Estate Planning & Probate in Carver County, Minnesota
There are two reasons people look up Carver County probate: to keep a family out of it, or to get a loved one's estate through it. This page points you to the right path—planning ahead, or settling an estate at the District Court.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the District Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Carver County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Carver County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Carver County→The Probate Process in Carver County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Carver County, probate runs through the District Court at 604 East 4th Street, Chaska. The court sits in the First Judicial District.
Full Carver Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
District Court
Carver County · First Judicial District
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed
How to file probate in Carver County→Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Carver County
Address
600 East 4th StreetChaska, MN 55318
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
E-recording
Available via SimplifileE-recording info →
$46 base recording fee; TOD deeds are generally transfer-tax exempt.
Full recording details →Verified June 3, 2026 · Source
Frequently Asked Questions
The District Court for Carver County is located in Chaska, Minnesota. Full address, phone, hours, and e-filing details are listed on this page.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in Carver County, but families handling probate without an attorney are exempt. Self-represented filers can submit paper documents at the District Court in person or by mail.
Yes. The District Court offers a self-help center where staff review paperwork and explain filing procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on a specific case. The center is open Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Call 651-435-6535 for details.
No. Minnesota allows estates under $75,000 to use a Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property and skip formal probate. The waiting period is 30 days after death. Use the Minnesota probate decision tool to see if the estate qualifies.
When there is no will, Minnesota's intestate succession rules decide who inherits. Spouses, children, and parents are prioritized in that order. The Carver County probate court applies the state rules without variation. See who inherits in Minnesota for the exact order.
A revocable living trust is the cleanest way for most families to skip probate entirely. Assets titled to the trust pass to beneficiaries without court involvement, filing fees, or the Carver County probate docket. Create a revocable trust online to avoid putting your family through this process later.
Minnesota Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Carver County.
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