Serves Renville, McLeod, Wright, and Olmsted counties from offices in Olivia, Hutchinson, Cokato, and Stewartville. Probate work covers collecting assets, paying debts and taxes, estate tax returns, court filings, and distribution to heirs; the firm also creates and administers trusts, handles guardianships and conservatorships, and does Medical Assistance planning.
Probate in Stearns County
Probate Court Record
Stearns County District Court
Stearns County · Seventh Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Stearns County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Stearns County? →Settling an estate in Stearns County →
Probate Firms Serving Stearns County
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.
Serves the Twin Cities from an office on Hardman Court in South St. Paul. Attorney John P. Worrell represents personal representatives, trustees and beneficiaries in uncontested estates and trusts and in contested probate and trust disputes, and advises families on guardianship and conservatorship. Robert C. Hoene founded the practice in 1978.
Serves the Twin Cities metro, Duluth and Rochester from 14 offices, with remote and virtual options anywhere in Minnesota. Handles probate court administration, estate administration without court, and representation of beneficiaries concerned about how an estate is handled, each at a fixed price. Trust-based and will-based estate plans are also offered, and the first guidance call is free.
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.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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