Michigan Form PC 634 is the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) “Petition for Appointment of Conservator or for Protective Order” used in every Michigan probate court when a person needs help managing money, property, or a legal claim. The form is filed under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), MCL 700.5401–700.5433, and applies to both adults who cannot handle their own finances and minors who have property such as an inheritance or injury settlement.
Filing the wrong version, leaving boxes blank, or skipping required attachments can delay a hearing by 4 to 8 weeks and force a re-mailing of notice to every interested person. Always confirm you are using the current SCAO revision (most recently updated 1/24 at the time of writing) printed in the lower-left corner of page 1 of the official PC 634 PDF.
According to the Michigan Supreme Court’s 2023 Annual Statistical Report, Michigan probate courts opened over 9,500 new conservatorship cases in a single year, and rejection or adjournment rates for self-represented PC 634 petitioners hover near 30% on first hearing because of fixable paperwork errors.
Here is what this guide will give you:
- 📝 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box, checkbox, and signature line on PC 634
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out examples covering an elderly parent, a minor’s settlement, and an absent spouse
- 📂 A pre-filing checklist of documents, IDs, and asset details you must gather first
- 🏛️ Filing instructions for paper, mail, and MiFILE e-filing channels
- ⚠️ The most common field-level mistakes and the exact consequence each one triggers
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form PC 634 is the petition that opens a conservatorship case in the probate division of the Michigan circuit court for the county where the person needing protection lives or owns property. The petitioner asks the court to appoint a conservator, issue a protective order, or both, so someone can pay bills, manage investments, sell property, or settle a lawsuit on behalf of the protected individual.
The form lives at the heart of MCL 700.5401, which lets a court act when an adult cannot manage property because of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness, chronic intoxication, confinement, detention, or disappearance, or when a minor owns money or property that needs management. The court can also act under MCL 700.5407 by entering a single protective order without a full conservatorship, which is common for one-time settlements.
Anyone listed as an “interested person” in MCR 5.125(C)(23) may file PC 634, including the individual themselves, a spouse, an adult child, a parent, a creditor, a person interested in the welfare of the individual, or, for minors, a parent or guardian. Federal programs interact with this filing because the Social Security Administration’s representative payee process and the VA fiduciary program can sometimes substitute for a court-appointed conservator, but neither covers private brokerage accounts, real estate sales, or lawsuit settlements, which is why PC 634 remains the dominant tool.
PC 634 is filed in tandem with companion forms such as PC 564 (Notice of Hearing), PC 565 (Proof of Service), and PC 633 (Acceptance of Appointment). Without these, the petition cannot move to hearing.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Pulling the right documents before you open PC 634 saves a second trip to the courthouse and prevents an “incomplete” stamp from the clerk. The form asks for very specific facts that you cannot guess at, such as the value of each asset and the names of every adult relative within the second degree.
Use the checklist below as your launch pad, and gather every item before drafting. Each item appears verbatim or in substance somewhere on the four-page petition, so missing one almost guarantees a returned filing.
- Government-issued ID for the petitioner. The clerk and the court will match the name on the petition to your driver’s license, so a nickname mismatch can stall the case.
- Full legal name, date of birth, and current address of the individual to be protected. A wrong birth date triggers a Social Security cross-check failure and a hearing adjournment.
- Names and addresses of all “presumptive heirs” and adult interested persons. Under MCR 5.125(C)(23), missing one heir voids notice and forces re-service.
- A current list of assets with values. PC 634 asks for an estimate of real and personal property, so a recent bank statement and a tax assessment make this fast.
- A current list of income sources and amounts. Social Security, pension, VA benefits, wages, and rental income all count.
- Medical or settlement documentation. For adult cases, a doctor’s letter showing incapacity is nearly always required; for minor settlement cases, the court wants the settlement summary and proposed allocation.
- The proposed conservator’s full legal name, address, age, and relationship to the individual. MCL 700.5409 sets a priority order, and skipping a higher-priority person without explanation is a frequent rejection ground.
- A bond estimate, if assets exceed liquid restrictions. MCR 5.409(D) requires a bond unless waived through restricted accounts.
- The filing fee. Michigan probate courts charge a $175 statutory filing fee under MCL 600.880b, plus a $20 certified-letters-of-authority fee.
