Probate in Minnesota · 87 counties

Minnesota Probate Courts

Estates here go through the District Court (Probate Division). Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.

Small-estate limit

$75,000

Wait 30 days

Death taxes

Yes

Estate tax over $3 million

Executor fee

Reasonable

Reasonable fee set by the court

Handwritten wills

Witnesses required

Plate · MN

Every Minnesota county, on one map

Population, low → high courthouse probate office checked

§ I

Minnesota probate rules

Court: District Court (Probate Division)In Minnesota, probate jurisdiction is exercised by the District Court in each of the 87 counties (10 Judicial Districts) under the Minnesota Uniform Probate Code.
Small estates: $75,000 (personal property only)Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201
Filing the will: Must file with court administrator promptly; 3-year limitation to probate
Creditor claims: 4 months after the date of first publication of notice to creditorsMinn. Stat. §§ 524.3-801, 524.3-803
Executor fees: Reasonable compensation determined by court based on time, complexity, and results (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-719)Minn. Stat. § 524.3-719 · calculator
Estate tax: Yes — exemption $3 millionMinnesota imposes an estate tax on estates exceeding $3 million with graduated rates from 13% to 16%.
Inheritance tax: NoneNo inheritance tax in Minnesota.
Typical duration: 6 to 12 months
Official courts site: mncourts.govCase search: Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS) Public Access

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: revisor.mn.gov (statute)

Need help with an estate in Minnesota?

Where to get help.

We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.

§ II · Register

All 87 counties

Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.

