Back to Minnesota
Clearwater County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Clearwater County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Clearwater County District Court |
| Facility | Clearwater County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | Ninth Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 213 Main Avenue #303, Bagley, MN 56621 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is published for the Clearwater County District Court. |
| Court Administrator's office phone | (218) 935-4020 |
| Fax | (218) 935-6489 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First-paper fee | $320, current as of August 2026, made up of the $310 district court filing fee plus Clearwater County's $10 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). |
| Local forms | No Clearwater County probate packet, local cover sheet, or local probate form is published. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms. |
| E-filing | eFile and eServe is mandatory for attorneys, government agencies, and guardians ad litem. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or may file on paper; after choosing eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case stay electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). |
| Original will | A copy may be sent electronically, but the paper original must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, MCRO, provides free case search and free public probate document downloads for public filings on or after July 1, 2015. |
| Remote appearance | Minnesota's statewide probate hearing default is remote under Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025. The hearing notice controls. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/clearwater |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Clearwater County, list the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, named beneficiaries, joint owners, and any accounts that may pass outside probate. Estate settlement starts with knowing what exists and what actually needs court authority.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find bank, investment, retirement, and insurance accounts before they prepare the Clearwater County filing packet. That inventory also helps decide whether you need an informal application, a formal petition, or attorney review before filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Clearwater County District Court serves probate matters filed in Clearwater County from the courthouse in Bagley. Clearwater County is in the Ninth Judicial District with Norman, Polk, Marshall, Kittson, Red Lake, Roseau, Mahnomen, Pennington, Aitkin, Itasca, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Beltrami, Lake of the Woods, Cass, and Koochiching counties (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). The Ninth Judicial District has 24 judges and permanent chambers at Crookston, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, and International Falls, so the judge assigned to a Clearwater County matter is not necessarily chambered in Bagley.
For an informal or formal probate proceeding, Minnesota venue is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota, any Minnesota county where the decedent had property at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201). For a determination of descent, venue may also be based on the county where the property, or any part of it, is located (Minn. Stat. § 525.31).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the probate route. An informal case starts with an application directed to the probate registrar. A formal case starts with a petition for a judge's decision. Use the formal route when a court determination is needed, when someone objects, or when the registrar cannot resolve the issue administratively.
- Select the statewide forms. For an informal matter with a will, start with PRO801 and PRO802. For an informal matter without a will, start with PRO701 and PRO702. For a formal matter, use the matching formal petition packet, such as PRO1201 and PRO1202 with a will or PRO1101 and PRO1102 without a will.
- Prepare the supporting documents. Gather the death record, the will if there is one, names and addresses of interested persons, approximate asset values, debts, and any nomination, renunciation, bond, or acceptance and oath forms needed for the proposed personal representative.
- File with the Court Administrator's office. File at the Clearwater County Courthouse, 213 Main Avenue #303, Bagley, MN 56621. A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail. Attorneys, government agencies, and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Deposit the original will on paper. If there is an original will, a copy may be sent electronically, but the paper original must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
- Pay the Clearwater County first-paper fee. The first-paper fee is $320, current as of August 2026, made up of the $310 district court filing fee plus Clearwater County's $10 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
- Complete notice. In a formal proceeding, give notice to interested persons as required by the probate rules. Notice to creditors is published once a week for two successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county under the direction of the Court Administrator, and the claims period runs from the published notice under Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. §§ 524.3-801, 524.3-803).
- Watch for the hearing notice. Informal matters may be handled by the probate registrar without a hearing. Formal matters require a judge's action. Minnesota's statewide default for probate hearings is remote under Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025, but the hearing notice tells you how to appear.
- Receive letters and administer the estate. After appointment, the personal representative receives letters testamentary if there is a will or letters of administration if there is no will. Use the letters to collect assets, communicate with financial institutions, handle creditor claims, and manage estate settlement.
- Close the estate. An unsupervised estate can close by sworn closing statement, PRO914, when the statewide timing and notice conditions are met. A formal closing uses a petition to allow the final account, settle, and distribute the estate, followed by any discharge request the court requires.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Clearwater County
Clearwater County publishes no local probate packet, local cover sheet, or local probate form for decedent estates. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms from the Minnesota Judicial Branch probate forms collection.
