Michigan Guardianship Letters of Authority

The judge signed your guardianship order — and now the school wants a "letter of authority" before they will change the emergency contact, the pediatrician wants one before scheduling surgery, and the bank needs one to open a savings account for the child. What they are all asking for is your Letters of Guardianship.

What Letters of Guardianship Are

Letters of Guardianship (SCAO Form PC 570) are the official document the probate court issues after it appoints you as guardian of a minor. They function as your portable proof of authority — a certified court record that any third party can verify.

The letters state your name, the minor's name, the type of guardianship (full or limited), and the date of appointment. A certified copy carries the court's seal and the clerk's signature, which is what makes it legally authoritative rather than just a printout.

How to Get Certified Copies

After the court enters the order appointing you (PC 653) and the required acceptance is filed, the court issues your Letters of Guardianship. A full guardian files the Acceptance of Appointment (PC 571); the limited-guardianship paperwork includes the acceptance. You can request additional certified copies from the probate court clerk at the time of appointment or anytime after.

Each certified copy typically costs $12.00. Confirm the current fee and request process with your probate court. Order at least three or four copies upfront — one for school enrollment, one for the child's doctor, one for financial institutions, and a spare. Replacing them later means another trip to the courthouse or a written request through MiFILE.

Some counties process certified copy requests online or by mail. Call your county probate court clerk's office to ask about their procedure.

What You Can Do With Them

Letters of Guardianship let you act on behalf of the minor in situations where a parent's signature or presence would normally be required:

• School enrollment and records. Districts accept certified letters as proof you have authority to enroll the child, access FERPA-protected records, and make educational decisions.
• Medical care. Hospitals, clinics, dentists, and therapists accept them as consent authority for treatment decisions.
• Health insurance. You can add the child to your plan or apply for Medicaid on their behalf.
• Banking and property. Letters prove your appointment, but a guardian of the person does not automatically have authority to manage the child's estate. A separate conservatorship may be needed for significant funds.
• Government benefits. MDHHS, Social Security, and other agencies require them when you apply for benefits on the child's behalf.

Limited vs. Full Guardianship Letters

If the court appointed you as a limited guardian under MCL 700.5205, your letters will reflect that. A limited guardian has the same day-to-day powers as a full guardian, but the appointment is tied to the Limited Guardianship Placement Plan (PC 652) and the parents retain specific rights outlined in that plan.

Most schools, doctors, and agencies accept limited guardianship letters the same way they accept full. If someone questions whether your limited authority covers a specific decision, the placement plan spells out the scope.

When Letters Expire or Need Updating

Letters of Guardianship remain valid until the guardianship ends — on the child's death, adoption, marriage, or 18th birthday, or when the court terminates the guardianship or a new order supersedes the appointment. There is no annual renewal.

However, some institutions ask for "recent" certified copies. If your copy is several years old and someone balks, a fresh certified copy from the court clerk resolves the issue.

If the court modifies your guardianship, you may need updated letters that reflect the new terms.

Keep Copies Accessible

A common frustration: you need the letter at a moment's notice — an ER visit, a school registration deadline — and the original is in a file box somewhere. Keep a certified copy in your car or bag, store a second in a fireproof box at home, and keep a high-resolution scan on your phone.

Our Michigan Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide covers every step of the appointment process, including exactly when to request your Letters of Guardianship and how many copies you should have on hand.

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