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Dakota County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Dakota County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Dakota County District Court, First Judicial District |
| Primary probate location | Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Mailing address | Dakota County District Court, Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Other court locations | Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Ave. West, Apple Valley, MN 55124; Northern Service Center, 1 West Mendota Rd., Ste. 140, West St. Paul, MN 55118. The court publishes probate, mental health and adoption contacts for Hastings. |
| Phone | Probate, mental health and adoption line: (651) 377-7974. Judicial Center main line: (651) 377-7180. |
| Fax | Probate, mental health and adoption fax: (651) 437-2346 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at all three Dakota County court locations, closed on court holidays |
| First paper fee | $325 as published August 2026, made up of the $310 statutory fee and Dakota County's $15 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10) |
| Local forms | No Dakota County probate forms or local probate cover sheet. Use the statewide Minnesota PRO forms. |
| E-filing | E-filing through eFile and eServe is mandatory for attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem, and optional for self-represented filers, who may also file on paper at the Judicial Center in Hastings or by mail. Once a self-represented filer chooses e-filing in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, with free public document downloads for public probate filings from July 1, 2015 forward. Older filings are limited, confidential documents are not shown, and courthouse terminals provide the most complete access. |
| Remote appearance | Probate hearings are remote by statewide default under Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025, but the hearing notice controls and a judicial officer may set a different appearance type. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/dakota |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start the estate settlement by building a complete list of assets, debts and possible non-probate transfers. Minnesota asks for that picture on the opening paperwork because an informal application must list approximate probate assets, non-probate assets and indebtedness by category (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 408(a)).
In Dakota County, also decide before filing which location you need. The county has court locations in Hastings, Apple Valley and West St. Paul, but probate contacts are published for the Judicial Center in Hastings. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, so the estate settlement starts with a clearer asset picture before the packet is prepared.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Dakota County probate matter in the Dakota County District Court, through the Court Administrator's office at the Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. The court publishes three Dakota County locations, but the probate, mental health and adoption contact line is listed for Hastings.
Dakota County is in Minnesota's First Judicial District with Goodhue, Carver, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott and Sibley Counties. The district has permanent chambers in Hastings, Red Wing, Shakopee and Glencoe under Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1, and judges may serve matters across the district. That district structure does not change venue: the first informal or formal appointment proceeding is filed in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota, in any county where the decedent had property at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201(a)). For a later determination of descent, Minnesota also allows filing in the county of residence or where the property is located (Minn. Stat. § 525.31).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm Dakota County is the right venue. Use Dakota County if the decedent was domiciled there at death, or if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota but had property in Dakota County at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201(a)).
- Inventory the estate before choosing the route. Minnesota's informal application asks for the approximate value of probate assets, non-probate assets and debts by category, so the asset work should come before the first form is filed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 408(a)).
- Choose informal or formal probate. An informal application goes to the probate registrar and seeks an administrative determination without prior notice or a hearing. A formal petition goes to a district court judge and seeks a judicial determination with notice to interested persons (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(a), (b); Minn. Stat. § 524.1-307).
- Prepare the statewide forms. Dakota County publishes no local probate form or local cover sheet. Informal probate with a will generally starts with PRO801, PRO802 and PRO803; informal probate without a will starts with PRO701, PRO702 and PRO703; formal probate with a will starts with PRO1201, PRO1202 and PRO1203; formal probate without a will starts with PRO1101, PRO1102 and PRO1103.
- Deposit the original will if there is one. A copy of a will may be e-filed, but the original paper will cannot be filed electronically and must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2); Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 403(e)).
- File at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings or use eFile and eServe if allowed. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem must e-file. A self-represented personal representative may e-file voluntarily or file on paper at the Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033, or by mail to the same address (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Pay the first paper fee. In Dakota County, the first paper in an estate costs $325 as published August 2026: the $310 statutory fee plus Dakota County's $15 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). The fee is charged once on the first paper, is payable in advance, and a filer who cannot afford court fees may ask the court to reduce or waive fees (Minn. Stat. §§ 357.021, subd. 3; 563.01).
- Complete the required notice. Informal probate is granted without prior notice, but the forms include an affidavit of mailing. Formal probate requires notice to interested persons before the hearing, and formal testacy proceedings require proof of publication before the order will issue (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 404(b)).
- Follow the hearing notice. Minnesota's statewide default for probate hearings is remote, and remote hearings use Zoom or telephone, but the hearing notice controls and a judge may set a different appearance type. Use OTH1002 to ask for a different appearance type. Dakota County publishes remote-hearing stations at Self-Help Desks in Hastings, Apple Valley and West St. Paul.
- Get certified copies of the letters. Appointment produces letters testamentary if there is a will and letters of administration if there is not. Banks, title companies and buyers often ask for certified copies, and a certified copy of any instrument costs $14 as published August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)).
