What Happens to Jointly Owned Property in Minnesota When an Owner Dies?
When a joint owner dies in Minnesota, what the survivor records is the “Affidavit of Identity and SurvivorshipMinnesota Uniform Conveyancing Blanks Form 50.2.2 (2017); Minn. Stat. § 508.71, subd. 5Verified Oct 26, 2026View source”.
Minnesota names the “Affidavit of Identity and SurvivorshipMinnesota Uniform Conveyancing Blanks Form 50.2.2 (2017); Minn. Stat. § 508.71, subd. 5Verified Oct 26, 2026View source”. Minnesota law names an affidavit of survivorship for a joint tenant's death, published as Uniform Conveyancing Blanks Form 50.2.2. It is sworn before an officer who administers oaths and recorded with the death certificate in the county where the land liesMinn. Stat. § 507.09Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The affidavit of death is prepared to the Minnesota statute's requirements.
Who may sign, in the statute's words: A person who knows the facts from personal knowledge; no statute limits who may signMinnesota Uniform Conveyancing Blanks Form 50.2.2 (2017)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The document is sworn before a notary public, who completes the juratMinn. Stat. § 507.29Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
What the statute has it state: the death, or the time of death, of the joint tenant who is a party to the instrument that vested title; the legal name and the residential or business address of the person to whom future tax statements are to be sentMinn. Stat. § 507.29Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. Attached when recorded: death certificate (a record of death)Minn. Stat. § 508.71, subd. 5; Minn. Stat. § 508A.71, subd. 5Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Minnesota's survivorship vesting is joint tenancy: a grant to two or more persons creates a tenancy in common unless it expressly declares a joint tenancy. Minnesota land is either abstract property, recorded with the county recorder, or registered (Torrens) property, filed with the registrar of titlesMinn. Stat. §§ 507.29, 507.092, 507.09; Minn. Stat. § 508.71, subd. 5; Minn. Stat. § 508A.71, subd. 5Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Minnesota law names an affidavit of identity and survivorship for the beneficiary of a transfer on death deed, published as Uniform Conveyancing Blanks Form 50.2.3. It is recorded with a certified copy of the record of death and the county clearance certificate for public assistance claimsMinn. Stat. § 507.09Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
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Free forms for settling an estate in Minnesota: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Affidavit of Death
In Minnesota, a surviving joint owner or a transfer on death deed beneficiary records the “Affidavit of Identity and SurvivorshipMinnesota Uniform Conveyancing Blanks Form 50.2.2 (2017); Minn. Stat. § 508.71, subd. 5Verified Oct 26, 2026View source”.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Notice to Creditors
In Minnesota, the notice to creditors is published for 2Minn. Stat. §§ 524.3-801, 524.3-803, 524.3-805, 524.3-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source weeks in a local newspaper, and creditors have 4 monthsMinn. Stat. § 524.3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication to present claims.
Small Estate Affidavit
In Minnesota, the Affidavit for Collection of Personal PropertyMinn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates valued at $75,000Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, 30 daysMinn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, presented directly to the bank or other holder, not filed with a court.
Estate Inventory
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.
Estate Closing
In Minnesota, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runsMinn. Stat. §§ 524.3-1003(b), 524.3-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and a final accounting is required.
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 inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
In Minnesota, certified death certificates come from the Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Vital RecordsMinnesota Department of Health - Office of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $13Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, additional copies $6Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source each.
Do I Need Probate?
In Minnesota, estates valued at $75,000Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Affidavit for Collection of Personal PropertyMinn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysMinn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Minnesota requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Minn. Stat. § 290.06Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
After a death in Minnesota, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $75,000Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 4 monthsMinn. Stat. § 524.3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Minnesota levies an estate taxMinn. Stat. § 291.03, § 291.016Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $3,000,000Minn. Stat. § 291.03, § 291.016Verified Sep 15, 2026View source (top rate 16%Minn. Stat. § 291.03, § 291.016Verified Sep 15, 2026View source) and no inheritance tax; the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
In Minnesota, beneficiaries owe no inheritance tax and the estate pays any estate taxMinn. Stat. § 291.03, § 291.016Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $3,000,000Minn. Stat. § 291.03, § 291.016Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate.
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Minnesota Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering Minnesota probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.