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McLeod County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | McLeod County information |
|---|---|
| Court | McLeod County District Court |
| Facility | McLeod County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | First Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 830 11th Street E., Glencoe, MN 55336 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse street address for court administration mail unless the court gives you different instructions. |
| Probate/Estates phone | (320) 864-1278 |
| Main phone | (320) 864-1281 |
| Fax | (320) 864-5905 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed holidays. |
| First paper cost | $315 as of August 2026, made up of the $310 first-paper fee plus McLeod County's $5 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). |
| Local forms | McLeod County does not list a separate local probate forms packet. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem file through eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or paper filing under Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01. |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, provides free case lookup and free access to public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015, with limits for older, confidential or sealed records. |
| Remote appearance | Probate is remote by default under Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025, but the hearing notice controls. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/mcleod |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you start a McLeod County estate settlement, list the decedent's probate assets, nonprobate transfers, debts, tax issues, family members and any will or codicil. Minnesota's informal application forms require asset and debt information, and the original will, if there is one, has to be handled as a paper document even when other filings are electronic.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can identify accounts, insurance and other assets before deciding what to file in Glencoe. That inventory makes it easier to choose between an informal application to the probate registrar and a formal petition to a judge.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The McLeod County District Court serves estate cases venued in McLeod County, including Glencoe and the rest of the county. The court is part of Minnesota's First Judicial District with Goodhue, Dakota, Carver, Le Sueur, Scott and Sibley counties. Minnesota law places venue for the first informal or formal probate proceeding 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).
The First Judicial District has permanent chambers in Red Wing, Hastings, Shakopee, Glencoe and one other location designated by the chief judge (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). That means Glencoe is a district chambers city, but the hearing notice is still the document that tells you how and when to appear.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the local filing path. Decide whether the estate can begin with an informal application to the probate registrar or needs a formal petition to a judge. Informal proceedings seek an administrative determination, while formal proceedings seek a judicial determination with notice and a hearing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402).
- Select the statewide PRO forms. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch probate forms for the route you are starting. McLeod County does not list a separate local probate cover sheet or local probate forms packet.
- Prepare the will handling step. If there is an original will or codicil, deposit the original paper document with the court. A copy may be submitted electronically, but Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2) and 403(e) exclude the original will from electronic submission.
- File with the Court Administrator's office. File at the McLeod County Courthouse, 830 11th Street E., Glencoe, MN 55336, or through eFile and eServe if that is your chosen or required channel. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe; a self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or paper filing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Pay the first paper cost. The McLeod County first paper cost is $315 as of August 2026, made up of the $310 first-paper fee and McLeod County's $5 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
- Complete notice requirements. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons, and testacy proceedings require publication as directed by the Court Administrator's office. Known creditors receive written notice under the statewide claims rules.
- Watch for hearing instructions. Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate as remote by default, but the hearing notice controls the actual appearance method. If you need a different appearance format, use the statewide request process for remote or in-person appearance.
- Receive authority to act. After appointment, the personal representative receives letters testamentary when there is a will or letters of administration when there is no will. Those letters are the document banks, title companies and other institutions usually ask to see.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, gives required notices, addresses claims, keeps records, distributes property and uses the appropriate statewide closing forms or formal closing petition when the estate is ready for final settlement.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in McLeod County
Probate forms for McLeod County estates come from the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide PRO form set. McLeod County does not list a separate local probate packet, cover sheet or local probate forms page.
