Sec. 12. (a) If the judge of the probate court is unable to attend and preside at any term of the court, or during any part of a term, the judge may appoint, in writing, an attorney eligible to the office of the judge, at the term or part of the term.
(b) A written appointment shall be entered of record in the court.
(c) If the appointee is not a judge of a court of record, the appointee shall take the same oath required by law of judges of the probate court.
(d) The appointee has the same power and authority during the continuance of the appointment of the judge as a regularly elected judge of the court.