The statewide form set is useful but not complete for every probate step. Common starting points are PRO801 and PRO802 for informal probate with a will, PRO701 and PRO702 for informal appointment without a will, PRO1201 and PRO1202 for formal probate with a will, PRO1101 and PRO1102 for formal proceedings without a will, PRO902 for acceptance and oath, and PRO914 for an unsupervised closing statement.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Clearwater County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home passes outside probate or whether court authority is needed. If an administration is needed, file with the Court Administrator's office at the Clearwater County Courthouse in Bagley. The first-paper fee is $320, current as of August 2026, made up of the $310 district court filing fee plus Clearwater County's $10 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). If there is an original will, it must reach the court on paper. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, beneficiary designations, debts, and documents before the spouse chooses a filing path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). If a court case is needed, the adult child may use eFile and eServe or may file on paper. Probate hearings have a statewide remote default under Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025, but the hearing notice controls. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags accounts that may not need court authority, and helps prepare the packet for a self-represented filing or attorney review. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires careful review of title, letters, creditor notice, and any required court order. Plan for the Clearwater County first-paper fee of $320, current as of August 2026, under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), and Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. Certified copies are $14 each, current as of August 2026, under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2). Because no judge is chambered in Clearwater County, the hearing notice will tell you how to appear. | Sunset helps gather property, mortgage, tax, account, and debt information so the family can move from estate settlement planning to a filing strategy. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps Clearwater County families | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clearwater County District Court | Filing location, court contact, fax, hours, and county fee information for probate filings in Bagley. | 213 Main Avenue #303, Bagley, MN 56621. Phone (218) 935-4020. Fax (218) 935-6489. |
| Self-Help Center workstation | The Clearwater County courthouse has a workstation with a computer, phone, and printer for legal information, forms access, and contact with Self-Help Center staff. Self-Help Center staff provide legal information, not legal advice. | Statewide Self-Help Center: (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Justice North | Civil legal aid organization serving Clearwater County. Call to ask whether help is available for your situation; its published case types do not include estate administration for a decedent. | 877-MY-MN-LAW, 877-696-6529, or apply online at https://justicenorth.org/. |
| Anishinabe Legal Services | Additional legal resource for eligible people in its published primary service areas, which include the Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth reservations. Part of the White Earth Reservation lies within Clearwater County, so call to confirm eligibility and case priorities. | 1-800-422-1335 or 218-335-2223. Website: https://alslegal.org/. |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help | Statewide probate overview and links to statewide probate information. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate forms | Free statewide PRO forms used in Clearwater County, including informal, formal, objection, creditor claim, inventory, closing, and determination of descent packets. | https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Free search for Clearwater County estate cases by party name, attorney, or case number, plus free downloads of public probate documents for public filings on or after July 1, 2015. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
Minnesota allows self-represented probate filings, and the statewide PRO forms can support an uncontested informal matter. The Court Administrator's office, the probate registrar, and Self-Help Center staff cannot provide legal advice. A lawyer is especially useful when real estate must be sold, an heir or creditor objects, the will is disputed, the estate may be insolvent, or supervised administration is being considered. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help identify bank, investment, retirement, and insurance accounts, then organizes what was found for estate settlement planning.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into a Clearwater County-ready probate packet using Minnesota terminology, including personal representative, letters testamentary, letters of administration, and the statewide PRO forms.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a home sale, a dispute, a creditor problem, or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the next steps, organize documents, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Clearwater County?
File with the Court Administrator's office at the Clearwater County Courthouse, 213 Main Avenue #303, Bagley, MN 56621. The court phone number is (218) 935-4020, and the fax number is (218) 935-6489.
What does it cost to open an estate in Clearwater County?
The first-paper fee is $320, current as of August 2026. That is the $310 district court filing fee plus Clearwater County's $10 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
Can I file probate papers on paper in Clearwater County, or do I have to use eFile and eServe?
Attorneys, government agencies, and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe in Minnesota district court. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail. Once a self-represented filer chooses eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case stay electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Can the original will be e-filed?
No. A copy of the will may be sent electronically, but the paper original must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
Does Clearwater County have its own probate forms?
No Clearwater County local probate packet, local cover sheet, or local probate form is published. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms, including the informal, formal, objection, creditor claim, inventory, and closing packets.
Can I appear remotely for a Clearwater County probate hearing?
Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate hearings as remote by default, effective February 3, 2025, and remote hearings may use Zoom or telephone. That is a default, not a promise. The hearing notice controls, and a judge may allow or require a different appearance format.
Can I look up a Clearwater County estate case online?
Yes. Minnesota Court Records Online, MCRO, lets the public search by party name, business name, attorney, or case number. Public probate documents in public cases filed on or after July 1, 2015 are downloadable at no charge. Older filings are limited, and confidential filings are not displayed.
Do I have to travel to Bagley for a Clearwater County probate case?
Not always. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or may file on paper, and Minnesota's statewide probate hearing default is remote. Still, the court can require a different format, and the hearing notice tells you how to appear.
Where can I find legal help in Clearwater County?
Start with the Statewide Self-Help Center at (651) 435-6535 and the courthouse Self-Help Center workstation. Justice North is the civil legal aid organization serving Clearwater County, with intake at 877-696-6529. Anishinabe Legal Services is also a resource to call for eligible people in its primary service areas, including the White Earth Reservation area.
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.