Conservatorship Paperwork (Michigan)
When someone can no longer manage money, bills, or property safely, the probate court can appoint a conservator. We prepare the petition, the inventory, and the annual accounts.
Important: Clear Path Document Services is a non-attorney document preparation service and cannot provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created. Read full disclaimer
Quick Answer
A Michigan conservatorship is a probate court case appointing someone to manage the money and property of a person who cannot manage it themselves — an incapacitated adult or, sometimes, a minor who has received money. It is filed in the probate court of the county where the person lives. Conservatorship is separate from guardianship: a guardian handles personal and medical decisions, a conservator handles finances. A conservator has strict ongoing duties, including filing an inventory of the protected individual's assets shortly after appointment and an annual account of every dollar in and out. The court may require a bond. Clear Path prepares the filings; the probate judge decides.
Who qualifies for this service?
This document preparation service is a fit for Michigan residents who match the criteria below. If your situation is different, contact us and we'll tell you whether we can help or whether you should speak with an attorney.
- Families of an adult who can no longer pay bills or manage bank accounts safely
- Relatives of someone being financially exploited or scammed
- Adult children who need authority to manage a parent's income and property
- Parents or relatives of a minor who has received a settlement or inheritance
- Existing conservators who owe an inventory or an annual account
- Conservators who need court permission for a specific transaction such as selling real estate
How the process works
Clear, predictable steps from intake to court-ready paperwork.
Tell us the situation
Who needs protection, what assets and income exist, your relationship, and the county.
We review your matter
We confirm whether a conservatorship is needed, or whether a guardianship, a power of attorney, or both fit better.
Written quote
Flat preparation fee, with probate filing fees and any bond premium listed separately.
Documents prepared
Petition, notices, consents, and proof of service for your county's probate court.
Filing and hearing packet
Who to serve, by when, and what to bring — including the asset information the judge will ask about.
Ongoing accountings
We prepare the inventory after appointment and the annual account each year.
Paperwork we organize for you
Document preparation only. We do not represent you in court.
Documents and information you'll need
- Full legal name, date of birth, and address of the person needing protection
- Your name, address, phone, and relationship to that person
- Names and addresses of the spouse, adult children, and other close relatives
- A list of bank accounts, income sources, real estate, vehicles, and debts
- Medical information or an evaluation describing the condition, if available
- Any existing durable power of attorney, trust, or court order
Common mistakes to avoid
Small errors can cost you weeks. Here's what we see most often.
- Filing a guardianship when the real problem is money — that requires a conservatorship.
- Missing assets on the inventory, which creates accounting problems for years afterward.
- Mixing the protected individual's money with your own instead of keeping a separate account.
- Spending funds without court authority in situations that require prior approval.
- Missing the annual account deadline, which is one of the fastest ways to get removed.
- Overlooking a valid durable power of attorney that already gives someone authority and makes the case unnecessary.
Local Michigan considerations
Conservatorships are filed in the probate court of the county where the person lives, using the state's PC-series forms, and Michigan courts take the accounting duties seriously. Most counties require restricted accounts, a bond, or both when significant assets are involved, and the annual account has to reconcile — the numbers must actually add up against statements. Michigan courts are also required to consider less restrictive alternatives, and a durable power of attorney signed while the person still had capacity often eliminates the need for a conservatorship entirely. If your relative can still sign, ask us about that first.
Key Terms
- Conservator
- A person appointed by the probate court to manage the money and property of a protected individual.
- Protected individual
- The person whose finances the conservator manages under the court's supervision.
- Inventory
- The list of the protected individual's assets and values that the conservator files with the court shortly after appointment.
- Annual account
- The yearly report showing every dollar received and spent on the protected individual's behalf, filed with the court.
- Bond
- Insurance the court may require to protect the protected individual's assets against mismanagement by the conservator.
- Restricted account
- A financial account the court orders frozen so funds cannot be withdrawn without a court order.
People Also Ask
Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.
Ready to get your paperwork started?
Start the guided intake, or call or text us — we review every matter before quoting a price, and nothing is purchased online.