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Fillmore County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Fillmore County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Fillmore County District Court |
| Facility | Fillmore County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | Third Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 101 Fillmore Street E., Preston, MN 55965 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published for the court; contact the Court Administrator's office before mailing a time-sensitive filing. |
| Court Administrator's office phone | (507) 765-6021 |
| Fax | (507) 765-5228 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First-paper fee | $315 ($310 filing fee plus Fillmore County's $5 law library fee), current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). |
| Local forms | Fillmore County publishes no local probate forms or local cover sheet. Use the statewide PRO forms that fit the case. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFS or paper filing, but once that filer uses eFS in the case, later filings in that case stay electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). |
| Original will | 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)). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, called MCRO, provides free case lookup and free public probate document downloads for public filings on or after July 1, 2015. |
| Remote appearance | Statewide policy sets probate hearings as remote by default, but the hearing notice controls and the judge may set a different format. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/fillmore |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a form or filing track in Fillmore County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations, co-owned property and likely creditors. Minnesota forms ask for asset and debt information, and the choice between an informal application and a formal petition depends on whether the file can be handled administratively by the probate registrar or needs a judge.
Sunset can support estate settlement before filing by helping families search for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions, organize what was found, and turn that information into a probate packet for the Fillmore County District Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Fillmore County District Court at the Fillmore County Courthouse in Preston serves probate matters filed in Fillmore County. Minnesota 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 county where the decedent had property at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201).
Fillmore County is part of the Third Judicial District with Wabasha, Winona, Houston, Rice, Olmsted, Dodge, Steele, Waseca, Freeborn and Mower counties (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). The district has permanent chambers at Faribault, Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester and Winona, so judges may travel within the district and a Fillmore County hearing notice is the document that tells you how to appear.
For a determination of descent, Minnesota uses a wider venue rule: an interested person may petition in the county of the decedent's residence or in a county where the property, or part of it, is located (Minn. Stat. § 525.31).
The jurisdiction process
- Decide whether the filing is an informal application to the probate registrar or a formal petition to a district court judge. Informal probate seeks an administrative determination without prior notice and hearing, while formal probate seeks a judicial determination with notice (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402).
- Choose the statewide PRO forms that match the facts. Common starting points are PRO802 with a will, PRO702 without a will, PRO1202 for formal probate with a will, and PRO1102 for formal adjudication of intestacy and appointment.
- Prepare the supporting documents, including the death record, the will if there is one, nominations or renunciations if needed, and the acceptance and oath for the proposed personal representative. The original paper will must be deposited with the court even when a copy is submitted electronically (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
- File with the Court Administrator's office for the Fillmore County District Court at the Fillmore County Courthouse, 101 Fillmore Street E., Preston, MN 55965. A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail; once a self-represented filer chooses eFS in that case, later filings in that case stay electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Pay the first-paper fee of $315, current as of August 2026. That amount is the $310 statutory filing fee plus Fillmore County's $5 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
- If the case is formal, arrange the required notice and follow the court's hearing notice. Notice rules differ from an informal application because a formal proceeding is before a judge (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402, 404).
- Check the hearing notice for appearance instructions. Minnesota's statewide policy sets probate hearings as remote by default, but the judge may change the format for the case, and you may request a different appearance format using form OTH1002.
- After appointment, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration as the authority document for the personal representative. Those letters allow the personal representative to gather assets, communicate with institutions and continue estate settlement work.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, giving required notices, handling creditor claims, keeping records, paying valid expenses and preparing distributions under the will or Minnesota law.
- Close the estate using the correct path. An informal estate commonly closes with PRO914, the unsupervised personal representative's statement to close estate; a formal closing uses a petition to allow the final account, settle and distribute estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Fillmore County
Fillmore County publishes no local probate forms, local probate packet or local cover sheet for estate filings. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms and choose the packet that matches the filing track.