- Existing court orders. A prior guardianship, divorce decree, or power of attorney must be disclosed so the court does not enter a conflicting order.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The single authoritative source for PC 634 is the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) forms library. The SCAO version is the only version every Michigan probate court will accept, and downloading it from a third-party form mill is a leading cause of rejection because those copies are often outdated.
Filers can also pick up a paper PC 634 from the probate counter at any county probate court, where deputy clerks can hand you the petition along with related forms in a packet. Many counties (Wayne, Oakland, Kent, Washtenaw, and Macomb among them) keep dedicated “self-help” packets that bundle PC 634 with PC 564, PC 565, PC 633, and a fee sheet.
The form is fillable on screen using free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which lets you type entries directly into each box and save the file before printing. Typed entries are strongly preferred over handwriting because the court scans every page into Odyssey File & Serve / MiFILE and OCR systems often misread cursive.
For e-filing counties, which now cover most of Michigan’s probate divisions under the statewide e-filing rollout, the petitioner uploads the saved PDF into MiFILE rather than filing on paper. Always check your county’s standing order before assuming a channel is available; rural counties such as Keweenaw, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft may still require paper.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 634 Line by Line
Use the heading bar at the top of PC 634 to begin, and work down the page. Every box has its own purpose, and the court reads each one as a sworn statement, since the petitioner signs the form under MCL 700.1308 penalty of perjury. Take each field one at a time below.
Caption: Court Name, County, and File Number
The caption sits at the very top of page 1 and tells the court system where the case belongs. The petitioner writes “STATE OF MICHIGAN” on the first line, the judicial circuit number on the second, and the county name on the third. Format the county in capital letters because it appears on every later filing.
To answer it, look up the county where the individual to be protected lives, since MCL 700.5402 anchors venue to residence first and property location second. Maria Lopez writes “STATE OF MICHIGAN,” “PROBATE COURT,” and “COUNTY OF WAYNE” in the caption when filing for her father in Detroit.
A common nuance is a snowbird who lives part of the year in Florida; venue still belongs to the Michigan county of legal residence, not the seasonal address. The most frequent mistake is writing the petitioner’s county instead of the protected individual’s county, which causes the clerk to reject for improper venue and delays the hearing by weeks.
A misconception filers carry is that “circuit court” and “probate court” are interchangeable boxes; they are not, and writing “circuit court” alone causes routing to the civil division. Leave the file number blank because the clerk assigns it at intake.
Box: In the Matter Of
This single line names the person who needs protection, not the petitioner. The petitioner writes the protected individual’s full legal name as it appears on their Social Security card or driver’s license, formatted FIRST MIDDLE LAST.
Write it in capital letters, and never use nicknames, initials, or “Sr./Jr.” abbreviations the person never uses legally. David Chen writes “ROBERT JAMES CHEN” because that is the full name on his father’s Michigan ID.
A nuance arises with hyphenated last names or maiden names; use the name on the most recent government ID. The biggest mistake is using the petitioner’s name here, which causes the case to open in the wrong person’s name and forces an amended petition.
A misconception is that initials are acceptable to “protect privacy,” but Michigan probate filings are public, and initials lead to clerk rejection because indexes need full names. Privacy concerns are addressed later through restricted records under MCR 8.119(I), not by abbreviating the caption.
Item 1: Petitioner Information
Item 1 asks for the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner — the person filing the petition. Write your own full legal name, mailing address (no P.O. box if you can avoid it for service reasons), and a daytime phone number where the court can reach you.
Format the phone number as (313) 555-1212 with parentheses and a hyphen for clean OCR. Aisha Patel writes her own name, her Ann Arbor address, and her cell number because she is filing for her grandmother.
A nuance applies for attorneys: if a lawyer is filing on behalf of a client, the attorney enters their name, P-number, firm address, and phone, and the client is named in Item 2. The most common mistake is mixing petitioner data with proposed-conservator data, which forces the court to issue a clarifying order.
A misconception is that you must list every co-petitioner here, but PC 634 has space for only one petitioner; co-petitioners are added on a separate attachment. Skipping the phone number is a frequent reason clerks call to delay processing.
Item 2: Individual to Be Protected
Item 2 captures the protected person’s identifying details, including legal name, date of birth, address, and phone. Write the date of birth as MM/DD/YYYY and use the residential address rather than a hospital or facility, unless the facility is the new permanent home.