| Form need | Where to look | McLeod County note |
|---|---|---|
| Informal probate with a will | Statewide informal probate forms in the PRO800 series | Use the statewide forms and deposit the original will on paper under Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 403(e). |
| Informal appointment without a will | Statewide informal probate forms in the PRO700 series | The probate registrar reviews informal applications. |
| Formal probate | Statewide formal probate forms in the PRO1100 and PRO1200 series | Formal matters go to a judge with notice and a hearing, subject to the hearing notice. |
| Closing an unsupervised estate | Statewide closing forms in the PRO900 series | Use the statewide closing packet when the estate is ready to close. |
| Remote or in-person appearance request | Statewide OTH1002 request form | Use it if the hearing notice gives an appearance format that does not work for you. |
The Judicial Branch publishes some statewide probate forms, but not every possible probate form. If the estate involves a dispute, real estate sale, missing heirs, a lost will, creditor problems or supervised administration, get legal advice before filing.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely McLeod County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming title to the home, the will status and which assets actually require a McLeod County court estate. If a court estate is needed, the filing goes to the Court Administrator's office at 830 11th Street E. in Glencoe or through eFile and eServe. The Probate/Estates line is (320) 864-1278. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title questions and prepare an estate settlement packet before a spouse files or speaks with counsel. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative in Minnesota (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). The child can ask the McLeod County court about the right filing channel, use eFile and eServe if choosing that route, and follow the hearing notice if a hearing is set. | Sunset helps the child inventory assets remotely, collect institution details and connect with a Minnesota attorney if the estate is not simple. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real-estate sale often makes careful form choice and authority documents important. The parent should expect to use the McLeod County District Court process in Glencoe, deposit any original will on paper, and obtain letters before dealing with a buyer or title company. | Sunset helps collect asset information, prepare the family for title-company requests and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| McLeod County District Court | Local court administration for estate filing logistics, the Probate/Estates line, fax, court hours and courthouse location. | 830 11th Street E., Glencoe, MN 55336. Probate/Estates: (320) 864-1278. Main: (320) 864-1281. |
| Self-Help Center workstation | McLeod County has access to the statewide courthouse workstation model with a computer, phone and printer for legal information, forms and contact with Self-Help Center staff. | At the courthouse. Self-Help Center staff provide legal information, not legal advice. |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Helps self-represented people find court information and resources by phone and online contact. | (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 McLeod County. Call to ask what help is available; its public case-type descriptions do not promise decedent-estate representation. | 1-877-696-6529. |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help and forms | Statewide probate overview and free PRO probate forms. | Probate help: https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates. Forms: https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate. |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Free case search and free access to public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015, with limits for older, confidential or sealed records. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially helpful in a McLeod County estate when heirs disagree, the will is missing or unclear, real estate must be sold, a creditor issue is serious, the estate may need formal or supervised administration, or the personal representative lives outside Minnesota and wants help coordinating filings. Court staff and Self-Help Center staff can provide legal information, but they cannot choose a strategy for the estate. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a practical inventory before they start estate settlement in McLeod County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the statewide Minnesota PRO forms, including family details, asset categories, debts and the documents the Court Administrator's office will expect to see.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney who understands district court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, discover assets and decide what help they need without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in McLeod County?
File with the Court Administrator's office for the McLeod County District Court at the McLeod County Courthouse, 830 11th Street E., Glencoe, MN 55336. For estate-specific questions, McLeod County lists Probate/Estates at (320) 864-1278.
What does it cost to start an estate case in McLeod County?
The first paper cost is $315 as of August 2026. That total is the $310 first-paper fee plus McLeod County's $5 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
Can I file on paper in McLeod County, or do I have to use eFile and eServe?
Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or paper filing under Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01. After a self-represented filer chooses eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case continue through that system unless the court allows otherwise.
How do I handle the original will in a McLeod County eFS case?
Deposit the original paper will with the court. A copy may be submitted electronically, but Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2) and 403(e) require the original will or codicil to be deposited as a paper document.
Does McLeod County have its own probate forms?
McLeod County does not list a separate local probate forms packet or local probate cover sheet. Use the statewide Minnesota PRO probate forms and check the court's instructions if your estate has a special issue.
Is there a judge chambered in Glencoe?
Yes. Glencoe is one of the permanent-chambers cities named for the First Judicial District, along with Red Wing, Hastings, Shakopee and one other location designated by the chief judge (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). That does not set a hearing date or appearance method; your notice does.
Can I appear remotely for a McLeod County probate hearing?
Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate as remote by default, effective February 3, 2025. That is a default, not a promise. Follow the hearing notice, and use the statewide request form if you need to ask for a different appearance format.
Can I look up a McLeod County estate case online?
Yes. Use Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO. It searches by party name, case number and other fields, shows the register of actions, and provides free access to public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015. Older documents are limited, and confidential or sealed documents are not shown.
When is the McLeod County courthouse open?
The McLeod County Courthouse lists business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed holidays. If timing matters for a filing, call the Probate/Estates line at (320) 864-1278 before you go.
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.