#	County	Seat	Population	Record
1	Hennepin County	Minneapolis	1,258,713	office checked
2	Ramsey County	Saint Paul	536,075	office checked
3	Dakota County	Hastings	447,440	county site
4	Anoka County	Anoka	372,441	courthouse mapped
5	Washington County	Stillwater	278,936	courthouse mapped
6	St. Louis County	Duluth	200,514	courthouse mapped
7	Olmsted County	Rochester	164,784	courthouse mapped
8	Stearns County	St. Cloud	160,977	courthouse mapped
9	Scott County	Shakopee	155,814	courthouse mapped
10	Wright County	Buffalo	151,150	courthouse mapped
11	Carver County	Chaska	111,057	courthouse mapped
12	Sherburne County	Elk River	102,206	county site
13	Blue Earth County	Mankato	70,006	courthouse mapped
14	Crow Wing County	Brainerd	68,304	courthouse mapped
15	Rice County	Faribault	67,948	courthouse mapped
16	Clay County	Moorhead	66,258	courthouse mapped
17	Otter Tail County	Fergus Falls	60,626	courthouse mapped
18	Chisago County	Center	58,535	courthouse mapped
19	Winona County	Winona	49,721	courthouse mapped
20	Goodhue County	Red Wing	48,035	courthouse mapped
21	Beltrami County	Bemidji	46,718	courthouse mapped
22	Itasca County	Grand Rapids	45,365	courthouse mapped
23	Kandiyohi County	Willmar	43,813	courthouse mapped
24	Isanti County	Cambridge	43,182	courthouse mapped
25	Benton County	Foley	41,600	courthouse mapped
26	Mower County	Austin	40,058	courthouse mapped
27	Douglas County	Alexandria	39,953	courthouse mapped
28	Steele County	Owatonna	37,421	courthouse mapped
29	Carlton County	Carlton	36,825	courthouse mapped
30	McLeod County	Glencoe	36,785	courthouse mapped
31	Becker County	Detroit Lakes	35,283	courthouse mapped
32	Morrison County	Little Falls	34,250	courthouse mapped
33	Nicollet County	St. Peter	34,242	courthouse mapped
34	Cass County	Walker	31,446	courthouse mapped
35	Freeborn County	Albert Lea	30,515	courthouse mapped
36	Polk County	Crookston	30,412	courthouse mapped
37	Pine County	Pine	30,197	courthouse mapped
38	Le Sueur County	Le Center	29,255	courthouse mapped
39	Mille Lacs County	Milaca	27,427	county site
40	Todd County	Long Prairie	25,667	courthouse mapped
41	Brown County	New Ulm	25,628	courthouse mapped
42	Lyon County	Marshall	25,427	courthouse mapped
43	Meeker County	Litchfield	23,490	courthouse mapped
44	Hubbard County	Park Rapids	22,132	courthouse mapped
45	Nobles County	Worthington	21,727	county site
46	Wabasha County	Wabasha	21,683	courthouse mapped
47	Fillmore County	Preston	21,522	courthouse mapped
48	Dodge County	Mantorville	21,088	courthouse mapped
49	Martin County	Fairmont	19,657	courthouse mapped
50	Waseca County	Waseca	18,981	courthouse mapped
51	Houston County	Caledonia	18,582	courthouse mapped
52	Kanabec County	Mora	16,602	courthouse mapped
53	Aitkin County	Aitkin	16,102	courthouse mapped
54	Redwood County	Redwood Falls	15,288	courthouse mapped
55	Roseau County	Roseau	15,252	courthouse mapped
56	Sibley County	Gaylord	15,084	courthouse mapped
57	Renville County	Olivia	14,348	courthouse mapped
58	Wadena County	Wadena	14,241	county site
59	Faribault County	Blue Earth	13,873	courthouse mapped
60	Pennington County	Thief River Falls	13,714	courthouse mapped
61	Chippewa County	Montevideo	12,172	courthouse mapped
62	Koochiching County	International Falls	11,751	courthouse mapped
63	Pope County	Glenwood	11,400	courthouse mapped
64	Cottonwood County	Windom	11,319	courthouse mapped
65	Watonwan County	St. James	11,077	county site
66	Lake County	Two Harbors	10,855	courthouse mapped
67	Jackson County	Jackson	9,919	courthouse mapped
68	Stevens County	Morris	9,728	courthouse mapped
69	Swift County	Benson	9,719	courthouse mapped
70	Rock County	Luverne	9,551	courthouse mapped
71	Yellow Medicine County	Granite Falls	9,467	courthouse mapped
72	Pipestone County	Pipestone	9,245	courthouse mapped
73	Marshall County	Warren	8,810	county site
74	Clearwater County	Bagley	8,644	courthouse mapped
75	Murray County	Slayton	8,049	courthouse mapped
76	Lac qui Parle County	Madison	6,630	courthouse mapped
77	Norman County	Ada	6,329	courthouse mapped
78	Wilkin County	Breckenridge	6,306	courthouse mapped
79	Grant County	Elbow Lake	6,139	courthouse mapped
80	Cook County	Grand Marais	5,639	courthouse mapped
81	Lincoln County	Ivanhoe	5,521	courthouse mapped
82	Mahnomen County	Mahnomen	5,280	courthouse mapped
83	Big Stone County	Ortonville	5,105	courthouse mapped
84	Kittson County	Hallock	4,060	county site
85	Red Lake County	Red Lake Falls	3,911	courthouse mapped
86	Lake of the Woods County	Baudette	3,778	courthouse mapped
87	Traverse County	Wheaton	3,136	county site

§ III

Minnesota probate questions

What is the small estate affidavit limit in Minnesota?

$75,000 (personal property only) (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201). It can be used 30 days after death. Wait 30 days after death. Net probate estate under $75,000. Affidavit applies to personal property only.

How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Minnesota?

Reasonable compensation determined by court based on time, complexity, and results (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-719) (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-719). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.

What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Minnesota?

4 months after the date of first publication of notice to creditors (Minn. Stat. §§ 524.3-801, 524.3-803). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.

Does Minnesota recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?

No — witnesses are required. Minnesota does NOT recognize holographic wills unless executed in another state that permits them.

Does Minnesota have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?

Yes, Minnesota taxes estates above $3 million. Minnesota imposes an estate tax on estates exceeding $3 million with graduated rates from 13% to 16%. There is no inheritance tax.