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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Houston County, Minnesota
How probate works in Houston County: the District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Houston County District Court
Houston County · Third Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
306 South Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysFiling fees paid through eFile and eServe take Visa, Mastercard or Discover; American Express is not accepted. On paper: Self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory e-filing and may file on paper at the courthouse or by mail; they may also choose to e-file (once a self-represented filer e-files into a case, they must continue to e-file for the rest of that case).
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Minnesota Judicial Branch publishes statewide probate forms for starting and closing informal and formal probate, collecting a small estate by affidavit, and determining descent.
Self-help center
- Self-help service1-651-435-6535 · Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PMThe Statewide Self-Help Center answers questions by phone and through an online contact form. Staff give legal information and court forms, not legal advice. Every county courthouse except Hennepin has a Self-Help workstation with a computer, phone and printer.
Fax
1-507-725-5550
About the court
- Located in Houston County Justice Center. Public parking available in lot on north side of courthouse and on street.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Houston 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 Houston County, probate runs through the District Court at 306 South Marshall Street, Caledonia. The court sits in the Third Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Minnesota intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Minnesota estates take 6 months to 9 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 monthsMinn. Stat. §§ 524.3-801, 524.3-803, 524.3-805, 524.3-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Houston County
What probate costs in Houston County, Minnesota comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the District Court at 306 South Marshall Street, Caledonia. The court is part of the Third Judicial District.
Minnesota's filing fee for the first paper in an estate is $310 statewide. Most counties add a county law library fee of up to $15, collected at filing, so posted county totals run from $310 to $325. The library fee is an administration expense the estate reimbursesMinn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); 2025 Minn. Laws c. 35, art. 1, § 20Verified Oct 17, 2026View source. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Minnesota are negotiated, 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Minnesota allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payMinn. Stat. § 524.3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Minnesota requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
Probate in Minnesota typically runs 6 months to 9 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the District Court
Probate cases in Houston County, Minnesota are filed at the District Court. The court sits in the Third Judicial District.
The Statewide Self-Help Center answers questions by phone and through an online contact form. Staff give legal information and court forms, not legal advice. Every county courthouse except Hennepin has a Self-Help workstation with a computer, phone and printer.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Houston County Self-Filing Assessment.
Houston County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Court Appearances
Policy 525 governs hearing appearance types (in-person vs. remote).
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the District Court: Death certificate of the decedent, and of any heirs or devisees who died before the decedent; Original will and any codicils (for testate estates) (Minn. Stat. § 524.2-516 custodian's duty to deliver / § 524.3-301(2)(i) filing); Acceptance of Appointment of Personal Representative and Oath by Individual (PRO902); Nomination of Personal Representative and/or Renunciation of Priority for Appointment, and Bond (PRO901) where applicable; Affidavit of Mailing of Notice to interested persons (PRO703/PRO803 informal; PRO1103/PRO1203 formal) / Notice and Order for Hearing in formal casesMinn. Stat. §§ 524.3-301 to 524.3-311 (informal appointment); §§ 524.3-401 to 524.3-414 (formal testacy & appointment)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Houston County
In Minnesota a death is registered locally, and in Houston County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Houston County Recorder's Office as well as by Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Vital Records Office
Houston County · Houston County Recorder's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
304 South Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Local rule
- The office holds county deaths from 1870.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $13 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $6 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
District Medical Examiner
Houston County · Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Website
Serves this county
Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Houston County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Houston County are recorded with the County Recorder at 304 South Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921. Phone: 1-507-725-5813. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
The County Recorder charges $46 flat, regardless of page count.
Houston County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Indecomm and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Houston County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
304 South Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $46 |
| Well Disclosure CertificateNot required for a TOD deed | $54 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
Minn. Stat. 357.18 (Abstract); Minn. Stat. 508.82 (Torrens)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Houston County
Minnesota allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Houston County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Minnesota are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Houston County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the District Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
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.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); 2025 Minn. Laws c. 35, art. 1, § 20
- Minn. Stat. § 524.3-301
- Minn. Stat. § 524.3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- Minn. Stat. §§ 524.3-301 to 524.3-311 (informal appointment); §§ 524.3-401 to 524.3-414 (formal testacy & appointment)
- Minn. Stat. §§ 524.3-801, 524.3-803, 524.3-805, 524.3-806
- Minn. Stat. 357.18 (Abstract); Minn. Stat. 508.82 (Torrens)
- Houston County District Court, official page
- Houston County Recorder, official page
- Houston County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Minnesota statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Minnesota
Free tools for settling an estate in Minnesota: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Minnesota.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Minnesota happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeMinn. Stat. § 501C.0101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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.
Get the Answer
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