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Pope County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Pope County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Pope County District Court |
| Facility | Pope County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | Eighth Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 130 E. Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published for Pope County. Use the courthouse address for court correspondence unless the Court Administrator's office gives different instructions. |
| Phone | (320) 424-7170 |
| Fax | (320) 634-5527 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First paper cost | $322, consisting of the $310 filing fee plus Pope County's $12 law library fee, current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). |
| Local probate forms | No local probate forms or cover sheet are published for Pope County. 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 at the courthouse or by mail, but once that filer e-files in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). |
| Original will | A copy may be e-filed, but the original paper will must be deposited with the court and may not be e-filed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, provides free case lookup and free public probate document access for filings on or after July 1, 2015. |
| 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/pope |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Pope County, inventory what the decedent owned, what passed outside probate, and what debts or creditor notices may affect the estate. Minnesota probate forms ask for asset categories, debts, heirs, devisees, and venue facts, so an estate settlement moves faster when the asset picture is organized before the first filing.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, benefits, and other property before they choose the probate path. That can help you decide whether Pope County needs an informal application, a formal petition, or attorney help before filing at the Glenwood courthouse.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Pope County District Court serves probate matters venued in Pope 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).
Pope County is in the Eighth Judicial District with Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Renville, Swift, Yellow Medicine, Big Stone, Grant, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin counties. The district has 11 judges and permanent chambers at Morris, Montevideo, and Willmar (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). Glenwood is not one of those chambers cities, but venue stays in Pope County when § 524.3-201 points to Pope County, and judges travel within the district.
For a determination of descent after the ordinary probate-opening period has passed, Minnesota has a wider 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 Minnesota probate route. An informal probate starts with an application directed to the probate registrar for an administrative determination. 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 estate. Common starting points are the informal with-will packet, informal without-will packet, formal with-will packet, or formal without-will packet. Pope County does not publish a separate local probate form packet.
File with the Court Administrator's office at the Pope County Courthouse, 130 E. Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334, or use eFile and eServe if you are filing electronically. Attorneys, government agencies, and guardians ad litem must use eFile and eServe; a self-represented filer may choose electronic filing or paper filing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Handle the will correctly. If there is an original will, a copy may be submitted electronically, but the original paper will must be deposited with the court and cannot be e-filed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
Pay the first-paper cost or request a fee waiver if you qualify. In Pope County, the first paper in an estate costs $322, made up of the $310 filing fee plus Pope County's $12 law library fee, current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
Complete notice requirements. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons, and formal testacy matters require publication under the probate rules. The Court Administrator's office directs notice to creditors by publication in a legal newspaper in the county where the proceeding is pending (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 404).
Watch for a hearing notice. Informal probate usually does not require a prior hearing. Formal probate does, although an unopposed formal petition may sometimes be decided on the pleadings if the court chooses that procedure (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 406). Minnesota's statewide default for probate hearings is remote, but the hearing notice tells you how to appear.
After appointment, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration. Those letters are the personal representative's authority document for estate settlement tasks such as collecting assets, working with financial institutions, and transferring property.
Administer the estate, handle creditor and medical-assistance notices when required, account for assets, distribute property, and close the case using the correct statewide closing forms or a court order, depending on the probate track.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pope County
Pope County does not publish a local probate cover sheet, local probate packet, or county-specific probate form. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide PRO forms for probate filings in the Pope County District Court.
