Probate in Mountrail County runs through the District Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Mountrail County, settling their estate runs through the District Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Mountrail County · North Central Judicial District
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Verified July 5, 2026 · Source
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 Mountrail County, probate runs through the District Court at 101 N Main St, Stanley. The court sits in the North Central Judicial District. Mountrail County shares the North Central Judicial District with Burke and Ward.
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 North Dakota intestacy law when there is no will.
Most North Dakota estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 3 monthsN.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-03(1)(a)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Mountrail County, North Dakota 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 101 N Main St, Stanley. The court is part of the North Central Judicial District.
North Dakota charges $160N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03(1)(a)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the District Court (https://www.ndcourts.gov/district-courts/e-filing-resources). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in North Dakota are negotiated, typically 1.8%N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-21 (court reviews the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage schedule); § 30.1-18-20 (estate pays reasonable attorney's fees)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-21 (court reviews the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage schedule); § 30.1-18-20 (estate pays reasonable attorney's fees)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Probate in North Dakota typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
If you're handling probate yourself in Mountrail County, North Dakota, you can file at the District Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the North Central Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Mountrail County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the District Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Mountrail County Self-Filing Assessment.
Before You Go
You can file in person without an appointment. Self-represented filers may file paper probate documents in person at the Clerk of District Court counter during courthouse hours; no appointment required (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5(a)(2) exempts self-represented litigants from mandatory e-filing).
To file at the District Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
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 Mountrail County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Melissa Vachal, at 101 N Main St, Stanley, ND 58784. Phone: 701-628-2945. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-12:00pm, 12:30pm-4:30pm.
Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 69, Stanley, ND 58784-0069.
The County Recorder charges $20 for the first 6 pages plus $3 for each page beyond 6.
Mountrail County accepts electronic recording through E-recording accepted (no vendor named on the county page).
Recording Office Record
Mountrail County · County Recorder · Melissa Vachal
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
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
North Dakota allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Mountrail 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 North Dakota are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.8%N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-21 (court reviews the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage schedule); § 30.1-18-20 (estate pays reasonable attorney's fees)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.9%N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-21 (court reviews the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage schedule); § 30.1-18-20 (estate pays reasonable attorney's fees)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Mountrail 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.
Solo PracticeMinot, ND
Minot practice representing clients throughout Ward County and neighboring McHenry, McLean, Burleigh, Morton, Stark, and Mountrail counties. Estate work is planning-side and aimed at keeping an estate out of probate: wills, trusts, financial and health care powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships. Free consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmMinot, ND
Minot practice serving Ward County families, with estate work built around the local energy economy: how mineral royalties will be divided, and what becomes of a family business. Sets up trusts holding mineral rights and family LLCs preserving access to generational property, alongside probate guidance, guardianship, and conservatorship.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
Solo PracticeMinot, ND
Minot practice serving Ward County, licensed in North Dakota and Minnesota. The estate-side work is guardianship of adults and minors, conservatorships, special needs trusts, financial and health care powers of attorney, and partition actions; the firm does not list probate administration. Initial strategy sessions cost $175.
PracticesEstate PlanningFamily LawWills
Solo PracticeMinot, ND
Minot practice serving Ward County and out-of-state residents who own North Dakota property or minerals. Handles probate and estate administration and trust administration, mineral trusts for generational transfer, oil and gas pipeline and surface damage agreements, and farm and ranch business succession. Also sets up guardianships and conservatorships for special-needs children reaching 18.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipand 2 more
FirmMinot, ND
Minot office of a firm serving North Dakota and seven neighboring states. Spells out the trustee’s job step by step: notifying beneficiaries, collecting and protecting trust assets, handling bills, final expenses and taxes, managing a home, farm or business interest, and distributing under the trust terms. Caps its settlement fees. Free consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationMedicaid PlanningBusiness SuccessionProbate Administration
Solo PracticeRugby, ND
Solo general practice in Rugby serving Pierce County, one of five attorneys currently practicing in the city. Galen Mack was admitted in North Dakota in 1986 and handles estate planning alongside real estate, agricultural matters, loan closing services, and senior issues. The office has no website; contact is by phone or email.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAgricultural LawReal Estate Law
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.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Step-by-step tools for families in Mountrail County, North Dakota.
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