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St. Louis County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | St. Louis County details |
|---|---|
| Court | St. Louis County District Court, Sixth Judicial District |
| Courthouses | St. Louis County - Duluth Courthouse, 100 N. Fifth Avenue W., Duluth, MN 55802, (218) 221-7560 St. Louis County - Hibbing Courthouse, 1810 E. 12th Avenue, Hibbing, MN 55746, (218) 274-6007 St. Louis County - Virginia Courthouse, 300 South Fifth Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792, (218) 305-7021 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse street address for paper filings. The court does not publish a separate mailing address for these locations. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at all three courthouses |
| First paper fee | $325, as published in August 2026: $310 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus St. Louis County's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10 |
| Local forms | None. St. Louis County uses Minnesota's statewide PRO probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe voluntarily or file on paper at the counter or by mail (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 (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, with free public document access for public probate filings from July 1, 2015 forward |
| Remote appearance | Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate hearings to remote as the statewide default. The hearing notice controls. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/stlouis |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in St. Louis County, build the asset and debt picture. Minnesota asks for that information in the opening paperwork: an informal application must list approximate probate assets, non-probate assets and indebtedness by category (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 408(a)). That inventory also helps decide whether the estate settlement should start informally before the probate registrar or formally before a judge.
St. Louis County adds a practical step most Minnesota counties do not: decide which courthouse you are dealing with before you drive. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, then uses the results to assemble the probate packet for the Duluth, Hibbing or Virginia courthouse, or for eFile and eServe.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for St. Louis County is filed in the St. Louis County District Court. The Court Administrator's office operates at three full service courthouses: Duluth, Hibbing and Virginia. The Judicial Branch publishes no rule assigning a probate filing to one building by where in the county the decedent lived, so call the Court Administrator's office at the courthouse you plan to use before making a paper filing. If you file through eFile and eServe, the filing goes electronically to the St. Louis County District Court.
St. Louis County is part of Minnesota's Sixth Judicial District, shared with Carlton, Lake and Cook Counties (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). The district's judges are chambered throughout the district, and St. Louis County itself has judges chambered in three different courthouse cities. The judicial district is not the filing venue; the county is. Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county of the decedent's domicile at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota, any county where the decedent's property was located at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201(a)). That second rule often matters for St. Louis County lake, cabin, mineral or Iron Range real estate owned by someone who lived elsewhere.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm St. Louis County is the right county. File in St. Louis County if the decedent was domiciled there at death, or if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota but had property in St. Louis County at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201(a)).
- Choose the Minnesota route. An informal application goes to the probate registrar and seeks an administrative determination without prior notice and without a hearing. A formal petition goes to a district court judge and seeks a judicial determination after notice (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(a), (b); Minn. Stat. § 524.1-307).
- Call the courthouse you plan to use. St. Louis County has full service court administration in Duluth at (218) 221-7560, Hibbing at (218) 274-6007 and Virginia at (218) 305-7021. The court does not publish a building-assignment rule for probate filings, so ask where to file before you travel or mail papers.
- Assemble the statewide forms. For informal probate with a will, start with PRO801, PRO802 and PRO803. For informal probate without a will, start with PRO701, PRO702 and PRO703. For formal probate with a will, use PRO1201, PRO1202 and PRO1203. For formal probate without a will, use PRO1101, PRO1102 and PRO1103. St. Louis County publishes no local probate form or cover sheet.
- Handle the original will correctly. A copy of the will may be e-filed, but the original paper will cannot be filed electronically and must be deposited with the court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). Ask the Court Administrator's office at the courthouse handling the case how to deliver it.
- File the papers. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem file through eFile and eServe. A self-represented personal representative may choose eFile and eServe, or may file on paper in person or by mail at the Duluth, Hibbing or Virginia courthouse (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). Once a self-represented filer uses eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic.
- Pay the first paper fee. In St. Louis County, the first paper in an estate costs $325 as published in August 2026: the $310 statutory fee under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus the county's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. The same amount applies at Duluth, Hibbing and Virginia, and it is paid in advance (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 3). A filer who cannot afford the fee may ask the court to reduce or waive it (Minn. Stat. § 563.01).
- Give the required notices. Informal probate is granted without prior notice, but the required mailing still follows the application. Formal probate requires notice to interested persons before the hearing, and in a formal testacy proceeding proof of publication must be filed with the court administrator before the order will issue (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 404(b)).
- Follow the hearing notice. Judicial Council Policy 525 sets the statewide default for probate hearings at remote, with hearings by Zoom or telephone, but the hearing notice controls and a judge may set a different appearance format. If you need a different appearance type, use OTH1002. The Sixth Judicial District also runs a Zoom test session every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Receive letters and administer the estate. Appointment produces letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not. Certified copies of letters are often needed by banks, title companies and buyers, and certified copies cost $14 as published in August 2026 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2). If an informal appointment involves St. Louis County real estate, thirty days must pass after letters are issued before a certified copy of unrestricted letters is given to a purchaser or distributee of real property (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)).
