Back to Minnesota
Goodhue County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Goodhue County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Goodhue County District Court |
| Facility | Goodhue County Justice Center |
| Judicial district | First Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 454 West Sixth Street, Red Wing, MN 55066 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use the Justice Center address, or contact court administration before mailing a filing. |
| Court Administrator's office phone | (651) 267-4800 |
| Fax | (651) 267-4342 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed holidays |
| First-paper fee | $323 as of August 2026, made up of the $310 filing fee plus Goodhue County's $13 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10) |
| Local forms | No local probate forms are published for Goodhue County. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented personal representative may choose eFile and eServe or file on paper, but once that filer uses eFS in a case, later filings in that case continue through eFS (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online searches Goodhue County estate cases. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are downloadable at no charge, subject to confidentiality rules. |
| Remote appearance | Probate is remote by default under Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025, but the hearing notice controls and the judge may set a different appearance format. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/goodhue |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Goodhue County, make a practical inventory of the decedent's probate assets, non-probate assets, debts, real estate, and any original will. Minnesota probate forms ask for approximate asset categories, so the estate settlement process goes more smoothly when account balances, titles, beneficiary designations, and creditor information are gathered first.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect whether a Goodhue County filing is needed. That information also helps prepare the local filing packet for the Court Administrator's office at the Goodhue County Justice Center.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Goodhue County District Court serves estate cases filed in Goodhue County at the Goodhue County Justice Center in Red Wing. Goodhue County is part of Minnesota's First Judicial District with Dakota, Carver, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley counties. Minnesota law places 36 judges in that district and names permanent chambers at Red Wing, Hastings, Shakopee, Glencoe, and one additional location designated by the chief judge (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1).
For a decedent's estate, venue is usually Goodhue County if the decedent was domiciled in Goodhue County at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota, venue can be any Minnesota county where the decedent had property at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201). For a determination of descent after an estate was never opened, venue can also be the county of residence or a county where the property is located (Minn. Stat. § 525.31).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening track. Use an informal application when the matter can be handled by the probate registrar as an administrative determination, or a formal petition when a judge needs to make a judicial determination with notice and a hearing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402).
- Start with the statewide forms. For an informal case, use the appropriate PRO application packet for a will or no will. For a formal case, use the appropriate PRO petition packet for a will or no will. Goodhue County does not publish a local probate cover sheet or local probate forms.
- Handle the original will correctly. A copy of a will may be submitted electronically, but the original will cannot be e-filed. The original paper will must be promptly deposited with the court when required by the probate rules (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
- File with the right office. File at the Court Administrator's office for the Goodhue County District Court, Goodhue County Justice Center, 454 West Sixth Street, Red Wing, MN 55066, or use eFile and eServe if you are filing electronically. If you need to send paper filings rather than bring them to the counter, contact court administration for mailing instructions.
- Pay the first-paper fee or request a waiver if eligible. The first paper filed in a Goodhue County estate costs $323 as of August 2026, consisting of the $310 filing fee and Goodhue County's $13 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
- Give required notice. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons, and formal testacy proceedings include publication as required by the probate rules. Informal proceedings do not require prior notice and hearing, but later mailings and notices may still be required depending on the filing path.
- Watch for hearing information. Goodhue County does not publish a probate hearing day or local setting window. If a hearing is scheduled, use the date, time, and appearance instructions on the notice from the court.
- Use the remote-appearance rule carefully. Minnesota's statewide default for probate hearings is remote under Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025, but the hearing notice controls. If the notice gives an appearance method that does not work, use form OTH1002 to ask the judge for a different format.
- Receive letters and administer the estate. If the application or petition is granted and you accept appointment, the court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. The personal representative then identifies assets, handles creditor issues, keeps records, and distributes property according to the authority granted.
- Close the estate settlement properly. Informal estates close with the sworn closing-statement process when the statewide timing requirements are met. Formal settlement or supervised administration uses a court order, final account, distribution, and discharge process when those steps are required.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Goodhue County
Goodhue County does not publish local probate forms, a local probate packet, or a local probate cover sheet. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch's statewide PRO probate forms for common estate filings, and remember that the statewide form set does not cover every possible probate step.
