Probate Court

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Judicial Biographies

Probate Court

Address	Calhoun County Justice Center 161 E. Michigan Avenue Battle Creek, MI 49014-4066 Click here for directions
Phone	(269) 969-6794
Fax	(269) 969-6797
Hours	8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday Click here for the holiday schedule

By Administrative Order - Security Policy for Court Facilities, individuals entering the Courthouse are to abide by the following:

No cameras, camera phones, *cell phones, or electronic recording devices, and

No weapons or cutting instruments allowed.

*Cell phones will be permitted for governmental employees with currently valid pictured I.D., licensed and practicing attorneys, physicians, victim advocates with a county pictured identification badge.

For additional information on Calhoun County Courts, click here.

There is a probate court in each Michigan county with the exception of ten counties that have consolidated to form five probate court districts. Each district has one judge, and each of the remaining counties has one or more judges depending in large part on the population and caseload within the county.

The probate court has jurisdiction over cases pertaining to admission of wills, administration of estates and trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and the treatment of mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons.

The probate court had exclusive jurisdiction in such matters as juvenile delinquency, neglect, abuse, and adoption proceedings. In 1998 the Legislature created the family division in the circuit court and moved delinquency cases, neglect and abuse cases, adoption proceedings, name changes and other ancillary family matters from the probate court to the circuit court.

Probate judges are elected on a non-partisan ballot for six-year terms. A candidate must be a qualified elector, a resident of the judicial circuit, a lawyer and under 70 years of age. The Legislature sets their salaries, which may be supplemented by counties.

Judicial

PHILLIP E. HARTER	Probate Judge	(269) 969-6820
GARY K. REED	Chief Probate Judge	(269) 969-6807

Administration

MICHAEL BOLTZ	Court Administrator	(269) 969-6812
CINDY K. RUDE	Probate Register	(269) 969-6762

Support Staff

DENISE BONNIN	Deputy Register	(269) 969-6817
Reception & Intake Specialist Guardianship & Conservatorship Petitions
TERESA AVERY	Judicial Secretary/Recorder	(269) 969-6807
Assigned to Judge Reed
SHARON BRADLEY	Judicial Secretary/Recorder	(269) 969-6820
Assigned to Judge Harter
LIZ FREDS	Deputy Register	(269 969-6798
Decedent Estates and Trusts
LEEANN HOLLISTER	Deputy Register	(269) 969-6799
Conservatorships and Delinquent Fiduciaries
SHARON STREETS	Deputy Register	(269) 969-6801
Involuntary Mental Commitments and Guardianships
MARTHA TRAVIS	Guardianship Investigator	(269) 969-6788

Calhoun County
315 West Green Street
Marshall, MI 49068
Phone: (269) 781-0700
Fax: (269) 781-0140

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