Serves Ramsey and Hennepin counties from Concordia Avenue in St. Paul. Works with personal representatives to settle estates, represents trustees and beneficiaries in trust administration and trust litigation, and handles guardianships, conservatorships and supplemental needs trusts. Attorney Melanie Liska is appointed by the Hennepin and Ramsey County probate courts to represent wards.
Probate in Hennepin County
Probate Court Record
Hennepin County District Court
Hennepin County · Fourth Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Office
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E-filing
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How to file probate in Hennepin County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Hennepin County? →Settling an estate in Hennepin County →
Probate Firms Serving Hennepin County
Serves clients in the east metro, Greater Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Guides personal representatives through every probate step from submitting the will to the final accounting, advises successor trustees, and litigates will contests, fiduciary removals, creditor claims, and trustee disputes. Offers a free initial consultation and often travels to meet clients.
Serves Faribault, Northfield, Le Center, Waseca and Owatonna from Faribault, with regional offices in Red Wing, Rochester and Apple Valley. Handles probate and the distribution of an estate's assets to beneficiaries, whether or not the person left a will, alongside estate planning. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
Serves southern Minnesota from offices in Mankato and Madelia, and states that its lawyers serve the entire state. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, affidavits of collection, guardianship and conservatorship, and estate litigation including will contests and probate and trust disputes. The firm traces its origin to a Mankato law practice opened on July 1, 1893.
Serves Anoka County and the north metro, including Elk River and Cambridge, from its Anoka office. Attorney Joseph Field guides executors and administrators through probate, from filing the will to paying creditors, transferring assets and resolving will challenges. He meets clients at home or in senior living, and the first half hour is free.
Serves Nobles County from Worthington, and its lawyers practice in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. Sees families through probate and estate administration after a death and works to resolve estate disputes without lengthy proceedings. Its estate planning emphasizes minimizing state and federal tax, and the practice dates to 1923.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Minnesota
Free Minnesota forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Minnesota.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Last Will and Testament
In Minnesota, a will is signed before 2Minn. Stat. § 524.2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyMinn. Stat. § 524.2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Minnesota
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Minnesota: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Minnesota.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Minnesota costs an estimated $26,108Minn. Stat. § 525.515 (just and reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; review under § 524.3-721)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.9%Modeled estimate under Minn. Stat. § 525.515 (just and reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; review under § 524.3-721): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%Modeled estimate under Minn. Stat. § 525.515 (just and reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; review under § 524.3-721): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Minnesota: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 180 daysMinn. Stat. §§ 524.3-706, 524.3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsMinn. Stat. §§ 524.3-801, 524.3-803, 524.3-805, 524.3-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Minnesota pays executors reasonable compensationMinn. Stat. § 524.3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
Do I Need Probate?
In Minnesota, estates valued at $75,000Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Affidavit for Collection of Personal PropertyMinn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysMinn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Minnesota, creditors have 4 monthsMinn. Stat. § 524.3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
Can I Self-File Probate?
Minnesota has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableMinn. Stat. § 524.3-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
