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Dodge County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Dodge County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Dodge County District Court |
| Judicial district | Third Judicial District |
| Courthouse | Dodge County Courthouse, 22 Sixth Street East, Mantorville, MN 55955 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse address unless the Court Administrator's office gives a different mailing instruction for your filing. |
| Phone | (507) 624-7010 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First paper cost | $320 ($310 filing fee plus Dodge County's $10 law library fee), current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). |
| Local forms | Dodge County publishes no local probate forms. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem must use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or may file on paper, but once that filer chooses eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online searches Dodge County estate cases by name or case number and provides free public probate document access for filings on or after July 1, 2015. |
| Remote appearance | Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate hearings as remote by default, but the hearing notice controls and a judicial officer may change the appearance format. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/dodge |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate route in Dodge County, make a working list of the decedent's probate assets, nonprobate transfers, debts, likely creditors, real estate and known heirs or devisees. Minnesota informal applications require asset and debt information, and a formal petition can take a different path if there is a dispute, a missing heir, real estate that must be sold, or a question about the will.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then turns that information into the forms, notices and attorney handoff a Dodge County family needs. That front-end inventory helps you avoid opening the wrong case or missing an account that changes the estate plan.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Dodge County District Court serves probate matters venued in Dodge County, including estates tied to Mantorville and the rest of Dodge County. Venue for the first informal or formal probate proceeding 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).
Dodge County is in the Third Judicial District with Wabasha, Winona, Houston, Rice, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca, Freeborn, Mower and Fillmore counties (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). The district has permanent chambers at Faribault, Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester and Winona, so the judge assigned to a Dodge County probate matter is not necessarily chambered in Mantorville.
If the estate is old enough for a determination of descent, Minnesota gives that proceeding its own venue rule: an interested person may petition in the county of the decedent's residence or in a county where the property is located (Minn. Stat. § 525.31).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the route before you file. In Minnesota, an informal probate starts with an application to the probate registrar for an administrative determination, while a formal probate starts with a petition to a judge for a judicial determination (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402).
- Select the statewide PRO packet that matches the case. Common openers are PRO802 for an informal case with a will, PRO702 for an informal case without a will, PRO1202 for a formal case with a will, and PRO1102 for a formal case without a will.
- Prepare the asset, debt and family information required by the forms. Minnesota probate applications require information about probate assets, nonprobate assets and approximate indebtedness, and they must list the heirs or devisees required by the rules (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 408).
- File with the Court Administrator's office at the Dodge County Courthouse in Mantorville. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail (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 paper will must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
- Pay the Dodge County first-paper cost. The amount is $320, current as of August 2026, made up of the $310 filing fee and Dodge County's $10 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
- Complete notice and hearing steps for the route you chose. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons, and formal testacy proceedings require publication as directed by the Court Administrator's office (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 404; Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801).
- Check the hearing notice for appearance instructions. Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate hearings as remote by default, but a judicial officer may change the format, and the notice controls.
- After appointment, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration and administer the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, handles claims, follows any medical assistance notice requirements that apply, distributes property and closes the estate under the Minnesota procedure that fits the case.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Dodge County
Dodge County publishes no local probate forms, cover sheet or county packet for decedent estates. Use the statewide Minnesota Judicial Branch PRO forms for probate filings in the Dodge County District Court.
