Estate Planning for St. Louis County, Minnesota Property Owners

For most St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Recorder & Registrar of Titles, 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 $325 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 St. Louis County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives St. Louis County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Recorder & Registrar of Titles 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 Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathMinn. Stat. 507.071Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a MinnesotaTOD deed →St. Louis Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for St. Louis County are recorded with the Recorder & Registrar of Titles at 100 North 5th Avenue West, Suite 101, Duluth, MN 55802. Phone: 218-726-2677. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

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

St. Louis County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Recorder & Registrar of Titles

St. Louis County

Address

100 North 5th Avenue West, Suite 101Duluth, MN 55802

Hours

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

E-recording

Available via SimplifileE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Flat fee (any length)$46
Well Disclosure Certificate$54
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

Minn. Stat. 357.18 (Abstract); Minn. Stat. 508.82 (Torrens)

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Verified September 6, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving St. Louis County

Solo PracticeCloquet, MN

Abagail M. Nouska, Attorney at Law, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Serves Cloquet, Moose Lake, and Carlton County through the Carlton County courthouse. Handles estate planning and probate alongside a family-law practice, walking clients through the probate process and estate documents in plain terms. A Cloquet-based solo practitioner who has practiced in northeastern Minnesota for over a decade.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate Administration

Office
116 Avenue CCloquet, MN 55720

FirmHibbing, MN

Prebich Law Office, P.C.

Serves 2 counties

An Iron Range firm in Hibbing serving St. Louis County and the surrounding region. Handles probate ranging from simple estates to contested matters, assisting personal representatives with estate administration, procedural requirements, and timing. Also drafts wills, trusts, living wills, health care directives, and powers of attorney.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationReal EstateWills Trusts

Office
1932 Second Avenue East, Suite 2Hibbing, MN 55746

FirmVirginia, MN

Trenti Law Firm

Since 1960 · Serves 4 counties

Established around 1960, Trenti Law Firm is the largest firm in the Iron Range region with over 145 years of collective experience. Seven attorneys represent over 2,000 individuals and businesses throughout northeastern Minnesota. AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate Administration

Office
225 N 1st St, 1000 Lincoln BuildingVirginia, MN 55792

Solo PracticeDuluth, MN

Dahlberg Law Office, P.A.

Duluth lawyer Chris Dahlberg has been assisting clients with estate planning and probate in Minnesota and Wisconsin for 20 years. Also practices guardianships, conservatorships, and cabin law. A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau.

PracticesEstate PlanningConservatorshipGuardianshipProbate Administration

Office
130 W Superior St, Suite 730Duluth, MN 55802
Virtual consultations

FirmDuluth, MN

Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A.

Since 1893 · Serves the whole state

Serves Duluth and the Arrowhead from offices in Duluth, Cloquet, and Superior, Wisconsin. Handles estate planning and trust probate, income and transfer tax planning, and business succession for families and closely held businesses across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Founded in 1893, it is one of the largest firms in Minnesota outside the Twin Cities.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration

Office
302 W Superior St, Suite 700Duluth, MN 55802

FirmSt. Paul, MN

Johnson/Turner

Serves the whole state

One of the largest estate planning firms in Minnesota with 15 office locations statewide. Offers trust-based and will-based estate plans, probate administration, and beneficiary representation with flat-fee pricing.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1500St. Paul, MN 55101
Free consultation
See all 9 firms serving St. Louis 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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