Back to Minnesota
Beltrami County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Beltrami County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Beltrami County District Court |
| Facility | Beltrami County Judicial Center |
| Judicial district | Ninth Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 600 Minnesota Avenue NW, Suite 108, Bemidji, MN 56601-3068 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use the Judicial Center address. |
| Court Administrator's office phone | (218) 888-5060 |
| Fax | (218) 364-8394 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First estate paper cost | $320, current as of August 2026, made up of the $310 district court first-paper fee plus Beltrami County's $10 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10) |
| Local forms | Beltrami County publishes no local probate forms or cover sheet. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail. |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, provides free case search and free access to public probate documents for filings on or after July 1, 2015. |
| Remote appearance | Statewide policy sets probate hearings as remote by default, but the hearing notice controls. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/beltrami |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Beltrami County probate path, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, beneficiary designations and co-owned property. The right estate settlement route depends on what actually needs court authority, not just whether there is a will.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families look for accounts and balances before they spend time and money on the wrong filing. That asset picture also helps you decide whether an informal application, a formal petition, or a non-court transfer option is the practical next step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Beltrami County District Court at the Beltrami County Judicial Center in Bemidji serves probate filings for Beltrami County. That includes estate matters for decedents domiciled in Beltrami County at death, including Bemidji and Red Lake.
Beltrami County is part of the Ninth Judicial District with Norman, Polk, Marshall, Kittson, Red Lake, Roseau, Mahnomen, Pennington, Aitkin, Itasca, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Clearwater, Cass and Koochiching counties (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). The district has twenty-four judges and permanent chambers at Crookston, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids and International Falls, so a judge may serve more than one county even though venue is county-based.
For the first informal or formal probate proceeding, venue is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota, any county where the decedent had property at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201). For a determination of descent, Minnesota also allows filing in the county of the decedent's residence or a county where the property is located (Minn. Stat. § 525.31).
The jurisdiction process
- Decide whether the estate should start informally with an application to the probate registrar or formally with a petition to a judge. Informal probate seeks an administrative determination, while formal probate seeks a judicial determination with notice and a hearing.
- Choose the statewide PRO packet that fits the facts. Common starting forms include PRO802 for informal probate with a will, PRO702 for informal appointment without a will, PRO1202 for a formal case with a will, and PRO1102 for a formal case without a will.
- Prepare the asset and debt information required for Minnesota probate filings. A complete estate settlement plan should identify probate assets, non-probate assets, approximate indebtedness, heirs, devisees and any real estate that may need letters.
- File with the Court Administrator's office at the Beltrami County Judicial Center, 600 Minnesota Avenue NW, Suite 108, Bemidji, MN 56601-3068. A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail, and once that filer chooses eFile and eServe, later filings in the same case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Deposit the original will on paper if there is one. A copy may be submitted electronically, but the original will must be deposited with the court and is not an electronic filing item (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
- Pay the Beltrami County first estate paper cost of $320, current as of August 2026, which is the $310 fee under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Beltrami County's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09 and 134A.10.
- Complete the required notice steps. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons, and creditor notice is published under the direction of the Court Administrator's office in a legal newspaper in the county where the proceeding is pending.
- Watch for the hearing notice if the matter is set for hearing. Minnesota's statewide default for probate hearings is remote under Judicial Council Policy 525, but a judge may change the format and the hearing notice controls.
- After appointment, use the issued letters testamentary or letters of administration to collect assets, communicate with financial institutions, address creditor claims, manage property and distribute according to the will or Minnesota law.
- Close the estate using the correct Minnesota closing route. Informal unsupervised estates commonly close with PRO914 after the required administration steps, while formal or supervised matters may need a court order approving final settlement and distribution.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Beltrami County
Beltrami County publishes no local probate forms, packet or probate cover sheet. Probate filings in Beltrami County use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms, available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch probate forms page.