- Administer and close the estate. Informal closing is by sworn statement on PRO914, with the inventory, final account, affidavit of service and receipts. Formal settlement uses a petition to allow the final account, settle and distribute the estate, followed by discharge paperwork. If a self-represented filer e-filed earlier in the case, later filings in the same case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Dakota County
Dakota County publishes no local probate forms and no local probate cover sheet. Its probate listing points to the Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help topic and the statewide probate forms index, so a Dakota County filer uses the statewide PRO forms.
| Task | Common statewide forms |
|---|---|
| Learn the process | PRO101 Information about Probate in Minnesota; PRO908 Responsibilities of Personal Representatives |
| Start informal probate with a will | PRO801 instructions; PRO802 application; PRO803 affidavit of mailing |
| Start informal probate without a will | PRO701 instructions; PRO702 application; PRO703 affidavit of mailing |
| Start formal probate with a will | PRO1201 instructions; PRO1202 petition; PRO1203 affidavit of service |
| Start formal probate without a will | PRO1101 instructions; PRO1102 petition; PRO1103 affidavit of service |
| Qualify after appointment | PRO901 nomination or renunciation and bond; PRO902 acceptance and oath |
| Inventory and account | PRO912 inventory; PRO913 final account and proposal for distribution |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911 instructions; PRO914 statement to close; PRO915 affidavit of service; PRO916 receipt |
| Ask to change appearance type | OTH1001 instructions; OTH1002 request for remote or in-person appearance |
The Judicial Branch groups many of these into packets, which is usually easier than starting from a single PDF. The statewide set does not include every possible probate document, so contested, supervised or unusual estate settlement work should be reviewed before filing.
Local nuance
Dakota County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Three court locations, one published probate contact location | Dakota County has court locations in Hastings, Apple Valley and West St. Paul. The court publishes probate, mental health and adoption contacts for the Judicial Center in Hastings, so a probate filer should use Hastings unless the court gives a different instruction. |
| Dedicated probate line | The published Dakota County line for probate, mental health and adoption matters is (651) 377-7974, with fax (651) 437-2346. The Judicial Center main number is (651) 377-7180. |
| Dakota County Law Library | The law library is inside the Judicial Center in Hastings, with a branch inside the Galaxie Library in Apple Valley. The Hastings location is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, but lunch-hour closures and special trainings are posted, and questions can go to 651-438-8080. The county's $15 law library fee is collected with the first paper under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10, as published August 2026. |
| Remote-hearing stations | Dakota County publishes technology, Wi-Fi and stations for attending remote hearings at Self-Help Desks in Hastings, Apple Valley and West St. Paul, plus reservable options at the law library and several county libraries. |
| Continuance policy | Dakota County District Court's continuance policy, effective September 22, 2022, says continuance requests are closely scrutinized and granted only for good cause. If a probate hearing date has to move, use the court's published continuance process rather than assuming agreement between parties is enough. |
| Exhibits for contested hearings | Dakota County's exhibit order, effective January 1, 2025 and amended August 13, 2025, requires proposed exhibits for contested hearings, evidentiary hearings and trials to be exchanged and uploaded through the Minnesota Digital Exhibit System by the stated deadline. A contested probate hearing should be prepared with that order in mind. |
| Security screening | Visitors complete security screening before entering any Dakota County courthouse. Build in time if you are bringing original documents to Hastings. |
Recent updates
| Update | Date | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Dakota County exhibit order | Effective January 1, 2025; amended August 13, 2025 | Parties preparing for contested hearings, evidentiary hearings and trials in Dakota County must follow the county's exhibit-list and digital-exhibit requirements. |
| Dakota County continuance policy | Effective September 22, 2022 | The court states that continuance requests are closely scrutinized and granted only for good cause, and it identifies reasons that generally do not justify a continuance. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Open the case at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings. If the matter qualifies for the informal route, the application goes to the probate registrar as an administrative determination rather than to a judge for a noticed hearing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(b)). The first paper costs $325 as published August 2026, made up of the $310 statutory fee and Dakota County's $15 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). If Dakota County real estate has to be transferred after an informal appointment, thirty days must pass after letters are issued before a certified copy of unrestricted letters is given to a purchaser or distributee of real property (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)). Certified copies cost $14 as published August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)). | Sunset traces accounts and title first, so the spouse knows what is in the estate and what passed outside it before forms go to Hastings. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe from outside Minnesota or file on paper by mail to Dakota County District Court, Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). The statewide default for probate hearings is remote, though the hearing notice controls. The original will, if any, must physically reach the court because it cannot be e-filed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2); Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 403(e)). | Sunset builds the asset picture and the packet remotely, so an out-of-state child is not traveling to Hastings just to learn what the filing was missing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Open the estate at the Judicial Center in Hastings and plan around letters testamentary or letters of administration, because buyers, title companies and lenders often ask for certified copies. Certified copies cost $14 as published August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)). If the appointment was informal, thirty days must pass after letters issue before a certified copy of unrestricted letters is given to a purchaser or distributee of real property (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)). If the sale or the heirs become contested, Dakota County's exhibit order and continuance policy may affect hearing preparation. | Sunset finds debts, accounts and liens before the house is priced, so a parent is not discovering them at the closing table. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Dakota County |
|---|---|