To answer the field correctly, copy directly from the person’s Michigan ID, Social Security card, or birth certificate, since the Social Security Administration cross-checks the date of birth. Janet Brooks writes “EVELYN MAE BROOKS, 04/12/1942, 1422 Maple St., Lansing, MI 48910” for her mother.
A nuance is the minor case: enter the minor’s school address only if no home exists; otherwise, the home address controls. The biggest mistake is entering an outdated address from before a nursing home transfer, which causes the PC 564 notice of hearing to go to the wrong place and forces re-service.
A common misconception is that “address” means the proposed conservator’s address; it does not. The court needs to know where the protected person actually sleeps so a court visitor or guardian ad litem can visit them under MCL 700.5406.
Item 3: Reason for Petition (Adult or Minor)
Item 3 contains the checkboxes that tell the court whether the case is for an adult or a minor and what statutory ground supports the petition. Check exactly one main box (adult or minor) and at least one sub-ground that matches the facts.
For adults, the choices track MCL 700.5401(3): mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, confinement, detention by a foreign power, or disappearance. Carlos Rivera checks “physical illness” and “mental deficiency” because his mother has advanced dementia documented by her neurologist.
A nuance: a minor petition under MCL 700.5401(2) requires a different sub-box stating the minor owns property needing management and lacks a parent or guardian who can manage it. The biggest mistake is checking only “mental illness” without medical proof, which prompts the court to dismiss for insufficient evidence.
A misconception is that “old age” alone is a basis; it is not, and the petitioner must point to a clinical condition. Vague descriptions are why courts in Wayne, Macomb, and Genesee adjourn dozens of PC 634 hearings each week.
Item 4: Property and Income to Be Protected
Item 4 demands the petitioner list, in dollars, the approximate value of the protected individual’s real estate, personal property, and annual income. Estimates are acceptable, but they must be supported by a bank statement, tax assessment, or Kelley Blue Book value if challenged.
Round to the nearest hundred dollars and write $0 if the category does not apply, never leaving a box empty. Sophia Nguyen writes “Real estate: $185,000; Personal property: $24,500; Annual income: $32,400” using the SEV from the city assessor and her father’s Social Security award letter.
A nuance involves jointly owned property; list only the protected person’s share, and note the joint owner in the margin. The most damaging mistake is understating assets to avoid a bond, because the court audits the inventory under MCR 5.409(C) and removes conservators who lowball.
A misconception is that vehicles do not count; they do, and titled assets must appear here. Forgetting a paid-off car is a leading reason inventories filed later under PC 674 trigger amended petitions.
Item 5: Reason a Conservator or Protective Order Is Needed
Item 5 is a short narrative explaining why the assets cannot be managed without court help. The petitioner writes one or two sentences that connect the medical or factual condition in Item 3 to the financial harm that follows.
Be concrete: name the unpaid bills, the mismanaged accounts, the lawsuit settlement, or the pending real estate sale. Marcus Bell writes “Mother has missed four months of property tax payments and cannot recall her PIN, exposing the home to a 2027 tax foreclosure.”
A nuance applies when the only reason is a personal injury settlement for a minor; write “minor recovered $XX,XXX in settlement requiring court-supervised management” and attach the settlement statement. The biggest mistake is writing “she needs help” with no specifics, which gives the court no factual basis and triggers an order for more information.
A misconception is that the medical letter alone covers this box; it does not. The judge wants the petitioner’s words connecting capacity to financial risk, because conservatorship is a least-restrictive remedy under MCL 700.5407(2)(c).
Item 6: Names and Addresses of Interested Persons
Item 6 lists every “interested person” entitled to notice under MCR 5.125(C)(23). For an adult, that includes spouse, adult children, parents, presumptive heirs, the nominated conservator, any existing fiduciary, and the Veterans Administration if the person receives VA benefits.
Write each person’s full legal name, current mailing address, and relationship in the table. Linda Wu lists her three siblings, her father’s surviving spouse, and the Detroit VA Regional Office because her father receives VA pension.
A nuance: if an interested person is a minor or legally incapacitated, also list their guardian ad litem or guardian. The most painful mistake is forgetting a sibling, which voids notice for everyone and forces a fresh PC 564 mailing 14 days before a new hearing.
A misconception is that estranged relatives can be skipped; they cannot, and skipping them is a leading cause of post-hearing motions to set aside under MCR 2.612. When in doubt, list the person and let the court decide notice.