| Need | Common statewide forms |
|---|---|
| Informal case with a will | PRO801 instructions, PRO802 application, PRO803 affidavit of mailing |
| Informal case without a will | PRO701 instructions, PRO702 application, PRO703 affidavit of mailing |
| Formal case with a will | PRO1201 instructions, PRO1202 petition, PRO1203 affidavit of service |
| Formal case without a will | PRO1101 instructions, PRO1102 petition, PRO1103 affidavit of service |
| Accept appointment | PRO902 acceptance of appointment and oath by individual |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911 instructions, PRO914 unsupervised personal representative's statement to close estate, PRO915 affidavit of service, PRO916 receipt for assets by distributee |
| Ask to change hearing format | OTH1001 instructions and OTH1002 request for remote or in-person appearance |
The statewide PRO set is helpful but not complete for every possible probate step. If the estate needs a form that is not published, ask the Court Administrator's office about filing procedure or speak with a probate attorney.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Beltrami County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming whether the home passes outside probate or whether letters are needed for estate settlement. If a court administration is needed, file with the Court Administrator's office at the Beltrami County Judicial Center and plan for the $320 first estate paper cost, current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). If there is a will, the original paper will must reach the court. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues and debts before the spouse chooses a filing path, then prepares the probate packet for review and filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative in Minnesota (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or paper filing, and probate hearings are remote by statewide default unless the hearing notice says otherwise. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags whether court authority appears necessary, and helps the child decide whether travel to Bemidji is likely to be needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home is titled in the child's name and must be sold, the parent will usually need a court appointment and letters before a sale can close. File in Beltrami County if venue belongs there, budget for the $320 first estate paper cost, current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10), and expect creditor notice and real-estate documentation to be part of the administration. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare the court forms, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal review. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Beltrami County District Court | Filing location, phone, fax, hours and county court contact information for probate filings at the Beltrami County Judicial Center. | 600 Minnesota Avenue NW, Suite 108, Bemidji, MN 56601-3068. Phone: (218) 888-5060. Fax: (218) 364-8394. |
| Self-Help Center workstation | A courthouse workstation with a computer, phone and printer can be used to find legal information, print court forms and contact Self-Help Center staff. Self-help staff provide legal information, not legal advice. | Available at the Beltrami County Judicial Center. Statewide Self-Help Center phone: (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Justice North | Civil legal aid organization serving Beltrami County. It is the right first call to ask whether help is available, but its published case types do not list settling a decedent's estate. | 877-696-6529. Bemidji office: 215 4th St NW, Bemidji, MN 56601. |
| Anishinabe Legal Services | Provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income people on or near the Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth reservations, including assistance before tribal courts, state courts and agencies. | 1-800-422-1335. Offices in Red Lake, Cass Lake and White Earth. |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help | Statewide overview of probate, wills and estates. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate forms | Free statewide PRO forms and probate form packets. | https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Free case search, register of actions and public probate document access for filings on or after July 1, 2015. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
Many uncontested informal filings begin with statewide forms, but the Court Administrator's office, Self-Help Center staff and the probate registrar provide legal information rather than legal advice. A probate attorney is especially useful when Beltrami County real estate must be sold, an heir or creditor objects, the will is disputed, the estate may be insolvent, a minor or protected person is involved, or supervised administration is requested. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney when legal guidance is the safer path.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can build a clearer inventory before filing. A better inventory makes estate settlement faster and helps avoid opening the wrong kind of case.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into organized Minnesota probate paperwork for the route you choose. For Beltrami County, that means preparing documents for filing with the Court Administrator's office at the Beltrami County Judicial Center and flagging the original-will deposit step when a will exists.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, creditor issue or formal hearing needs legal review, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney who understands local filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset. The court's filing costs, publication costs, certified copies and attorney fees are separate expenses paid to the court, vendors or professionals.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Beltrami County?
File with the Court Administrator's office at the Beltrami County Judicial Center, 600 Minnesota Avenue NW, Suite 108, Bemidji, MN 56601-3068. The main phone number is (218) 888-5060.
What does it cost to open an estate in Beltrami County?
The first estate paper cost is $320, current as of August 2026. That total is the $310 fee under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Beltrami County's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09 and 134A.10.
Can I file probate papers on paper in Beltrami County, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail. If a self-represented filer chooses eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Can the original will be e-filed?
No. A copy of the will may be submitted electronically, but the original paper will must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
Does Beltrami County have its own probate forms?
Beltrami County publishes no local probate packet, cover sheet or county probate forms. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide PRO forms for the probate route you are filing.
Can I appear remotely for a Beltrami County probate hearing?
Minnesota's statewide policy sets probate hearings as remote by default, but that is not a promise about a specific hearing. Read the hearing notice. If you need a different format, use OTH1002 to ask the judge to change the appearance type.
Can I look up a Beltrami County estate case online?
Yes. Use Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, to search by party name, case number or attorney. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are downloadable at no charge, while older documents and confidential filings have limits.
Is the city of Red Lake part of Beltrami County for probate filing?
Yes, the city of Red Lake is in Beltrami County. Red Lake County is a separate county, so a Beltrami County estate is filed with the Beltrami County District Court in Bemidji when Beltrami County is the proper venue.
Where can I find legal help in Beltrami County?
Justice North is the civil legal aid provider serving Beltrami County and has a Bemidji office. Anishinabe Legal Services may also be relevant for eligible people on or near the Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth reservations. For legal information and forms, use the courthouse Self-Help Center workstation or call the Statewide Self-Help Center at (651) 435-6535.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.