| Need | Statewide form path |
|---|---|
| General orientation | PRO101 Information about Probate in Minnesota and PRO908 Responsibilities of Personal Representatives |
| Informal opening with a will | PRO801 instructions, PRO802 application, and PRO803 affidavit of mailing |
| Informal opening without a will | PRO701 instructions, PRO702 application, and PRO703 affidavit of mailing |
| Formal opening with a will | PRO1201 instructions, PRO1202 petition, and PRO1203 affidavit of service |
| Formal opening without a will | PRO1101 instructions, PRO1102 petition, and PRO1103 affidavit of service |
| Acceptance and appointment papers | PRO901 nomination, renunciation and bond form, and PRO902 acceptance and oath |
| Inventory, account, and informal close | PRO912 inventory, PRO913 final account and proposal for distribution, PRO914 closing statement, PRO915 affidavit of service, and PRO916 receipt |
| Remote or in-person appearance request | OTH1001 instructions and OTH1002 request for remote or in-person appearance |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Goodhue County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming how the Red Wing-area home is titled and whether any probate asset needs letters. If a Goodhue County estate must be opened, file with the Court Administrator's office at the Goodhue County Justice Center or through eFile and eServe, and deposit any original will on paper. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, insurance, and debts before the spouse pays the $323 first-paper fee as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative in Minnesota (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). The child can coordinate a Goodhue County filing electronically if appropriate, while remembering that a self-represented filer who elects eFS stays with eFS for later filings in that case. | Sunset organizes estate settlement information remotely, helps decide what documents are needed, and can prepare a filing packet for review before the child contacts the Goodhue County District Court. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires letters and may require a formal proceeding, especially if title, heirs, creditors, or sale authority need a judge's order. File in Goodhue County if venue is proper, follow the hearing notice for appearance instructions, and use MCRO to monitor the register of actions. | Sunset helps collect asset information, prepare the estate settlement packet, and connect the parent with a Minnesota probate attorney if the sale or family facts make the case formal. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Goodhue County District Court | Local court administration for filings at the Goodhue County Justice Center, hours, phone, fax, and county court information. | 454 West Sixth Street, Red Wing, MN 55066; (651) 267-4800; fax (651) 267-4342 |
| Self-Help Center workstation | Goodhue County has the statewide courthouse workstation model, with access to a computer, phone, printer, forms, and Self-Help Center staff by phone. It is not one of Minnesota's walk-in self-help counties. | Available through the courthouse workstation program |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Provides legal information and resources for self-represented court users by phone and online contact. Staff provide information, not legal advice. | (651) 435-6535, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | Civil legal aid organization serving Goodhue County. Its published casework should be checked before assuming help is available for settling a decedent's estate. | 1-877-696-6529; existing cases (651) 222-5863; https://www.smrls.org/ |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help and forms | Statewide probate overview and free PRO probate forms for common filings. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates and https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Search Goodhue County estate cases, view the register of actions, and download public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 at no charge. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
A Goodhue County estate is more likely to need legal help when there is a dispute over appointment, a lost or marked will, unclear heirs, a home sale, insolvency, creditor pressure, tax issues, or a need for formal or supervised administration. A self-represented filer can use court forms and eFS when appropriate, but court administration and Self-Help Center staff provide legal information rather than legal advice. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families locate accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect whether a Goodhue County estate filing is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized estate settlement packet using the Minnesota statewide PRO forms that match the filing path, with local Goodhue County court details included.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal probate, a home sale, a contested issue, or legal advice before filing, Sunset can connect the family with a Minnesota probate attorney familiar with district court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, identify assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Goodhue County?
File with the Court Administrator's office for the Goodhue County District Court at the Goodhue County Justice Center, 454 West Sixth Street, Red Wing, MN 55066, or use eFile and eServe if electronic filing fits your situation.
What does it cost to open an estate in Goodhue County?
The first paper filed in a Goodhue County estate costs $323 as of August 2026. That amount is the $310 filing fee plus Goodhue County's $13 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
Can I file probate papers on paper in Goodhue County, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys, government agencies, and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented personal representative may choose eFS or file on paper, but once that filer uses eFS in the case, later filings in that case continue through eFS (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Can the original will be e-filed in Goodhue County?
No. A copy of a will may be submitted electronically, but the original will filed under the probate rules cannot be e-filed. The original paper will must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
Does Goodhue County have its own probate forms?
No local probate forms, local probate packet, or local probate cover sheet are published for Goodhue County. Use the Minnesota statewide PRO probate forms for common estate filings.
Is there a judge chambered in Red Wing?
Yes. Goodhue County is in the First Judicial District, and Minnesota law names Red Wing as one of the district's permanent-chambers cities, along with Hastings, Shakopee, Glencoe, and one additional location designated by the chief judge (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1).
Can I appear remotely for a Goodhue County probate hearing?
Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate as remote by default statewide, effective February 3, 2025, but that is not a guarantee for a particular hearing. Read the hearing notice, follow its instructions, and use form OTH1002 if you need to ask the judge for a different appearance format.
Can I look up a Goodhue County estate case online?
Yes. Minnesota Court Records Online searches Goodhue County estate cases by party name, case number, attorney, and other search fields. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 can be downloaded at no charge, while older, sealed, or confidential filings may not be available online.
When is the Goodhue County Justice Center open?
The published court hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed holidays.
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.