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Wills

Depositing your Original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil with the Probate Court

• A Grand Traverse County resident may deposit their original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil at the Grand Traverse County Probate Court.  
• Your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil may be deposited by you or someone under your direction.
• Your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil must be deposited in a sealed #10 envelope (4 1/8"x9 1/2"), with the following information on the outside of the envelope.
•     Full Name
•     Complete Address
•     Social Security Number
• Your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil envelope will be date stamped by the clerk.
• Only original Wills from Grand Traverse County residents may be filed with the Grand Traverse County Probate Court.  
• A $25 filing fee is required to deposit a Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil.
• You will be given receipts for the deposit of the will and the filing fee.

Retrieval of a Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil
During your lifetime, you may retrieve your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil at anytime at no charge.  However, there is a $25.00 filing fee each time your Last will and Testament and/or Codicil is redeposited. 

• In person:  To retrieve your Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil, you must present your name and personal identification, either your driver's license or state ID card.  You will be asked to sign a "Withdrawal of Will" form and a copy of your ID will be taken to attach to the form.
• By another person:  If you are unable to present yourself personally to the Court, you may request your Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil, by completing the Authorization to Release Will held for Safekeeping, form PC548.  Your designee shall present the Authorization form to the Court; present personal identification, by either their driver's license or state ID card before your Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil will be released.
• By mail:  (a)  You may request your Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil, by completing the Authorization to Release Will Held for Safekeeping, form PC548, and mailing it to the Court.  (b)  To receive your Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil by mail you will have to include a check or money order payable to the Grand Traverse County Probate Court in the amount of $5.00.  Your Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil will then be mailed to you by certified mail, return receipt requested and addressee only.
   

Wills of Deceased

Delivery of Original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil upon death of the individual to the Probate Court

Regardless of where your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil is stored, upon death, your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil must be delivered to the Probate Court of your county of residence.

• If your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil is not stored with the Court, the custodian or person having possession of the orignal Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil must deliver it to the Probate Court with reasonable promptness upon your death.
• A person who neglects to promptly deliver your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil (without reasonable cause) is liable for damages.
• A person who willfully refuses or fails to deliver your original Last Will and Testament and/or Codicil after ordered by the Court to do so is guilty of contempt of Court and subject to penalty for contempt (fine or jail).

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