Item 7: Proposed Conservator
Item 7 names the person who will actually serve as conservator and confirms the priority claim under MCL 700.5409. Write the proposed conservator’s legal name, age, address, phone, relationship to the individual, and check the priority box that fits.
To answer it, match the priority list: a person nominated by the individual ranks highest, then a spouse, then an adult child, then a parent, then any other relative who has cared for the person for more than six months. Robert Singh, age 47, lists himself as the adult son with priority under MCL 700.5409(1)(c) for his mother’s case.
A nuance is co-conservators: list both, both must qualify, and both must sign the PC 633 acceptance. The biggest mistake is naming a higher-priority person without their written consent, which forces the court to set a contested hearing.
A misconception is that only family members qualify; professional conservators, banks, and public administrators also serve, especially when families fight. Petitioners may suggest Michigan Guardianship Services or county public-administrator panels for neutral fiduciaries.
Item 8: Bond and Restricted Accounts
Item 8 asks the petitioner to propose a bond amount or, alternatively, to ask the court to restrict accounts so a bond is unnecessary. Bonding companies typically charge 0.5% to 1% of the bonded amount per year, so a $200,000 bond costs roughly $1,000 to $2,000 annually.
Check the “restricted account” option for liquid assets when family conservators are appointed because banks like Chase and Huntington offer restricted accounts at no cost. Emily Park checks “request waiver of bond, restrict accounts at Lake Trust Credit Union” because her mother’s only liquid assets are two CDs.
A nuance applies to real estate: a bond is normally not required for non-liquid assets unless the court orders a sale. The most expensive mistake is understating the bond, because the court resets it after the inventory and the conservator pays back-premiums.
A misconception is that a corporate fiduciary needs no bond; even banks must post one unless the will or trust waived it. Always read MCR 5.409(D) before filling this box.
Item 9: Special Powers Requested
Item 9 lets the petitioner ask the court for specific extraordinary powers, such as authority to sell real estate, create a trust, make gifts, change beneficiary designations, or settle a lawsuit. Each requested power must be itemized and supported by a reason elsewhere in the petition.
Use plain English and statutory citations together: “authority to sell 1422 Maple St., Lansing, MI 48910, under MCL 700.5423(2)(c) to fund nursing home care.” This level of specificity prevents the judge from striking the request.
A nuance: gifting authority requires extra findings under MCL 700.5407(2)(c) and is rarely granted at the initial hearing. The biggest mistake is requesting blanket “all powers a conservator may have,” which judges deny because EPIC favors the least-restrictive approach.
A misconception is that the conservator can sell the home automatically; they cannot, and an unauthorized sale exposes the conservator to surcharge liability. Always list each desired power, even if it seems implied.
Item 10: Statement of Notice
Item 10 confirms whether the petitioner has notified, or will notify, the interested persons listed in Item 6. The petitioner checks the box stating that notice will be given as required by MCR 5.125 and MCR 5.108.
This box is rarely a place for free text; it simply attests compliance. David Chen checks the standard notice box and prepares to mail PC 564 by certified mail at least 14 days before the hearing.
A nuance: emergency conservatorships under MCL 700.5407(1) shorten notice, but require a separate ex parte motion. The biggest mistake is checking the “no notice required” box without statutory grounds, which voids the entire hearing.
A misconception is that email notice is acceptable; in Michigan probate, only mail or personal service satisfies MCR 2.107. Skipping personal service on the protected individual is the single most common reason a PC 634 hearing is adjourned.
Item 11: Petitioner Signature, Date, and Verification
Item 11 is the signature block where the petitioner signs and dates the petition under penalty of perjury. The signature must be in ink (or a valid digital signature on MiFILE) and must match the printed name in Item 1.
Date the form the day you sign, using MM/DD/YYYY, and print your name beneath the signature. Maria Lopez signs and dates the petition the morning she plans to walk it across to the Wayne County Probate Court counter.
A nuance: attorneys must add their P-number under the signature, since MCR 1.109 requires it on every signed paper. The biggest mistake is signing on behalf of someone else without a power of attorney, which voids the petition.
