Good morning!

I finally made it! I am officially retiring on November 30, 2025, after 35+ years with Benzie County!

Before I depart, it was important to me to give a HUGE thank you to this Association for the many, many years of support, knowledge, friendships and fun it has bestowed upon me during my tenor as a register. In the last eight years, my court administrator position involved merging probate and district courts as one unified court in Benzie County. Regretfully, my time with the Association was limited.

Without the education and networking I received from the Michigan Probate & Juvenile Register Association, I would have never made it. I learned soooo much. Not only the seminars, conferences and forums, but the actual one-on-one table discussions during the meetings, the hospitality gatherings, the infamous “off the clock conference outings” (some of those were pretty crazy!! LOL!) that would bring fun together with “what would you do” topics.

I was very hesitant to become an INVOLVED member. But I am so happy I did. I served on the planning committee and became Vice-President and President, not only once, but twice.

My going away advice to you…utilize this Association for everything it has to offer. Maybe becoming INVOLVED isn’t for you…so please use your VOICE for opinions and recommendations so that the planning committee knows what the Members would like to review at conferences. Go to the seminars and conferences not only to learn and gather information, but to network.

Remember, each one of you are making a positive difference in this ever changing court system before us. Your dedication and ability to grow with these changes defines its future. You got this!

Kim Nowak
85th District & Probate Courts for Benzie County