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Marshall County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Marshall County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Marshall County District Court |
| Facility | Marshall County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | Ninth Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 208 E Colvin Avenue, Suite 18, Warren, MN 56762 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address unless court administration directs otherwise. |
| Court Administrator's office phone | (218) 745-4921 |
| Fax | (218) 745-4343 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First-paper cost | $320, current as of August 2026: $310 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Marshall County's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. |
| Local forms | No local probate forms or cover sheet are posted for Marshall County. 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 elect eFS or may file on paper at the counter or by mail under Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01. |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally downloadable at no charge, unless confidential or sealed. |
| Remote appearance | Probate is remote by default under Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025. The hearing notice controls. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/marshall |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Marshall County, build a simple inventory of what the decedent owned, what passes outside probate, what debts exist, and whether any real estate or titled asset needs letters testamentary or letters of administration. Minnesota probate forms ask for approximate asset categories and debts, so this work drives both the filing choice and the estate settlement plan.
Sunset can help families search for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions before the first filing decision is made. That can prevent a Marshall County filing from being too narrow, missing a creditor issue, or overlooking an account that changes whether court authority is needed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Marshall County District Court serves probate filings for Marshall County from the courthouse in Warren. Venue for the first informal or formal probate proceeding is 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).
Marshall County is in the Ninth Judicial District with Norman, Polk, Kittson, Red Lake, Roseau, Mahnomen, Pennington, Aitkin, Itasca, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Beltrami, Lake of the Woods, Clearwater, Cass and Koochiching counties (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). The district has 24 judges and permanent chambers at Crookston, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids and International Falls, so a Marshall County matter may be assigned to a judge who is not chambered in Warren.
A determination of descent has a wider venue rule: it may be brought 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 opening route. An informal probate starts with an application directed to the probate registrar, while a formal probate starts with a petition asking a judge for a judicial determination (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402).
- Select the statewide PRO packet that matches the facts. Common openers include 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 and debt information. Minnesota probate applications require approximate values for probate assets, non-probate assets and indebtedness, and the filing should list the heirs or devisees needed by the form and court rules.
- File with the Court Administrator's office at the Marshall County Courthouse, 208 E Colvin Avenue, Suite 18, Warren, MN 56762. A self-represented filer may elect eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the counter or by mail; once a self-represented filer elects eFS in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Deposit the original will on paper if there is one. A copy of a will may be submitted electronically, but the original paper will must be deposited with the court and is not an electronic filing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
- Pay the Marshall County first-paper cost. The cost is $320, current as of August 2026: $310 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Marshall County's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10.
- Complete notice and publication if the route requires them. Formal probate requires notice to interested persons, and notice to creditors is published under the direction of the Court Administrator's office in a legal newspaper in the county where the proceeding is pending (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801).
- Watch for the hearing notice. Minnesota's statewide default for probate hearings is remote under Judicial Council Policy 525, but the judicial officer may change the appearance type and the hearing notice tells you how to appear.
- After appointment, use the letters issued in the case to collect assets, deal with financial institutions, sell or transfer property when authorized, address creditors and administer the estate.
- Close the estate through the correct statewide process. An unsupervised personal representative commonly uses PRO914 for a closing statement when the statutory timing and distribution requirements are met; a formal closing uses a petition asking the court to allow the final account, settle and distribute the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Marshall County
Marshall County does not post local probate forms, a local cover sheet, or a local probate packet. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide probate forms at https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate, and file them with the Court Administrator's office in Warren or through eFile and eServe if you elect or are required to use eFS.