| Need | Common statewide forms |
|---|---|
| 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 as personal representative | PRO901 nomination or renunciation and bond, when needed, and PRO902 acceptance and oath |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911 instructions, PRO914 statement to close estate, PRO915 affidavit of service, PRO916 receipt for assets |
| Ask for a different hearing format | OTH1001 instructions and OTH1002 request for remote or in-person appearance |
The statewide probate form set is useful but not complete for every possible estate. If the forms do not fit, ask the Self-Help Center for legal information or talk with a Minnesota probate attorney.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Fillmore County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First identify whether the home passes outside probate or whether an estate filing is needed in the Fillmore County District Court. If filing is needed, the Court Administrator's office in Preston receives the papers, the first-paper fee is $315 current as of August 2026, and the original will must be deposited on paper even when other documents are submitted through eFS (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). | Sunset helps identify accounts, real estate information, debts and beneficiary-designated assets 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)). The child may file through eFile and eServe or use paper filing, and any hearing notice will explain whether the appearance is remote, in person or hybrid. | Sunset organizes the asset picture, prepares the probate packet when a court filing is needed, and helps the family avoid unnecessary travel when the court permits remote participation. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means careful attention to appointment, letters testamentary or letters of administration, creditor notice and title documents. File in Fillmore County if venue belongs there under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201, plan for the $315 first-paper fee current as of August 2026, and follow the hearing notice because the assigned judge is not necessarily chambered in Preston (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the court packet and connect the parent with a probate attorney when a sale, creditor issue or family disagreement makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Fillmore County District Court | Provides the local filing address, phone, fax and business hours for probate filings in Preston. | 101 Fillmore Street E., Preston, MN 55965; (507) 765-6021; https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/fillmore |
| Self-Help Center workstation | The Fillmore County Courthouse has a workstation with a computer, phone and printer for people representing themselves. Self-Help Center staff provide legal information, not legal advice. | Use the courthouse workstation during courthouse hours. |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Provides legal information and resources by phone and email for people representing themselves. | (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | Civil legal aid organization serving Fillmore County. It is a first call to ask what help may be available, but its published case types do not include estate settlement for a decedent's estate. | Intake 1-877-696-6529; existing cases (651) 222-5863; https://smrls.org/ |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help and forms | Provides a statewide probate overview and free statewide PRO probate forms. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates and https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Searches Fillmore County estate cases by name or case number and provides free downloads of public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
Many uncontested Fillmore County informal filings can begin with statewide PRO forms and self-help legal information, but the Court Administrator's office, Self-Help Center staff and the probate registrar cannot give legal advice. Counsel makes sense when real property must be sold, an heir or creditor objects, the will is disputed, the estate may be insolvent, the forms do not fit, or supervised administration is being considered. 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, insurers and account sources so the family can start estate settlement with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Minnesota probate packet for the filing path that fits, including the Fillmore County courthouse details and the statewide forms that apply.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, creditor conflict, a will dispute or a formal hearing, Sunset helps connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize assets, understand next steps and move estate settlement forward without paying Sunset for the core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Fillmore County?
File with the Court Administrator's office for the Fillmore County District Court at the Fillmore County Courthouse, 101 Fillmore Street E., Preston, MN 55965. The office phone is (507) 765-6021.
What does it cost to open an estate in Fillmore County?
The first-paper fee is $315, current as of August 2026. That is the $310 filing fee plus Fillmore County's $5 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
Can I file probate papers on paper in Fillmore County, or do I have to use eFS?
Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFS or paper filing. If a self-represented filer chooses eFS in the case, later filings in that case must continue through eFS (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 Fillmore County have its own probate forms?
Fillmore County publishes no local probate forms, packet or cover sheet for estate filings. Use the statewide Minnesota PRO forms, and get legal advice if the statewide forms do not fit the situation.
Can I appear remotely for a Fillmore County probate hearing?
Minnesota's statewide Remote and In-person Hearings Policy sets the default appearance type for probate hearings at remote, but that is not a guarantee. The judge may set a different format, and your hearing notice controls. If you need a different appearance format, use form OTH1002.
Can I look up a Fillmore County estate case online?
Yes. Use Minnesota Court Records Online, called MCRO, to search by name or case number. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally downloadable at no charge, while older filings are limited and confidential documents are not shown.
Where can I find legal help in Fillmore County?
Start with the courthouse Self-Help Center workstation or the Statewide Self-Help Center at (651) 435-6535 for legal information. Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services is the civil legal aid organization serving Fillmore County, and its intake number is 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.