Minnesota allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Stearns 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 Stearns 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.
FirmSt. Cloud, MN
Since 2000 · Serves 10 counties
Serves Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright, Morrison, Crow Wing and other central Minnesota counties from offices in St. Cloud, Cold Spring and Big Lake. Handles informal and formal probate, wills, trusts and elder law matters including Medicaid and long-term care. The firm dates to November 2000, and consultations are free by phone, video or in person.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning
- Office
- 803 W St. Germain StreetSt. Cloud, MN 56301
FirmSaint Cloud, MN
Serves 1 county
Serves Stearns County from its Saint Cloud office, which offers personal estate planning, business and succession planning, and tax advising. The firm's Private Client Services group administers estates and trusts and represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in disputes over will and trust validity, fiduciary duties, undue influence, and removal of a trustee.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust LitigationTax Planning
- Office
- 1010 West Saint Germain, Suite 500Saint Cloud, MN 56301
FirmSt. Cloud, MN
Serves 1 county
Serves Stearns County and clients across the Upper Midwest from St. Cloud. Handles estate litigation arising from will contests and disputes over trust administration, and drafts wills, trusts, health care directives, powers of attorney, guardianships, and conservatorships. Many of its estate clients own farms and large businesses, and its planning covers business succession and farm land trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationTrust LitigationConservatorshipGuardianship
- Office
- 4140 Thielman Lane, Suite 110St. Cloud, MN 56301
FirmSt. Cloud, MN
Serves 1 county
Serves Stearns County and Central Minnesota from St. Cloud. Handles probate and estate administration and litigates probate and trust disputes, including challenges to wills and deeds for lack of capacity or undue influence and disputes over a personal representative's management of an estate. Planning covers wills, trusts, estate-tax minimization, and business succession.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 2 more
- Office
- 1015 W Saint Germain St, Suite 300St. Cloud, MN 56301
Solo PracticeHutchinson, MN
Serves 10 counties
Serves Brown, Carver, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Stearns and Wright counties from offices in Hutchinson and Waconia. Prepares last wills, revocable living trusts, health care directives and financial and medical powers of attorney, alongside a family law, criminal defense and personal injury practice. Saturday appointments are available.
PracticesEstate PlanningCriminal DefenseFamily LawPersonal Injury
- Office
- 95 Second Avenue S.E.Hutchinson, MN 55350
FirmFergus Falls, MN
Since 1883 · Serves 6 counties
Serves Otter Tail, Douglas, Becker, Wadena, Beltrami, and Stearns counties from four offices and four client service locations. Its estate, trust and probate group prepares probate petitions, inventories, accountings, and estate tax returns, and has represented clients in will contests through trial and appeal. The firm traces to an 1883 Fergus Falls partnership.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
- Office
- 110 North Mill StreetFergus Falls, MN 56537
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.