A misconception is that a notary is required; PC 634 is verified, not notarized, because MCL 700.1308 treats the signature as sworn. Adding an unnecessary notary seal is harmless, but missing the signature kills the case.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The three named filers below show how PC 634 looks in the wild for the most common Michigan fact patterns. Every entry is illustrative and should be tailored to the actual facts of your case.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez Petitions for Her Father with Dementia
Maria’s father, Roberto, lives in Detroit, has advanced Alzheimer’s, and has stopped paying his property taxes. She is his oldest adult child and wants to sell his home to fund memory care.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | STATE OF MICHIGAN, PROBATE COURT, COUNTY OF WAYNE |
| In the Matter Of | ROBERTO ANTONIO LOPEZ |
| Item 1 Petitioner | Maria Lopez, 4400 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209, (313) 555-0117 |
| Item 2 Individual | Roberto Lopez, DOB 06/02/1948, 4400 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209 |
| Item 3 Reason | Adult — physical illness and mental deficiency (Alzheimer’s, per Dr. Khan letter 11/20/2025) |
| Item 4 Property | Real estate $145,000; Personal property $9,200; Annual income $26,400 SS |
| Item 5 Why Needed | Father has missed property taxes, cannot recall PIN, faces foreclosure 3/2027 |
| Item 6 Interested Persons | Maria Lopez (daughter), Luis Lopez (son), Ana Lopez (daughter), Carmen Lopez (spouse) |
| Item 7 Proposed Conservator | Maria Lopez, age 51, daughter, priority MCL 700.5409(1)(c) |
| Item 8 Bond | Bond waived; restrict $9,200 at Chase Bank |
| Item 9 Special Powers | Authority to sell 4400 Vernor Hwy under MCL 700.5423(2)(c) |
| Item 11 Signature | Maria Lopez, 12/05/2025 |
Scenario 2: Marcus Bell Petitions for His Minor Daughter’s Settlement
Marcus’s 9-year-old daughter, Zoe, received a $75,000 personal injury settlement from a dog bite. Michigan probate courts require a conservator for any minor recovery over $5,000 under MCL 700.5102.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | STATE OF MICHIGAN, PROBATE COURT, COUNTY OF KENT |
| In the Matter Of | ZOE ELIZABETH BELL, minor |
| Item 1 Petitioner | Marcus Bell, 880 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, (616) 555-2244 |
| Item 2 Individual | Zoe Bell, DOB 09/15/2016, same address as petitioner |
| Item 3 Reason | Minor — owns property requiring management (settlement proceeds) |
| Item 4 Property | Personal property $75,000 settlement; Annual income $0 |
| Item 5 Why Needed | Minor recovered $75,000 from dog bite; funds require court-supervised account |
| Item 6 Interested Persons | Marcus Bell (father), Tanya Bell (mother), both parents have legal custody |
| Item 7 Proposed Conservator | Marcus Bell, age 38, father, priority MCL 700.5409(1)(g) |
| Item 8 Bond | Bond waived; restrict $75,000 at Lake Michigan Credit Union |
| Item 9 Special Powers | Authority to receive and deposit settlement proceeds |
| Item 11 Signature | Marcus Bell, 01/14/2026 |
Scenario 3: Janet Brooks Petitions for Her Deployed Spouse
Janet’s husband, Sergeant Daniel Brooks, has been deployed to a classified location for 11 months and cannot manage their rental property or sign refinance documents. MCL 700.5401(3)(g) lets a court act when an adult is “confined” or “detained by a foreign power.”
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | STATE OF MICHIGAN, PROBATE COURT, COUNTY OF MACOMB |
| In the Matter Of | DANIEL JAMES BROOKS |
| Item 1 Petitioner | Janet Brooks, 22100 Hayes Rd, Clinton Twp, MI 48038, (586) 555-7708 |
| Item 2 Individual | Daniel Brooks, DOB 03/22/1986, 22100 Hayes Rd, Clinton Twp, MI 48038 |
| Item 3 Reason | Adult — confinement (active military deployment, classified) |
| Item 4 Property | Real estate $310,000; Personal property $42,000; Annual income $98,000 military pay |
| Item 5 Why Needed | Spouse cannot sign refinance or manage rental; deployment indefinite |
| Item 6 Interested Persons | Janet Brooks (spouse), Andrew Brooks (adult son), Helen Brooks (mother) |
| Item 7 Proposed Conservator | Janet Brooks, age 39, spouse, priority MCL 700.5409(1)(b) |
| Item 8 Bond | Bond waived under SCRA; restrict liquid accounts at Navy Federal |
| Item 9 Special Powers | Authority to refinance mortgage and manage rental |
| Item 11 Signature | Janet Brooks, 02/02/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Michigan offers three filing channels for PC 634, and most filers can pick whichever is most convenient unless their county has mandated MiFILE e-filing. All three channels share the same $175 statutory filing fee under MCL 600.880b plus $20 per certified letters of authority.
