Van Buren County Circuit Court cases in Van Buren County, Paw Paw, MI
Van Buren County Probate Court in Paw Paw, Michigan is a probate court (trial court of limited jurisdiction). It handles matters under Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code and Mental Health Code, including administration of decedents' estates and wills, supervision of trusts, appointment and oversight of guardians and conservators for minors and adults, protective proceedings for vulnerable individuals, small-estate proceedings, and petitions for involuntary mental health treatment. It does not hear criminal, traffic, or general civil and domestic-relations cases; those are handled by the county's District and Circuit Courts, with the Circuit Court's Family Division addressing divorce, custody, support, adoption, and juvenile matters.
Van Buren County Circuit Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Circuit Court |
| County: | Van Buren |
| Street Address: | 212 E. Paw Paw Street |
| City: | Paw Paw |
| Zip Code: | 49079 |
| Phone: | 269-657-8218 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday : 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.vbco.org/circuitcourt.asp |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.vanburencountymi.gov/212/Frequently-Used-Forms |
| Divisions / Services: | https://www.vanburencountymi.gov/159/Courts |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://www.vanburencountymi.gov/198/Case-Information-Calendars |
| Jury Service: | https://www.vanburencountymi.gov/225/Juror-Statutes |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Email: | 36circuitcourt@vbco.org |
| Facebook: | https://web.facebook.com/vbccourts/groups/?ref=page_internal |
| Twitter: | https://twitter.com/VanBurenCourts |
| Linkedin: | https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanburencountycourts |
| ADA: | Frank Hardester |
| ADA Phone: | 269-657-8200 ext. 2340 |
Services and Case Types Handled in Van Buren County Circuit Court
Van Buren County Probate Court serves the public by accepting filings, managing cases, holding hearings, and issuing orders in:
- Decedents' estates: wills and intestate estates, small-estate procedures, creditor claims, inventories/accountings, and Letters of Authority to personal representatives.
- Trusts: registration, supervision, construction/modification, and trust disputes.
- Guardianships and conservatorships: appointment, modification, and removal for minors and adults; protective orders to safeguard vulnerable individuals and their assets; required inventories and annual reports.
- Mental health matters: petitions for involuntary treatment/commitment, assisted outpatient treatment, transport and evaluation orders.
- Proceedings for individuals with developmental disabilities: protective placements, services, and periodic reviews.
Public-facing services include: intake of pleadings and fees; scheduling and conducting court hearings (in-person or remote); providing forms and self-help resources; maintaining records and issuing certified copies; compliance monitoring and enforcement of court orders; and jury services in matters where a jury is authorized or demanded.