Minor Guardianship Paperwork (Michigan)
Grandparents and relatives raising a child often need court authority to enroll them in school, consent to medical care, and handle benefits. We prepare the probate petition and placement plan.
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 minor guardianship is a probate court case giving an adult — usually a grandparent or relative — authority to care for a child, enroll them in school, and consent to medical treatment. There are two main kinds. A limited guardianship is created with the parents' written consent and includes a placement plan describing visitation, support, and what the parents will do to get the child back. A full guardianship is used when the parents' rights have been suspended or the parents cannot be located or are unable to care for the child. Both are filed in the probate court of the county where the child lives, and the guardian files an annual report. 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.
- Grandparents raising a grandchild
- Aunts, uncles, adult siblings, and other relatives caring for a child
- Family friends caring for a child with the parents' written consent
- Caregivers who need authority to enroll a child in school or consent to medical care
- Parents who want to place a child temporarily with a relative through a limited guardianship
- Existing guardians who need to file an annual report or modify or end a guardianship
How the process works
Clear, predictable steps from intake to court-ready paperwork.
Tell us the situation
Who the child lives with, where the parents are, whether they consent, and which county.
We review your matter
We confirm whether a limited or full guardianship fits and what notice is required.
Written quote
Flat preparation fee with probate filing fees listed separately. Nothing is purchased online.
Documents prepared
Petition, placement plan where required, parental consents, notices, and proof of service.
Filing and hearing packet
Who to serve, how, and what to bring to your county's probate hearing.
Ongoing filings
Annual report on the child's condition, and modification or termination filings later if needed.
Paperwork we organize for you
Document preparation only. We do not represent you in court.
Documents and information you'll need
- The child's full legal name, date of birth, and birth certificate if available
- Your name, address, phone, and relationship to the child
- Both parents' names and last known addresses
- Where the child has been living and for how long
- Any existing custody, divorce, or child protective proceeding case number
- Written consent from the parents, if they agree
Common mistakes to avoid
Small errors can cost you weeks. Here's what we see most often.
- Filing a full guardianship when the parents consent and a limited guardianship is the correct route.
- Submitting a limited guardianship without a signed placement plan, which the court requires.
- Failing to give notice to a parent whose whereabouts are unknown without doing a proper search first.
- Leaving out the child's other parent, grandparents, or anyone else entitled to notice.
- Assuming guardianship terminates a parent's rights — it does not, and a parent can petition to end it.
- Missing the annual report on the child's condition, which can put the guardianship at risk.
Local Michigan considerations
Minor guardianships are filed in the probate court of the county where the child lives, on the state's PC-series forms. Michigan treats limited guardianships differently from full guardianships: a limited guardianship requires both parents' written consent and a placement plan the court reviews, and the court schedules review hearings to check on progress. If there is an open child protective case or an existing custody order from a circuit court, that changes where and how the matter is handled — tell us on the form and we'll sort out which court your paperwork belongs in before anything is prepared.
Key Terms
- Limited guardianship
- A minor guardianship created with the parents' written consent, including a placement plan the court reviews at scheduled hearings.
- Placement plan
- The written agreement in a limited guardianship covering visitation, support, and what the parents will do before the child returns home.
- Full guardianship
- A minor guardianship granted without parental consent, when the parents' rights are suspended, or they cannot be located or cannot care for the child.
- Interested person
- A parent, grandparent, or other person the law entitles to notice of the guardianship proceeding.
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.