| Need | Common statewide forms |
|---|---|
| Informal probate with a will | PRO801 instructions, PRO802 application, PRO803 affidavit of mailing |
| Informal appointment without a will | PRO701 instructions, PRO702 application, PRO703 affidavit of mailing |
| Formal probate with a will | PRO1201 instructions, PRO1202 petition, PRO1203 affidavit of service |
| Formal appointment without a will | PRO1101 instructions, PRO1102 petition, PRO1103 affidavit of service |
| Acceptance and oath | PRO902 |
| Close an unsupervised estate | PRO911 instructions, PRO914 closing statement, PRO915 affidavit of service, PRO916 receipt for assets |
The statewide PRO set is useful but not complete for every possible estate settlement issue. If the estate needs supervised administration, a contested hearing, unusual real estate work, or a form not provided by the Judicial Branch, get legal advice before filing.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by deciding whether any asset actually needs court authority in Marshall County. If an administration is needed, file at the Marshall County Courthouse in Warren or through eFS, and plan for the $320 first-paper cost, current as of August 2026, under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), and Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. If there is a will, the original paper will must be deposited with the court. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues and debts before the spouse chooses an informal application or formal petition. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative in Minnesota (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). For a Marshall County case, the child may use eFS voluntarily or file on paper by mail or at the courthouse. If a hearing is set, probate is remote by default under Judicial Council Policy 525, but the hearing notice controls. | Sunset organizes the asset picture, helps generate the packet, and can connect the child with a Minnesota probate attorney if local filing or title issues become difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | File in Marshall County if venue belongs there under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201. A home sale often requires appointment and letters before a buyer, title company or financial institution will act. Because Marshall County is in a large judicial district, follow the hearing notice carefully for how the assigned judge will take the hearing. | Sunset helps find accounts and liabilities, organize real estate information, and identify when a vetted attorney should handle sale authority, creditor questions or disputes. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall County District Court | Filing location, phone, fax, hours and local court contact route for a Marshall County estate case. | 208 E Colvin Avenue, Suite 18, Warren, MN 56762; (218) 745-4921; https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/marshall |
| Self-Help Center workstation | A courthouse workstation with a computer, phone and printer is available in county courthouses outside Hennepin. Self-Help Center staff provide legal information and resources, not legal advice. | Marshall County Courthouse; statewide phone (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/self-help-centers/locations |
| Justice North | Civil legal aid organization serving Marshall County. Call to ask what help, referral or information may be available; its listed civil case areas do not include decedent-estate administration. | 877-MY-MN-LAW, 877-696-6529; https://justicenorth.org/ |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help and forms | Statewide probate overview and free statewide PRO forms for Minnesota district court estate cases. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates and https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Search Marshall County estate cases and view public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015, unless a document is confidential or sealed. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organizes what is found, and helps families understand which assets may need court authority in Marshall County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the facts you provide to help assemble a Minnesota probate packet for the route you choose, including the local filing court, the Marshall County first-paper cost, and the original-will reminder.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate settlement involves real estate, a dispute, an insolvent estate, or supervised administration, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand the next filing step, and decide whether they need professional help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Marshall County?
File with the Court Administrator's office at the Marshall County Courthouse, 208 E Colvin Avenue, Suite 18, Warren, MN 56762. Venue belongs in Marshall County when the decedent was domiciled there at death, or when the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota and had property in Marshall County at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201).
What does it cost to open an estate in Marshall County?
The first-paper cost is $320, current as of August 2026. That is $310 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Marshall County's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10.
Can I file probate papers on paper in Marshall County, or do I have to use eFS?
Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe in Minnesota district court. A self-represented filer may elect eFS or may file on paper at the courthouse or by mail; once a self-represented filer elects eFS in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Can the original will be e-filed in Marshall County?
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 Marshall County have its own probate forms?
No local probate forms, packet, or cover sheet are posted for Marshall County. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide PRO forms at https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate, and remember that the statewide set does not cover every possible estate issue.
Can I appear remotely for a Marshall County probate hearing?
Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate as remote by default, effective February 3, 2025. That is a default, not a guarantee. The judicial officer may set a different appearance type, and your hearing notice tells you how to appear.
Can I look up a Marshall County estate case online?
Yes. Use Minnesota Court Records Online at https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch. MCRO 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 are generally downloadable at no charge, while older filings are limited and confidential or sealed filings are not shown.
Where can I find legal help in Marshall County?
Start with the courthouse Self-Help Center workstation and the Statewide Self-Help Center at (651) 435-6535 for legal information. Justice North is the civil legal aid organization serving Marshall County and can be reached at 877-MY-MN-LAW, 877-696-6529, to ask what help or referral may be available.
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.