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Rice County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Rice County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Rice County District Court |
| Facility | Rice County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | Third Judicial District, shared with Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona Counties (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1) |
| Courthouse address | 218 N.W. Third Street, Faribault, MN 55021 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse address |
| Court Administrator's office phone | (507) 497-7134 |
| Fax | (507) 332-6199 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First paper in an estate | $325 as published August 2026, made up of the $310 statutory fee plus Rice County's $15 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10) |
| Local forms | None. Rice County uses the statewide Minnesota PRO forms. |
| E-filing | eFile and eServe is mandatory for attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem. Self-represented filers may e-file or file on paper (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, with free access to public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 |
| Remote appearance | Rice County's default hearing appearance chart places probate in the remote default category. The hearing notice controls. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/rice |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before starting an estate settlement in Faribault, identify what the estate actually holds. In Minnesota, the filing path depends on probate assets, non-probate assets, real property, debts and whether the original will can be located.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps families find accounts before choosing an informal application or a formal petition. Locating the original will early also matters because the original paper will has to reach the Rice County Courthouse even when a copy is e-filed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Rice County probate filings go to the Rice County District Court through the Court Administrator's office at the Rice County Courthouse, 218 N.W. Third Street, Faribault, MN 55021. The same courthouse serves Rice County communities including Faribault, Northfield, Lonsdale, Dundas and Morristown.
Rice County is in the Third Judicial District with Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona Counties. Faribault is one of the permanent chambers cities named for the district (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1), but venue is still county based. A Minnesota probate case is filed 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 judicial district is an administrative grouping, not the filing place. Judges serve matters across the Third Judicial District, so a Rice County estate may be heard by a judge who is not chambered in Faribault.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the route. Informal probate starts with an application directed to the probate registrar and is decided administratively without prior notice or a hearing. Formal probate starts with a petition to a judge of the Rice County District Court and is decided after notice to interested persons (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402).
- Prepare the statewide Minnesota PRO forms. Rice County publishes no local probate forms and no local probate cover sheet. Minnesota also requires the application to include approximate values for listed probate assets, non-probate assets and indebtedness, plus a statement that specifically eliminates heirs or devisees other than those listed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 408(a)).
- File with the Court Administrator's office. A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe or may file on paper at the Court Administration Office on the 1st floor of the Rice County Courthouse, 218 N.W. Third Street, Faribault, MN 55021, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by mail to the same address. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem must e-file (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). Once a self-represented filer e-files in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic.
- Deposit the original will. A copy of the will may be e-filed, but the original paper will must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). In Rice County, send or bring it to the Court Administrator's office at the courthouse.
- Pay the first-paper amount. Rice County's first paper in an estate is $325 as published August 2026, made up of the $310 statutory fee and Rice County's $15 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). The amount is charged once, on the first paper, and the law library fee is an item of administration reimbursable from the estate (Minn. Stat. § 134A.10, subd. 2).
- Give notice. Informal appointment does not require prior notice, but notice to interested persons follows appointment. A formal testacy proceeding requires mailed notice and publication before the order will issue (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 404(b)).
- Publish notice to creditors when the case requires it. Publication is made under the direction of the court administrator once a week for two successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county where the proceedings are pending (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801(a)). In Rice County, that means a legal newspaper in Rice County selected through the court process.
- Watch for hearing information if the case is formal. Rice County does not publish probate hearing days or a setting window. The court sets the hearing and sends notice. For an unopposed formal petition, the court may decide on the pleadings without requiring the petitioner to appear, but that is the court's choice (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 406(a)).
- Follow the hearing notice. Rice County's default hearing appearance chart places probate in the remote default category under Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025. Remote hearings use Zoom, and Rice County states that Zoom rooms are available at the courthouse for public use. If the notice does not work for you, ask the judge to change the appearance type using form OTH1002.
- Receive letters. The probate registrar issues letters in informal proceedings (Minn. Stat. § 524.1-307), and the court issues them in formal proceedings. They are letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not. Certified copies are $14 each as published August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)). For real property after an informal appointment, a certified copy of unrestricted letters given to a purchaser or distributee requires that 30 days have elapsed since letters issued (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)).