| Need | Common statewide form path |
|---|---|
| General orientation | PRO101, Information about Probate in Minnesota, and PRO908, Responsibilities of Personal Representatives |
| Start an informal case with a will | PRO801 instructions, PRO802 application, and PRO803 affidavit of mailing |
| Start an informal case without a will | PRO701 instructions, PRO702 application, and PRO703 affidavit of mailing |
| Start a formal case with a will | PRO1201 instructions, PRO1202 petition, and PRO1203 affidavit of service |
| Start a formal case without a will | PRO1101 instructions, PRO1102 petition, and PRO1103 affidavit of service |
| Acceptance, oath, nomination, renunciation, and bond issues | PRO901 and PRO902 |
| Medical assistance notice | PRO905 notice and PRO903 affidavit of mailing |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911 instructions, PRO914 closing statement, PRO915 affidavit of service, and PRO916 receipt |
| Ask to appear in a different format | OTH1001 instructions and OTH1002 request for remote or in-person appearance |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Pope County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home was titled and what other probate assets exist. If a Pope County probate case is needed, file at the Court Administrator's office in Glenwood or through eFile and eServe, deposit any original will on paper, and budget for the $322 first-paper cost, current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). | Sunset helps gather account and property information, organize the estate settlement packet, and identify when a local probate attorney should review homestead or title questions. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative in Minnesota (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). You may file by paper or choose eFile and eServe, and if a hearing is set, the statewide probate default is remote, but your hearing notice controls. | Sunset helps locate financial accounts, prepare the probate packet, and reduce travel by helping you understand which Pope County steps can be handled electronically or by mail. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real-estate sale often requires a formal probate path and careful authority from the court or the personal representative's letters. Publication and notice requirements should be addressed early. Certified copies of letters cost $14, current as of August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)). | Sunset helps surface assets and debts, generate organized filings, and connect the family with a vetted probate attorney when the sale of a Pope County home needs legal guidance. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Pope County District Court | Courthouse address, Court Administrator's office phone, fax, hours, calendar access, and Pope County court links. | 130 E. Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334. Phone (320) 424-7170. Fax (320) 634-5527. |
| Self-Help Center workstation | A courthouse workstation with a computer, phone, and printer is available in Minnesota county courthouses except Hennepin. Pope County is not listed as a walk-in Self-Help Center county. | Use the workstation at the Pope County Courthouse, or contact statewide self-help by phone. |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Provides legal information and resources for people representing themselves. Self-Help Center staff do not provide legal advice. | (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Justice North | Civil legal aid organization serving Pope County. It is the right first call to ask whether legal help is available, but its published casework does not include settling a decedent's estate. | 877-MY-MN-LAW, or 877-696-6529. Website: https://www.justicenorth.org |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help and forms | Statewide probate overview and free PRO probate forms. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates and https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Free case search and free public probate document downloads for filings on or after July 1, 2015, with limits for older and confidential records. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Pope County probate attorney when heirs disagree, the estate includes real estate that must be sold, the will is unclear or missing, creditor claims are disputed, a minor or special-needs beneficiary is involved, or you are unsure whether informal probate is available. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets that may affect a Pope County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet, using the statewide Minnesota PRO forms and the local filing details for the Pope County District Court.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate involves a home sale, conflict, missing information, or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The platform helps you understand the estate settlement process, organize documents, and decide when to file on your own and when to bring in legal help.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Pope County?
File with the Court Administrator's office at the Pope County District Court, Pope County Courthouse, 130 E. Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334, or file electronically through eFile and eServe if you choose or are required to use it. Venue is Pope County if the decedent was domiciled there at death, or if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota and had property in Pope County (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201).
What does it cost to open an estate in Pope County?
The first paper in a Pope County estate costs $322, current as of August 2026. That amount is the $310 filing fee plus Pope County's $12 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10).
Can I file probate papers on paper in Pope County, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys, government agencies, and guardians ad litem must use eFile and eServe in Minnesota. A self-represented filer may choose eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the courthouse or by mail, but once a self-represented filer uses 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 e-filed in Pope County?
No. A copy of the will may be e-filed, but the original paper will must be deposited with the court and may not be e-filed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)).
Does Pope County have its own probate forms?
No local probate packet, cover sheet, or county-specific probate form is published for Pope County. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide PRO probate forms.
Is there a judge chambered in Glenwood for Pope County probate?
Glenwood is not one of the Eighth Judicial District's permanent chambers cities. The district's permanent chambers are at Morris, Montevideo, and Willmar (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). That does not move the case out of Pope County. Pope County cases are still filed and handled as Pope County cases.
Can I appear remotely for a Pope County probate hearing?
Minnesota's statewide policy sets probate hearings as remote by default, but that is not a guarantee. A judicial officer may change the appearance format, and your hearing notice controls. If you need a different format than the notice states, use form OTH1002 to ask the judge to allow a different appearance.
Can I look up a Pope County estate case online?
Yes. Use Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, to search by party name, business name, attorney, case number, or citation. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are available to download at no charge, but older documents are limited and confidential documents are not shown.
When is the Pope County courthouse open?
The Pope County Courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Court Administrator's office phone number is (320) 424-7170.
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.