Tag Archives: Probate Court

Kent County Board of Commissioners approves new probate judgeship

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Kent County residents will be electing a new probate judge this falls as the Kent County Board of Commissioners recently voted to add one new probate judge position.

The Kent County Commissioners has decided to add a fifth judgeship to the probate court. (Supplied)

“Our current judiciary staff is hard-working, but the work and time needed to handle the high caseloads was not sustainable,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Stan Stek. “The addition of a probate judge will provide much-needed support to our court while being efficient with our resources.”

With Kent County’s increasing population, the probate court’s caseload has grown by more than 60 percent since 2008.

In 2019, the State Court Administrators’ Office (SCAO) recommended three judgeships for Kent County- one in each in the Probate, 17th Circuit, and 63rd District courts – based on a review of population trends and court caseloads. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly slowed and altered the legislative approval process of adding additional judgeships. However, Governor Whitmer signed into law Senate Bill 694 (Public Act 08 of 2022) in February, which created a new probate judgeship for Kent County and five other new judgeships across the state.

Meanwhile, a Board of Commissioners Judicial Resources Subcommittee was appointed to review the actions of the SCAO and the State Legislature and make a recommendation to the full Board regarding the addition of new judgeships. The Subcommittee subsequently recommended adding an additional probate judge position.

“The Probate Court is facing an overwhelming docket so adding a new judge to the bench will ensure cases will be considered timely and more efficiently,” said Chief Probate Judge David M. Murkowski.

Chief Probate Judge David M. Murkowski

“The beneficiaries of this additional judicial resource will be the residents of Kent County. We appreciate the Board of Commissioners, State Legislature, and Supreme Court understanding our need and approving the addition of a new probate judge.”

The new probate judge will be chosen by election, with the filling deadline in April and the primary election in August. The general election is in November 2022. The new judge will assume the office on Jan. 1, 2023.

Kent County treasurer’s office closed for walk-in services

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Kent County Treasurer Kenneth Parrish announces the closure of the Treasurer’s Office.

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

On Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-14 extending the redemption deadline on 2017 tax foreclosures from March 31, 2020 to May 29, 2020.

Due to this order and to minimize face-to-face interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kent County Treasurer’s Office is closed to the public until further notice. Taxpayers are encouraged to mail check and money order payments to Kent County Treasurer, P.O. Box Y, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.

The order does not defer nor cancel interest charges. Interest will accrue beyond the original March 31, 2020 deadline until paid. Money orders are available at banks and many retailers. Residents should not mail cash. Staff continues to process mail and is available to take calls at 616-632-7500.

The Treasurer’s office closure follows suit with several other Kent County offices.

Kent County Clerk/Register Office

The Kent County Clerk/Register Office suspended in-person transactions until further notice.

This change, effective until further notice will apply to the Clerk Office (Vital Records), Elections Department, Register of Deeds, and Clerk of the Circuit Court. A listing of how customers can still request or obtain common services, as well as contact information for clarification, is below.

Clerk / Register of Deeds

clerk-register@kentcountymi.gov

Until further notice, the Kent County Clerk/Register’s Office will be serving customers via online or bymail services only. Below are specifics relating to service changes:

Clerk – Vital Records:
616-632-7640
https://www.accesskent.com/CountyClerk

  • Certified copies of birth, death, marriage, business certificates/licenses/ registrations can be requested online; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available.
  • New birth and death certificates received via hospital or funeral home will be processed; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available. No new home births processed until further notice.
  • New marriage licenses applications accepted online only, applicants will be contacted
  • No new CPL applications accepted until further notice; renewals processed online via MSPwebsite
  • No new notary applications accepted until further notice
  • No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk – Elections:616-632-7650 https://www.accesskent.com/Elections
  • All candidate filings (Affidavit of Identity, Statement of Organization, campaign finance reports) are to be submitted via email: gerrid.uzarski@kentcountymi.gov. Payments for candidate filings should be mailed. Receipt of filings will be confirmed.
  • Individuals needing to turn in petitions should contact the Elections office to make an appointment.
  • No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk of the Circuit Court: 616-632-5480 https://www.accesskent.com/Courts/Clerk
  • E-recordings will be processed uninterrupted
  • Filings received via USPS will be processed uninterrupted. For urgent filings, call or email theoffice.
  • Searches and recording copies are available online; will be mailed via USPS
  • No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistance

Courts

Most of the area courts are closed to in-person, public access. For specific details on each court, please click the court below. Due note, that many of the courts do offer an online option to pay tickets and other fines.

17th Judicial Circuit Court

Kent County Probate Court

63rd District Court

62A District Court (Wyoming)

62B District Court (Kentwood)