Probate Court

Probate Court hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 – 4:30 p.m.  However, please note that if Probate staff is in a hearing or occupied with other court matters, they will be unavailable to assist at that time. Note that we are a small office and request that individuals please call ahead of time to ensure our staff is available.

Contact the Probate Court for upcoming training for Conservators and Guardians of the Estate:

Probate Court appoints conservators and guardians of the estate when person can no longer adequately manage their financial affairs. This appointment happens after Petition for Conservator or Petition of Guardian of Estate is filed in Probate Court and the Probate Judge conducts a hearing and determines whether an appointment is necessary.

Trainings will be held for current and prospective conservators and guardians of the estate. Attendees will hear from two local probate attorneys who will cover the fiduciary responsibilities as conservator and as guardian of the estate, and will explain required filings such as inventories, accountings, and more.  The Probate Court Registers from Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties will also be available.

Current and prospective Conservators or Guardians of the Estate are invited to attend this free training. If you cannot personally attend, you may participate via

Zoom. Meeting ID:  272 776 1520.  No password needed.

For more information, call Leelanau Probate Court at 231-256-9803. 

Please view the below video for more information on Guardianships and Conservatorships.

Probate Court Judge Kromkowski video

Hon. Marian Kromkowski - Judge Kromkowski was elected  as Probate Court Judge in 2018, and took office on January 1, 2019.  In Leelanau County she also presides over the Circuit Court-Family Division.

 Judge Kromkowski came to the bench with 39 years of experience as a lawyer. She graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 1979 and from Indiana University in 1975.  Prior to her election she was in private practice with her husband Matthew Posner in the firm of Kromkowski & Posner, PC.  She specialized in criminal trial and appellate work, family law and domestic relations mediation.  Judge Kromkowski was the first Domestic Relations Referee in the 13^th Circuit and served from 1993 through 1997.  In 1998 until 2018 she was a part-time referee in the 28^th Circuit Court.  Judge Kromkowski was also the first attorney in the 13th Circuit to be trained as Domestic Relations Mediator. She was also a Collaborative Divorce practitioner.

Judge Kromkowski and her husband Matthew Posner have three daughters.  Matthew’s family has enjoyed ties to beautiful Leelanau County since 1947. The couple moved to Leelanau in 1987 and made Suttons Bay their home.

Kristina Mattis has been the Probate Register for the Leelanau County Probate Court since 2019. Kris worked as the Deputy Probate Register for Grand Traverse County between 2017 and 2019. Prior to working for the Courts, Kris worked as an experienced Probate and Family Law Paralegal for approximately 14 years in Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida.  She attended Paralegal school at Pensacola Junior College. In the past, she has also been a speaker for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Kris grew up in Traverse City and is happy to be back in Northern Michigan. She enjoys walking, bicycling, watersports, skiing, baking, and volunteering in the community.

Sage Mrdeza is our Deputy Probate Register for the Leelanau County Probate Court. Sage worked as an Office Specialist and Deputy Probate Register for Grand Traverse County Probate Court. Sage has her Bachelors in Sociology from Lake Superior State University.  She has worked with individuals through the behavioral health system in hospitals downstate. Sage is also from Northern Michigan. She currently lives in Traverse City with her husband and 2 cats, Butterball and Heather. Sage enjoys our beautiful waters, beach days, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Probate Court hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 – 4:30 p.m.  However, please note that if Probate staff is in a hearing or occupied with other court matters, they will be unavailable to assist at that time. Note that we are a small office and request that customers please call ahead of time to ensure our staff is available.

Court hearings will be conducted virtually via Zoom to the maximum extent possible. However, accommodations can be made for hearings that are open to the public to be viewed in-person.  Please contact Probate Court at least 3 business days prior to the scheduled hearing for more information.  

For further information contact (231) 256-9803 option 1 or 2, or email Kris Mattis at kmattis@leelanau.gov or Sage Mrdeza at smrdeza@leelanau.gov.

 FILINGS IN PROBATE COURT CASES:

• Filing by fax (limit 15 pages) - Filings may be faxed to the following Probate Court fax number 231-256-9845.  However, please notify us by email or phone if you are faxing documents, because faxes may not be reviewed immediately.

• Procedures for using e-mail for filings – the Court will permit filing via email, as follows: Any emailed filings that are over 15 pages including attachments, both the original shall be mailed/hand-delivered together with a Judge's copy.

• Filing by U.S. Mail - Filings may be mailed to: LEELANAU COUNTY PROBATE COURT, 8527 E. GOVERNMENT CENTER DR, STE 203, SUTTONS BAY, MI 49682

• Please note that in certain circumstances, such as where original documents are required to be filed, the Probate Court may request that you file the originals.

For Leelanau Probate Court email Kristina Mattis kmattis@leelanau.gov or Sage Mrdeza at smrdeza@leelanau.gov.

• Documents with filing fees – Probate filings that require the payment of a filing fee may be accepted via fax or email only if the fee is paid in advance. Contact Kris Mattis or Sage Mrdeza at 231-256-9803 option 1 or 2 to make the payment using a credit card over the phone.

• Filing Dates – Under MCR 2.406(E), documents received during the regular business hours of the court will be deemed filed that business day. Documents received outside business hours will be deemed filed the next business day.

• When filing documents electronically using e-mail or fax, an original paper copy of the document already submitted electronically to the court is not required unless over 15 pages.