E-Filing Through MiFILE
Most Michigan probate courts now require e-filing through MiFILE / Odyssey File & Serve for represented parties and accept it from self-represented filers. Upload the completed PC 634, PC 564, PC 565, PC 633, and any medical letters as separate PDFs.
The portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and ACH; processing takes one to three business days. Save the e-filing acceptance email as proof of filing because it shows the case number assigned by Odyssey.
Paper Filing in Person
Walk-in filing remains available at every county probate court. Bring three copies (court, petitioner, conservator) plus the original, and pay the $175 fee by cash, check, money order, or credit card depending on county policy.
The clerk stamps every copy with the date and case number; keep one as proof of filing. Processing is immediate, and the court usually schedules a hearing within 28 days.
Mail Filing
Filers may mail the petition to the probate court address listed on the SCAO court directory. Include a check or money order for $175 made payable to the county probate court, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope for the conformed copy.
Use USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt so you can prove the date of filing if the clerk loses it. Processing typically takes 5 to 10 business days.
What Happens After You File
After filing, the court does several things in sequence under MCL 700.5406. The clerk schedules a hearing typically 28 to 35 days out and issues a PC 564 Notice of Hearing returned to the petitioner.
The petitioner serves notice on every interested person at least 14 days before the hearing and files a PC 565 Proof of Service. For adult cases, the court appoints a guardian ad litem (GAL) to visit the protected person, explain the petition, and report back in writing.
If no one objects and the GAL recommends granting the petition, the judge often appoints the proposed conservator at the first hearing and issues an order using PC 642 or a similar form. The conservator then receives Letters of Conservatorship (PC 644), which banks and title companies require before releasing assets.
Within 56 days of appointment, the conservator must file a sworn inventory using PC 674, and within one year file an annual account using PC 583. Missing either deadline is the leading cause of conservator removal under MCL 700.5414.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
PC 634 errors are concentrated in a handful of fields, and learning them in advance is the single best way to clear the first hearing. Each mistake below has caused real adjournments in Michigan probate courts.
- Wrong county in caption. Filing in the petitioner’s county instead of the protected person’s county leads to dismissal for improper venue.
- Nicknames or initials in “In the Matter Of.” Index mismatches block the clerk from opening the case.
- Missing date of birth in Item 2. The court cannot run a Social Security cross-check, which delays appointment.
- Vague Item 3 reason. “Old age” alone is not a statutory ground and triggers a request for medical proof.
- Understated assets in Item 4. The court resets the bond after inventory and surcharges the conservator for prior gaps.
- Missing interested persons in Item 6. Notice is void and the hearing must be re-noticed, costing 14 to 28 days.
- No proposed conservator priority cited. Skipping the MCL 700.5409 reference forces the court to investigate priority.
- Blanket Item 9 power requests. Judges deny “any and all” requests and require itemization.
- Skipping notice in Item 10. The hearing cannot proceed without proof of service.
- Unsigned or wrong-name signature. A mismatch between Items 1 and 11 voids the petition.
- Wrong fee tendered. A $150 check from outdated guides causes immediate clerk rejection.
- Outdated form revision. Pre-2020 PDFs miss required boxes added by SCAO and are rejected on sight.
Do’s and Don’ts
These rules of thumb come from practitioners who file PC 634 weekly. They prevent 90% of common headaches.
- Do download the latest PC 634 directly from SCAO, since third-party copies are often outdated.
- Do type entries on screen instead of handwriting, because clerks scan every page and OCR mishandles cursive.
- Do call the probate court clerk before filing, since each county has its own packet preferences.
- Do attach a recent medical letter for adult cases, because the GAL relies on it to recommend approval.
- Do ask for a restricted account in Item 8, which avoids paying $1,000+ per year for a bond premium.
- Do keep certified copies of the petition, since banks and title companies require them.
- Don’t list the petitioner where the protected person belongs, since this creates a phantom case.
- Don’t skip estranged relatives in Item 6, because their omission voids notice and invites later collateral attacks.