| Self-Help Center workstations | Workstations are available at Dakota County court locations. Dakota County also publishes Self-Help Desk stations for remote hearings at the Judicial Center in Hastings, the Western Service Center in Apple Valley and the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Call (651) 435-6535, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed court holidays. Staff provide legal information and resources by phone and email, not legal advice. |
| Dakota County Law Library | Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, phone 651-438-8080, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with posted lunch-hour and training closures. A branch is inside the Galaxie Library in Apple Valley, and a law librarian is available on the same weekday schedule. |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | SMRLS is the civil legal aid organization serving Dakota County. Intake is 1-877-696-6529. Its published case types do not include settling a decedent's estate, but it is the right first call to ask whether help is available. |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Search Dakota County estate cases by name or case number, view the register of actions and download public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 at no charge. |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate resources | The statewide probate help topic and probate forms index provide the Minnesota PRO forms used in Dakota County. |
When to hire an attorney
A Dakota County estate is a good candidate for counsel when heirs disagree, the will is ambiguous or damaged, the estate may be insolvent, a business interest is involved, a lawyer is serving as personal representative and supervision is required under Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 414, or a house must be sold on a tight timeline. The probate registrar cannot resolve disputes because the registrar is not empowered to issue orders resolving conflicts related to estate administration (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 415(a)(4)), so a real disagreement usually means a formal proceeding before a judge. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps identify accounts, insurance, property and debts before the Dakota County packet is built. That matters because Minnesota's opening paperwork asks for asset categories and indebtedness, and good estate settlement work starts with the facts.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps assemble the Minnesota PRO forms that match the Dakota County path, including informal or formal opening paperwork, notices, inventory and closing documents. The packet is organized for eFile and eServe or for paper filing at the Judicial Center in Hastings.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate settlement involves a dispute, real estate sale, business interest or formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted attorney familiar with Minnesota probate practice and the First Judicial District.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, generate documents and get matched with help without paying Sunset a platform fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Dakota County?
File with the Court Administrator's office at the Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. Dakota County has three court locations, but the court publishes probate, mental health and adoption contacts for the Hastings Judicial Center. A self-represented personal representative may file on paper in Hastings or by mail, and attorneys file through eFile and eServe.
What is the phone number for probate in Dakota County?
The court publishes (651) 377-7974 for probate, mental health and adoption matters at the Judicial Center in Hastings, with fax (651) 437-2346. The Judicial Center main line is (651) 377-7180.
How much does it cost to start probate in Dakota County?
The first paper in an estate costs $325 as published August 2026. That is the $310 statutory fee plus Dakota County's $15 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). The amount is the same for an informal application and a formal petition, and it is charged once on the first paper. A filer who cannot afford court fees may ask the court to reduce or waive fees.
What are the court hours in Dakota County?
All three Dakota County court locations are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed on court holidays. Visitors complete security screening before entering a Dakota County courthouse.
Can I e-file a probate case in Dakota County?
Yes. E-filing through eFile and eServe is mandatory for attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem, and a self-represented personal representative may choose to use it (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). A self-represented filer may also file on paper at the Judicial Center in Hastings or by mail. Once a self-represented filer e-files in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic. The original will cannot be e-filed, although a copy may be e-filed while the original paper document is deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2); Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 403(e)).
Does Dakota County have its own probate forms?
No. Dakota County publishes no local probate forms and no local probate cover sheet. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide PRO forms. Informal probate with a will generally starts with PRO802, without a will with PRO702, and the formal petitions are PRO1202 and PRO1102.
Will my Dakota County probate hearing be remote or in person?
Minnesota's statewide Remote and In-person Hearings Policy sets probate hearings as remote by default, and remote hearings run by Zoom or telephone (Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025). That is a default, not a guarantee. The hearing notice controls, and a judicial officer may set a different appearance type. Dakota County publishes remote-hearing stations at Self-Help Desks in Hastings, Apple Valley and West St. Paul.
How do I look up a Dakota County probate case?
Use Minnesota Court Records Online. It searches by party name, business name, attorney or case number and shows the register of actions. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 can be downloaded at no charge. Older filings are limited, confidential and sealed material is not shown, and courthouse public access terminals provide the most complete access. Dakota County also posts a daily public calendar for the Hastings location at 7:00 p.m. for the next day's hearings and updates it hourly during business hours.
Do I have to travel to Hastings to settle a Dakota County estate?
Often, not for every step. A nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)), filings can be e-filed or mailed, probate hearings are remote by statewide default, and the case can be followed online. The original will, if there is one, must physically reach the court. If you do come in, use the Judicial Center in Hastings for probate matters.
Who decides an informal probate application in Dakota County?
The probate registrar decides an informal application as an administrative determination, without prior notice and without a hearing (Minn. Stat. § 524.1-307; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(b)). A formal petition is a judicial determination after notice (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(a)). The registrar cannot resolve disputes between heirs or devisees, so a disputed case generally belongs on the formal path.
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.