For most Bowman 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.
For a Bowman 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 Bowman County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Recorder & Clerk of District Court, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Bowman County property passes through the District Court — even simple North Dakota probates run 4+ months and start with $160 in filing fees.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Bowman County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Recorder & Clerk of District Court during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, a North Dakota transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentNDCC 30.1-32.1-01 to 30.1-32.1-14Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathNDCC 30.1-32.1-01 to 30.1-32.1-14Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Bowman County are recorded with the County Recorder & Clerk of District Court, led by Recorder/Clerk of District Court Jan Werre, at 104 1st St NW, Suite 3, Bowman, ND 58623. Phone: 701-523-3450. Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30am-12:00pm & 12:30pm-4:30pm, Fri 7:30am-12:00pm (MT).
The County Recorder & Clerk of District Court charges $20 for the first 6 pages plus $3 for each page beyond 6. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Bowman County comes to $20. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Recording Office Record
Bowman County · Recorder/Clerk of District Court · Jan Werre
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 6 pages) | $20 |
| Each page beyond 6 | $3 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
N.D.C.C. § 11-18-05(1)(a) (tiered recording fee); § 11-18-05(1)(a)(2)-(4) (font, legal description, 3-inch first-page header space); § 11-18-05(1)(d) (1-inch margin rule and $10 nonconformance fee); § 11-18-05(2) (filing fee); § 11-18-05(3) (copy fees)
Verified September 7, 2026 · Source
FirmBowman, ND
Two-attorney office in Bowman serving Bowman County and southwestern North Dakota, successor to Sadowsky & Wild at the same address. Steven Wild was admitted in 1983 and Andrew Weiss in 2012; both are currently licensed. Handles estate planning, probate, and real estate. No website; contact by phone or email.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal Estate Law
FirmDickinson, ND
Dickinson firm licensed in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota. Personal planning covers probate and probate alternatives, guardianships and conservatorships, health care directives, and elder law including long-term care and Medicaid planning. Attorney Marissa Cerkoney is a Certified Farm Succession Coordinator, working with farm and ranch families on transition planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship
FirmDickinson, ND
Serves Stark County and western North Dakota from north Dickinson, continuing a practice founded in the mid-1980s by Diane Melbye, the city’s first permanent female attorney. Handles probate and estate planning, and represents individuals seeking guardianship over a minor or an incapacitated adult. Also offers mediation and guardian ad litem services.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianship
FirmDickinson, ND
Dickinson firm serving southwestern North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota. Probate work covers appointing the personal representative, transferring real and personal property, filing court documents, liquidating assets, and paying taxes and debts. Mineral probates are a named service within its oil, gas and mineral practice, alongside farm leases.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmHettinger, ND
Serves southwestern North Dakota, eastern Montana, and northwestern South Dakota, with the Hettinger office staffed by Aaron Roseland and a second office in Belle Fourche. Handles probate and estate planning, real estate, and dormant mineral actions, alongside civil litigation and family law. Both partners are admitted in North Dakota.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal Estate Law
Solo PracticeDickinson, ND
Solo practice in Dickinson serving Stark County and southwestern North Dakota. Handles estate and probate administrations, simple and complex wills, revocable, irrevocable and charitable trusts, powers of attorney, and family partnership structures, which suit ranch families passing an operation on. Free half-hour initial consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills
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.
Data sourced from North Dakota statutes and official state code. How we research.
Estate planning articles for North Dakota.
Forms and tools for property owners in Bowman County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for North Dakota.