- Don’t request gifting authority at the initial hearing without statutory citations, because judges almost always deny it.
- Don’t sign on behalf of the protected person, since only the petitioner signs PC 634.
- Don’t mail the petition without certified mail, because lost filings are nearly impossible to prove without it.
- Don’t assume e-filing is optional, because most counties now require it for represented parties.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Self-representation saves money, but conservatorships involve sworn duties that continue for years. Weigh the trade-offs honestly before deciding.
Pros of filing pro se:
- Saves $1,500–$3,500 in attorney fees that family budgets often cannot absorb.
- Speeds straightforward cases, especially minor settlement conservatorships with one bank account.
- Builds familiarity with probate procedure, useful for later annual accountings.
- Maintains family privacy by not bringing a stranger into sensitive medical facts.
- Empowers caregivers who already manage day-to-day decisions for the protected person.
Cons of filing pro se:
- No safety net when the GAL or interested person objects, since lawyers spot problems before hearings.
- Higher rejection rate, near 30% on first hearing per SCAO statistics.
- Personal liability for inventory or accounting errors that an attorney would catch.
- No leverage in contested cases where another relative wants to be conservator.
- Time cost of multiple courthouse trips, often 10 to 15 hours across filings and hearings.
Pro Se vs. Attorney-Assisted Filing
| Filing Path | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Pro se paper filing | Lowest cost, highest paperwork burden, 30% first-hearing rejection rate per SCAO |
| Pro se MiFILE | Lower cost, fewer trips, requires PDF skills, fee plus MiFILE convenience charge |
| Attorney-assisted | $1,500–$3,500 typical fee, near-zero rejection, attorney handles GAL and notice |
| Limited-scope coaching | $300–$800 flat fee, attorney reviews PC 634 before filing, filer signs and files |
FAQs
Do I file PC 634 in the protected person’s county or my own?
No. File in the county where the protected individual lives, under MCL 700.5402. Filing in the petitioner’s county forces dismissal for improper venue.
Is a doctor’s letter required for adult PC 634 petitions?
Yes. Almost every Michigan probate court requires a recent medical or psychological letter showing incapacity. Without it, the GAL cannot recommend granting the petition.
Do I write my parent’s full legal name or nickname in “In the Matter Of”?
Yes, write the full legal name as it appears on the Social Security card or Michigan ID. Nicknames cause indexing failures and clerk rejection.
Should Item 4 list joint property?
Yes, but list only the protected person’s share, with a margin note naming the joint owner. Listing the full value overstates assets and inflates the bond.
Can I check both adult and minor boxes in Item 3?
No. A petition is either an adult or a minor case; the protected person cannot be both. Check only the box that matches the individual’s status.
Do I need a notary for PC 634?
No. PC 634 is verified under MCL 700.1308, not notarized. A notary is harmless, but a missing signature voids the petition.
Is a bond always required?
No. Bond is waived if the conservator opens restricted accounts under MCR 5.409(D). Most family conservators use this path to avoid annual premium costs.
Can I e-file PC 634 in every Michigan county?
Yes, in nearly all counties through MiFILE, and it is mandatory for attorneys. A handful of small Upper Peninsula counties still accept paper as the primary channel.
How long does it take to get a hearing?
Yes, hearings are usually set 28 to 35 days after filing under MCR 5.125. Emergency petitions can be heard in 7 days with proper grounds.
Do I need to list the VA or Social Security as an interested person?
Yes, when the protected person receives federal benefits, since the VA fiduciary program and SSA representative payee process overlap with the conservatorship.
Can co-petitioners sign PC 634 together?
No, only one petitioner signs Item 11; co-petitioners must be listed on a separate attachment and sign there. The court treats Item 1 and Item 11 as a single petitioner pair.
Is the $175 filing fee waivable?
Yes, low-income petitioners can file MC 20 Fee Waiver and request a waiver under MCR 2.002. Approval typically takes 3 to 5 business days.
Do I have to use the proposed conservator with the highest priority?
No, but you must explain why a higher-priority person was passed over. Skipping the explanation forces the court to investigate priority under MCL 700.5409.
Can the protected person object?
Yes, the protected individual has a right to counsel and may demand a jury trial under MCL 700.5406(2). The GAL informs them of these rights at the home visit.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 556 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 593 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 51 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 52 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 566 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 581 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form PC 570 (w/Examples) + FAQs