- Administer and close the estate. Inventory the estate, address claims, distribute property and close. An informal estate closes by sworn statement on PRO914 no earlier than four months after appointment, with the appointment ending one year after the closing statement is filed if no proceeding is pending (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1003). A formal settlement uses PRO1302, with discharge requested on PRO1304.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Rice County
Rice County does not publish local probate forms or a local probate cover sheet. Use the statewide Minnesota PRO probate forms for a Rice County estate, and file them through eFile and eServe if you choose that route or on paper with the Court Administrator's office in Faribault.
| 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 |
| Personal representative qualification | PRO901 nomination, renunciation and bond, and PRO902 acceptance and oath |
| Personal representative responsibilities | PRO908 responsibilities of personal representatives |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911 instructions, PRO914 statement to close estate, PRO915 affidavit of service, PRO916 receipt for assets by distributee, plus PRO912 inventory and PRO913 final account |
| Request a different hearing appearance type | OTH1001 instructions and OTH1002 request for remote or in-person appearance |
The statewide form set is useful but not complete. If the estate needs a supervised administration, unusual relief, or a form not available in the PRO packets, get legal advice before filing.
Local nuance
Rice County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Rice County has its own default hearing appearance chart | The chart, effective February 3, 2025 under Judicial Council Policy 525, places probate hearings in the remote default category. That is still only a default, and the hearing notice controls. |
| Zoom rooms are available at the courthouse | Rice County states that remote hearings use Zoom and that Zoom rooms are available at the courthouse for public use. If you need the join information or help connecting, call (507) 497-7134 or go to the Court Administration Office on the 1st floor. |
| The daily calendar has limits | Rice County posts a searchable daily court calendar for the next day's activities and updates it hourly beginning at 7:00 a.m. Confidential matters and matters not remotely accessible are not posted, so a missing listing does not mean a hearing was cancelled. |
| Recording is restricted | Rice County has a court order, effective August 8, 2024, restricting video and audio recording in courtrooms and courthouse areas where courtrooms are located, except for the official court proceeding (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 4.01). |
| The Rice County Law Library is in the courthouse | The Rice County Law Library is located at the Rice County Courthouse, 218 N.W. Third Street, Faribault. Rice County's $15 law library fee, as published August 2026, is collected with the first paper in an estate and is authorized by Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. |
| Faribault is a permanent chambers city | Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1 names Faribault as a permanent chambers city for the Third Judicial District. Rice County still files through its own courthouse, and judges serve matters across the district. |
Recent updates
| Update | Date | What it means for Rice County probate |
|---|---|---|
| Rice County default hearing appearance chart | Effective February 3, 2025 | Rice County's chart under Judicial Council Policy 525 places probate in the remote default category. The hearing notice controls in each case. |
| Rice County order on video and audio recording | Effective August 8, 2024 | The order restricts video and audio recording in courtrooms and courthouse areas where courtrooms are located, except for the official court proceeding (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 4.01). |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Rice County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying what actually has to pass through the estate before filing in Faribault. If the will is uncontested and nothing is in dispute, the informal route is an application to the probate registrar through the Court Administrator's office, with no hearing. The first paper is $325 as published August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10), and the original paper will must be deposited with the court even if a copy is e-filed. | Sunset finds accounts and debts first, so the spouse can choose the estate settlement path with a clearer asset picture. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative in Minnesota (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). A self-represented filer may e-file through eFile and eServe from outside Minnesota or file on paper by mail to the Rice County Courthouse. The original will still has to reach the courthouse as a paper document, and the hearing notice controls any appearance. | Sunset assembles the packet and searches for assets so an out-of-state child is not guessing about what the estate holds. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires letters of administration and certified copies for the buyer or title company. Certified copies are $14 each as published August 2026 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)). If the appointment is informal, a certified copy of unrestricted letters given to a purchaser or distributee requires that 30 days have elapsed since letters issued (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)). | Sunset helps build the filing packet and connects the family to a local probate attorney when a sale timeline makes legal help worth it. