--- title: "Edward Van Alst | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-van-alst-mi-probate-judge-wexford-county-probate-court" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Edward Van Alst Wexford County Probate Court · Probate Judge ## Profile - Court: Wexford County Probate Court - State: Michigan - Role: Probate Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### videoconferencing Scope: statewide Michigan courts may determine the manner and extent of videoconferencing technology, subject to participant requests and suitability factors under MCR 2.407. Evidence excerpt: courts may determine the manner and extent of the use of videoconferencing technology and may require participants to attend court proceedings by videoconferencing technology [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote access notice Scope: statewide If a Michigan proceeding will be held by videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of how to access it. Evidence excerpt: If a proceeding will be held using videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of the way(s) to access that proceeding. [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and broadcasting Scope: statewide Michigan prohibits photography, audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming in a courtroom unless allowed by the presiding judge, subject to the separate media-coverage order. Evidence excerpt: In a courtroom, no one may use a portable electronic device to take photographs or for audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming unless that use is specifically allowed by the Judge presiding over that courtroom. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### device use Scope: statewide Michigan allows courtroom use of portable electronic devices for information retrieval, storage, internet access, and messaging, but requires silence and bars calls or other audible functions without court permission. Evidence excerpt: Attorneys, parties, and members of the public may use a portable electronic device in a courtroom to retrieve or to store information (including notetaking), to access the Internet, and to send and receive text messages or information. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/83) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/83) - [Michigan Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/83) - [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-van-alst-mi-probate-judge-wexford-county-probate-court", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-van-alst-mi-probate-judge-wexford-county-probate-court", "name": "Edward Van Alst | KnowJudges", "description": "Edward Van Alst, Wexford County Probate Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-07-26", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-van-alst-mi-probate-judge-wexford-county-probate-court#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-van-alst-mi-probate-judge-wexford-county-probate-court#judge", "name": "Edward Van Alst", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-van-alst-mi-probate-judge-wexford-county-probate-court", "jobTitle": "Probate Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Wexford County Probate Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/83" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Michigan", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/michigan" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Van Alst", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-van-alst-mi-probate-judge-wexford-county-probate-court" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career ### Education - Thomas M. Cooley Law School — J.D. ### Additional information - Appointed by Governor Rick Snyder on November 27, 2017, to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Kenneth L. Tacoma, and subsequently won election in November 2018 to retain his seat - Before his judicial appointment, he worked as an attorney in private practice and held the role of the director of the Rotary Club of Cadillac, reflecting his involvement in both legal and community service - Judge for the Wexford County Probate Court in Michigan, where he holds the position of Chief Probate and Presiding Family Division Judge. - As a probate and family division judge, Van Alst oversees cases related to divorce, paternity, adoptions, personal protection orders, juvenile offenses, and child abuse or neglect, among other family and probate matters. - He also manages administrative duties within the court and supervises the Probate Register and Court Administrator. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-2f4be1384a246c5cc0b6bc97) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25). Collected 2026-07-26.