Estate Planning for Hennepin County, Minnesota Property Owners

For most Hennepin County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Hennepin County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the District Court. The two tools that keep a Hennepin County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Recorder, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the District Court decides who receives the property: a simple Minnesota probate takes 4+ months and opens with $322 in court filing fees. Minnesota also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Hennepin County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Hennepin County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Recorder during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Minnesota transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentMinn. Stat. 507.071Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathMinn. Stat. 507.071Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Create a Minnesota TOD deed →Hennepin County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Hennepin County are recorded with the County Recorder at 300 South 6th Street, A-tower, 7th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55487. Phone: 1-612-348-5139. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to Hennepin County Government Center, Attn: Document recording, 300 South Sixth Street, MC 074, Minneapolis, MN 55487.

The County Recorder charges $46 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $46 to record in Hennepin County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Hennepin County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Hopdox, Indecomm and Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Hennepin County · County Recorder and Registrar of Titles

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

300 South 6th Street, A-tower, 7th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55487

Open in Google Maps

Mail

Hennepin County Government Center Attn: Document recording 300 South Sixth Street MC 074 Minneapolis, MN 55487

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Hennepin County

FirmMinneapolis, MN

Henson Efron

Since 1976 · Serves 1 county

Serves the Twin Cities from Capella Tower in downtown Minneapolis. Its estate, trust and probate group represents individuals, families and fiduciaries in estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate and trust disputes. The firm was founded in 1976 through the merger of Henson & Tully and Efron & Kittler.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
225 South 6th Street, Suite 1600Minneapolis, MN 55402

FirmBloomington, MN

Sandahl & Damhof

Serves 2 counties

Serves Hennepin County and the Twin Cities from Bloomington, and Stearns County from a St. Cloud office. Guides personal representatives through Minnesota probate and successor trustees through trust administration, and handles guardianship, conservatorship and estate tax planning. Gold Winner of the 2025 Minnesota's Best Reader's Choice Award for estate planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 4 more

Office
3500 American Blvd W, Suite 190Bloomington, MN 55431
Free consultation

FirmMinneapolis, MN

Steinhagen, Crist, Wehrly & Kufus PLLP

Serves 1 county

Serves Hennepin County and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro from southwest Minneapolis. Guides personal representatives through informal and formal probate, from appointment to the estate accounting, and litigates will contests, trust disputes, estate administration disputes and contested guardianships and conservatorships. Also handles probate mediation and probate appeals.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 2 more

Office
5001 Chowen Avenue S.Minneapolis, MN 55410

FirmMinneapolis, MN

Stone Arch Law Office, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Serves Hennepin and Washington counties from offices in Minneapolis and Woodbury. Guides personal representatives through probate and estate administration and helps successor trustees inventory trust assets, file income and estate tax returns, pay debts and distribute to beneficiaries; also handles guardianship and conservatorship. The first consultation is a free phone call.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more

Office
6009 Penn Ave SMinneapolis, MN 55419
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmSt. Paul, MN

Tarrant & Liska, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
1570 Concordia Ave, Suite 200St. Paul, MN 55104

Solo PracticeExcelsior, MN

Unique Estate Law

Serves 4 counties

Serves Hennepin, Ramsey, Carver and Scott counties from Excelsior, with appointment-only offices in West Bloomington and St. Louis Park. Guides executors through probate, from inventories and accounts to distribution, and litigates will and trust contests, fiduciary claims and guardianship disputes. A gay-owned practice led by attorney Chris Tymchuck, with estate work available remotely.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
339 2nd Street, Suite 107Excelsior, MN 55331
Virtual consultations
See all 19 firms serving Hennepin County →

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Minnesota statutes and official state code. How we research.

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Minnesota

Free forms for planning your estate in Minnesota: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Minnesota.

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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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Codicil to a Will

In Minnesota, a codicil is signed before 2Minn. Stat. § 524.2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyMinn. Stat. §§ 524.1-201(62), 524.2-504Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Minnesota allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Minn. Stat. § 145C.16Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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HIPAA Release

In Minnesota, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names genetic informationMinn. Stat. § 13.386Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases it.

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Financial Power of Attorney

Minnesota requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityMinn. Stat. §§ 523.01, 523.02, 523.05, 523.07, 523.075, 523.08, 523.17, 523.18, 523.20, 523.23, 523.231, 523.24Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryMinn. Stat. §§ 523.01, 523.02, 523.05, 523.07, 523.075, 523.08, 523.17, 523.18, 523.20, 523.23, 523.231, 523.24Verified Oct 22, 2026View source.

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Transfer on Death Deed

In Minnesota, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryMinn. Stat. 507.071Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathMinn. Stat. 507.071Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. Minnesota does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.

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Vehicle Transfer on Death

Minnesota allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleMinn. Stat. 168A.125Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), Department of Public Safety (applications made at deputy registrar offices) using Form PS2000A.

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Living Will

In Minnesota, the living will is the Health Care DirectiveMinn. Stat. ch. 145C (Health Care Directives), §§ 145C.01-145C.18Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.

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Free tools for planning your estate in Minnesota: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Minnesota.

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Minnesota, a will is signed before 2Minn. Stat. § 524.2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredMinn. Stat. § 524.2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Minnesota recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedMinn. Stat. § 524.2-506Verified Oct 18, 2026View source; a will signed in Minnesota itself needs 2Minn. Stat. § 524.2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredMinn. Stat. § 524.2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Minnesota, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Minnesota runs $3,530Estimate: 10 hours at $353, Clio's Minnesota Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,295Estimate: 15 hours at $353, Clio's Minnesota Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Much Does a Will Cost?

An attorney-prepared will in Minnesota runs $1,035Estimate: 3 hours at $345, Clio's Minnesota Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,070Estimate: 6 hours at $345, Clio's Minnesota Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $26,108Minn. Stat. § 525.515 (just and reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; review under § 524.3-721)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

In Minnesota, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingMinn. Stat. §§ 524.5-202, 524.5-204; execution per § 145C.03Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Minn. Stat. § 645.451, subds. 1, 3Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Minnesota takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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