdiction and forces a complete refile.
- Using a nickname for the decedent. A name mismatch between the petition and the death certificate causes the clerk to reject the filing on intake.
- Leaving the order section blank. Many judges return petitions with empty order blanks unsigned, expecting the petitioner to prepare a complete order.
- Listing items the form does not authorize. Asking for jewelry, cash, or coins triggers the judge to strike those requests and may delay signing.
- Forgetting the certified death certificate. Without it, neither the court nor the bank will move forward, and you lose at least a day.
- Writing the wrong bank entity name. “Chase” instead of “JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.” can cause the bank’s legal department to refuse the order.
- Skipping the box number leading zeros. “Box 427” instead of “Box 0427-A” sends vault staff to the wrong box or no box at all.
- Not paying the correct fee. Underpaying by a dollar can stop the filing cold, especially in counties with strict cash drawers.
- Filing without a photo ID at the counter. Many probate counters require the petitioner’s ID at intake, not just at signing.
- Failing to order a certified copy of the order. Banks rarely accept plain copies, and getting a certified copy after the fact requires another trip.
- Assuming the bank can open the box the same day. Vault appointments usually require scheduling, even with a signed order in hand.
- Forgetting to bring the lease or rental agreement. Some banks insist on seeing the original lease alongside the court order.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do download the form fresh from the SCAO forms page every time, because SCAO updates revisions without warning.
- Do match every name and date to the certified death certificate exactly, because banks reject anything that does not match.
- Do order at least one certified copy of the signed order, because banks require certification.
- Do call the bank ahead to confirm the branch, the box number, and the appointment process, which saves a wasted trip.
- Do keep the bank’s inventory of the box contents, because the eventual personal representative will need it for PC 577.
-
Do file in the decedent’s county of residence, which controls jurisdiction under EPIC § 700.1302.
-
Don’t open or attempt to open the box without the signed order, because doing so violates MCL 487.14013 and can be a criminal offense.
- Don’t request items the order cannot release, like jewelry or cash, because the judge will strike them.
- Don’t sign the petition before reading every line, because the signature is sworn under oath.
- Don’t assume an attorney’s name on the petition replaces yours, because only the petitioner can swear to the facts.
- Don’t wait until the day of the funeral to file, because most petitions take two to seven business days even when uncontested.
- Don’t take the original signed order to the bank, because the bank may keep it and you will lose your court record.
Pros and Cons of Filing PC 587 on Your Own vs. With Help
| Approach | Pros |
|---|---|
| Filing pro se | Saves $300–$1,500 in attorney fees, because the form is short and uncontested |
| Filing pro se | Faster, because you do not wait on an attorney’s calendar |
| Filing pro se | Direct contact with the probate register, who often coaches pro se filers in Michigan |
| Filing pro se | Full control over timing, especially when a funeral is days away |
| Filing pro se | Builds familiarity with probate practice if a full estate is coming next |
| Approach | Cons |
|---|---|
| Filing pro se | One missed field can delay the filing by a week, which strains funeral timing |
| Filing pro se | No advice on whether PC 587 is even the right tool versus opening a small estate |
| Filing pro se | No representation if another heir contests standing |
| Filing pro se | No help interpreting unusual lease arrangements (joint tenants, business boxes) |
| Filing pro se | No guidance on the next probate step after the box is opened |
A simple comparison of paper versus e-filing helps too:
| Filing Method | When It Wins |
|---|---|
| Paper at counter | Fastest in counties without MiFILE rollout, and lets you fix errors on the spot |
| Paper by mail | Best when distance is far and timing is not urgent |
| MiFILE e-filing | Best for urgent filings in MiFILE counties, with 24/7 submission and email confirmations |
FAQs
Do I need an attorney to file PC 587?
No. Most petitioners file pro se because the form is short and uncontested, but an attorney helps if heirs disagree, the box is contested, or the decedent’s domicile is unclear.
How long does the court take to sign the order?
Yes, expect two to seven business days in most Michigan counties, faster in MiFILE counties and slower in rural counties without dedicated probate registers.
Can I open the box without a court order?
No. Under MCL 487.14013, banks must keep a decedent’s box sealed until they receive a court order or letters of authority.
Do I write the decedent’s nickname or legal name in Item 1?
No. Always write the legal name exactly as it appears on the death certificate; you can add the nickname in quotes only as an alias.
What if I don’t know the box number for Item 5?
Yes, the bank’s records department will confirm the box number to an interested person who provides a death certificate, even before the order is signed.
Can I list jewelry or cash in Item 6?
No. PC 587 only authorizes release of a will, a burial deed, and a life insurance policy; other items stay in the box until a personal representative is appointed.
Do I leave the file number blank?
Yes, if no probate estate exists yet, leave it blank and the clerk assigns a miscellaneous file number on intake.
Is the petition signature notarized?
No in most counties, but a few local probate rules require notarization, so check your county’s local form before signing.
What does PC 587 cost to file?
Yes, the standard probate filing fee is $20 under MCL 600.880b, plus a small fee for certified copies and any e-filing service fee.
Can a non-relative file PC 587?
Yes, anyone named on the safe deposit box lease, a creditor, or a nominated personal representative qualifies as an interested person under MCR 5.125.
Does the bank give me the will?
No. The bank mails the will directly to the probate court named in the order, under MCL 700.2516.
Can I e-file PC 587 in every Michigan county?
No. Only counties that have rolled out probate e-filing accept it through MiFILE; a handful of rural counties still require paper.
What if the decedent lived out of state but the box is in Michigan?
Yes, file in the Michigan county where the box is located and attach a short cover letter explaining the decedent’s out-of-state domicile.
Can two people file PC 587 together?
Yes, co-petitioners (such as two adult children) can sign the same petition, which can also help head off later standing disputes.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 558 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 588 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 622 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 651 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 581 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 597 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 570 (w/Examples) + FAQs