| Need | Common statewide forms |
|---|---|
| General orientation | PRO101 and PRO908 |
| Open informally with a will | PRO801, PRO802 and PRO803 |
| Open informally without a will | PRO701, PRO702 and PRO703 |
| Open formally with a will | PRO1201, PRO1202 and PRO1203 |
| Open formally without a will | PRO1101, PRO1102 and PRO1103 |
| Accept appointment | PRO902, and PRO901 if a nomination, renunciation or bond document is needed |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911, PRO914, PRO915 and PRO916 |
| Request a different hearing format | OTH1001 and OTH1002 |
The statewide PRO set is useful, but it is not a complete form set for every probate situation. If the estate needs supervised administration, summary proceedings, contested relief or custom orders, get legal advice before filing.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Archetype | Likely Dodge County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming whether a court estate is needed at all and whether the home is probate property. If an administration is needed, file with the Court Administrator's office at the Dodge County Courthouse and plan for the $320 first-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 be deposited with the court. | Sunset identifies accounts, flags real estate issues for attorney review and helps assemble the Minnesota packet for estate settlement. |
| out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Minnesota allows a nonresident personal representative to be appointed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or file on paper, and Policy 525 sets probate hearings as remote by default, with the hearing notice controlling. | Sunset helps collect account information, organize family details and connect you with a Minnesota attorney if the case cannot stay informal. |
| parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Expect a court administration if the home is probate property. The Dodge County first-paper cost is $320, current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10), and any hearing notice will tell you whether to appear remotely or in person. | Sunset builds the asset list, prepares the probate packet and routes real estate sale questions to a vetted probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge County District Court | Receives Dodge County probate filings through the Court Administrator's office and provides courthouse contact information. | Dodge County Courthouse, 22 Sixth Street East, Mantorville, MN 55955; (507) 624-7010; https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/dodge |
| Self-Help Center workstation | Dodge County courthouse users may use a workstation with a computer, phone and printer to access legal information, print forms and contact Self-Help Center staff. | Available at the courthouse during court hours. |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Provides legal information and resources for people representing themselves. Self-Help Center staff do not give legal advice. | (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | Civil legal aid provider for Dodge County. It is the right first call to ask whether help is available, but its published case types do not include settling a decedent's estate. | 1-877-696-6529; existing cases (651) 222-5863; https://smrls.org/ |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help and forms | Statewide probate overview and free statewide PRO forms. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates and https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Searches Dodge County estate cases and provides free public probate document downloads for filings on or after July 1, 2015. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
Self-represented probate filings are permitted in Minnesota, and the statewide PRO forms plus the Dodge County courthouse workstation can support an uncontested informal filing. The Court Administrator's office, Self-Help Center staff and the probate registrar cannot give legal advice (Minn. Stat. § 524.1-307). A lawyer makes sense when real property must be sold, an heir or creditor objects, a will is disputed, the estate may be insolvent, a minor or special-needs beneficiary is involved, or supervised administration may be needed. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can find accounts, insurance, investments and other assets before choosing a probate route. That asset map is the foundation for estate settlement in Dodge County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family information, asset list and court route into a Minnesota probate packet using the statewide PRO forms that fit the case.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, disputes, missing heirs, creditor issues or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and attorney help is optional when the case needs legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Dodge County?
File with the Court Administrator's office for the Dodge County District Court at the Dodge County Courthouse, 22 Sixth Street East, Mantorville, MN 55955. The phone number is (507) 624-7010.
What does it cost to open an estate in Dodge County?
The first-paper cost is $320, current as of August 2026. That amount is the $310 filing fee plus Dodge 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 Dodge County, or do I have to use eFile and eServe?
Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem must use eFile and eServe. 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 must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Can the original will be sent electronically?
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 Dodge County have its own probate forms?
No local Dodge County probate forms are published. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms, including the informal, formal, appointment and closing forms that match the estate.
Can I appear remotely for a Dodge County probate hearing?
Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate hearings as remote by default, usually through Zoom or telephone. That is not a guarantee. A judicial officer may change the format, and your hearing notice controls. If the notice does not fit your situation, form OTH1002 is the statewide request form for a different appearance format.
Can I look up a Dodge County estate case online?
Yes. Minnesota Court Records Online lets you search by name or case number and view the register of actions. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are downloadable at no charge, while older filings are limited and confidential filings are not shown online.
Do I have to travel to Mantorville to handle a Dodge County estate?
It depends on the filing method and any hearing notice. A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or file on paper, including by mail if the Court Administrator's office accepts the filing that way. If a hearing is scheduled, follow the appearance instructions in the notice.
Where can I find legal help in Dodge County?
The Statewide Self-Help Center provides legal information at (651) 435-6535, and a Self-Help Center workstation is available at the Dodge County Courthouse. Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services is the civil legal aid provider for Dodge County and can be reached at 1-877-696-6529, but its published case types do not include settling a decedent's estate.
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.