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Help Center workstation at the Rice County Courthouse | The courthouse workstation has a computer, phone and printer for finding legal information, printing court forms and speaking with Self-Help Center staff by phone. | Rice County Courthouse, 218 N.W. Third Street, Faribault |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Provides legal information and resources by phone and email. Staff do not give legal advice. | (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Rice County Law Library | Located in the courthouse and tied to the county law library system funded under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. | Rice County Courthouse, 218 N.W. Third Street, Faribault |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | The civil legal services organization for Rice County. Call to ask whether help is available. Its published case types do not include settling a decedent's estate. | 1-877-696-6529 |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Search Rice County estate cases and download public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 at no charge. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help and forms | Probate overview and statewide PRO forms used in Rice County. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates and https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
When to hire an attorney
A Rice County estate that is uncontested, solvent and simple may fit a self-represented informal application. Counsel is worth considering when heirs disagree, the will is unclear or missing, the estate may be insolvent, business or farmland is involved, a distribution would go to a minor or special needs trust, real estate must be sold on a deadline, or the estate is large enough for Minnesota estate tax review under Minn. Stat. § 291.016. Minnesota also requires supervised administration when the lawyer for the estate, or that lawyer's partner, associate or employee, is appointed personal representative and is not a family member (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 414). Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families locate accounts, balances and clues before filing in Rice County. That gives the personal representative a stronger starting point for estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Rice County uses Minnesota's statewide PRO forms and has no local probate cover sheet. Sunset helps assemble the right packet for the path the family is taking.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a dispute, a home sale, farmland, a business, unclear title or tax concerns, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, identify assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Rice County, Minnesota?
File in the Rice County District Court through the Court Administrator's office at the Rice County Courthouse, 218 N.W. Third Street, Faribault, MN 55021. The Court Administration Office is on the 1st floor. Venue is based on the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a non-Minnesota decedent, a county where the decedent had property at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201).
How much does it cost to start a Rice County estate case?
The first paper in an estate is $325 in Rice County as published August 2026. That total is the $310 statutory fee plus Rice County's $15 law library fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1); Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). It applies to both informal and formal probate and is charged once, on the first paper.
Can I e-file a Rice County probate case if I do not have a lawyer?
Yes. eFile and eServe is mandatory for attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem, and optional for self-represented filers in all Minnesota counties (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). A self-represented filer may instead file on paper at the Rice County Courthouse or by mail. Once a self-represented filer e-files in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic.
Can the original will be submitted electronically in Rice County?
No. A copy of the will may be e-filed, but the original paper will must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). Bring or mail the original will to the Court Administrator's office at the Rice County Courthouse.
Are probate hearings in Rice County remote?
Rice County's default hearing appearance chart under Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025, places probate in the remote default category. That is not a promise for every case. A judicial officer may set a different appearance type, and the hearing notice controls. If you need a different appearance type, use form OTH1002 to ask the judge.
What if I cannot join a Rice County Zoom hearing from home?
Rice County states that Zoom rooms are available at the courthouse for public use. If you need the join information or help connecting, call (507) 497-7134 or go to the Court Administration Office on the 1st floor.
Does Rice County have its own probate forms?
No. Rice County publishes no local probate forms and no local probate cover sheet. Use the statewide Minnesota PRO probate forms. The statewide set is helpful but not complete, so unusual requests may require attorney help.
How do I look up a Rice County probate case?
Use Minnesota Court Records Online at https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch. It searches by party name, case number or attorney and shows the register of actions. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 can be downloaded at no charge. Older filings are limited, confidential documents are not shown, and courthouse terminals provide the most complete public access.
Do I have to travel to Faribault for estate settlement?
Often you can handle steps without traveling. A self-represented filer may e-file or mail paper filings, a nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)), and Rice County's probate hearing default is remote. The original will still has to reach the courthouse as a paper document, and the hearing notice controls any appearance.
Which judicial district is Rice County in?
Rice County is in the Third Judicial District with Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona Counties. Faribault is one of the district's permanent chambers cities (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). The district is administrative, not the filing venue.
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.