- Close the estate. Informal closing uses PRO914 with the inventory, final account, affidavit of service and receipts. Formal settlement uses PRO1302, and discharge uses PRO1304. Keep using the same case for later filings, and keep e-filing if you elected eFile and eServe earlier in the case.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in St. Louis County
St. Louis County publishes no local probate forms or local probate cover sheet. A St. Louis County filer uses Minnesota's statewide PRO forms, available from the Judicial Branch's probate forms index.
| Need | Statewide forms |
|---|---|
| Orientation | PRO101 Information about Probate in Minnesota; PRO908 Responsibilities of Personal Representatives |
| Open informally with a will | PRO801 instructions; PRO802 application; PRO803 affidavit of mailing |
| Open informally without a will | PRO701 instructions; PRO702 application; PRO703 affidavit of mailing |
| Open formally with a will | PRO1201 instructions; PRO1202 petition; PRO1203 affidavit of service |
| Open formally without a will | PRO1101 instructions; PRO1102 petition; PRO1103 affidavit of service |
| Qualify as personal representative | PRO901 nomination or renunciation and bond; PRO902 acceptance and oath |
| Inventory and account | PRO912 inventory; PRO913 final account and proposal for distribution |
| Close informally | PRO911 instructions; PRO914 closing statement; PRO915 affidavit of service; PRO916 receipt |
| Ask for a different hearing appearance | OTH1001 instructions; OTH1002 request for remote or in-person appearance |
The statewide form set is useful, but it is not every probate form used in Minnesota. If the estate settlement needs a form that is not published in the PRO series, ask the Court Administrator's office what is accepted or work with a Minnesota probate attorney.
Local nuance
St. Louis County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a St. Louis County estate |
|---|---|
| Three full service courthouses | St. Louis County is the only Minnesota county where the Judicial Branch publishes that chambered judges work in three separate courthouses, in Duluth, Hibbing and Virginia. The court publishes full service administrative offices at all three. |
| No published building assignment | The court does not publish a rule assigning probate filings to Duluth, Hibbing or Virginia by geography. Call the Court Administrator's office at the courthouse you plan to use before making a paper filing. |
| Separate contact forms and calendars | Each courthouse has its own online contact form and its own public court calendar. If a hearing is scheduled, check the courthouse named on the hearing notice, not just the county name. |
| Records terminals in all three buildings | Each St. Louis County courthouse publishes that a public access to court records computer is available. Courthouse terminals provide broader access to district court records than the public internet. |
| Three county law libraries | St. Louis County publishes that it has three county law libraries, all using the same online Westlaw service, with the Duluth library holding the largest print collection and a staff person available for print and electronic legal resources. The law library phone is 218-726-2611. The $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10 is part of the $325 first paper amount under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), as published in August 2026. |
| Building access notes | Duluth publishes a metered ramp attached by skywalk. Hibbing publishes entry through the main door near the parking lot on 18th Street, with free surface lot and on-street parking. Virginia publishes multiple entrances, with the ADA entrance at Door #2, plus free surface lot and on-street parking. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely St. Louis County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call the Court Administrator's office at the Duluth, Hibbing or Virginia courthouse before filing on paper, because the court publishes full service offices at all three and no building-assignment rule. If the case is eligible for informal probate, the application goes to the probate registrar rather than to a judge for a hearing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(b)). The first paper amount is $325 as published in August 2026, made up of $310 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus St. Louis County's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. If the home will be sold or distributed after an informal appointment, thirty days must pass after letters are issued before a certified copy of unrestricted letters is given to a purchaser or distributee of real property (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)). | Sunset traces accounts, titles and liabilities first, so the spouse knows what is in the estate and what passed outside probate before choosing an estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). A self-represented filer may use eFile and eServe from outside Minnesota or file by mail with the St. Louis County District Court (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). The original will is different: a copy 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)). Hearings default to remote under Judicial Council Policy 525, the hearing notice controls, and the Sixth Judicial District runs a Tuesday Zoom test session from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Sunset builds the asset list and probate packet remotely, so an adult child is not traveling to Duluth, Hibbing or Virginia just to learn what the filing was missing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Open the case in St. Louis County and expect the buyer, lender or title company to ask for letters testamentary or letters of administration. Certified copies cost $14 as published in August 2026 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2). If the appointment is informal, do not set a closing that assumes unrestricted letters can be used immediately for the real estate transfer, because Rule 410 requires thirty days to pass after letters are issued before a certified copy of unrestricted letters goes to a purchaser or distributee of real property (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)). Check the hearing notice for the courthouse and appearance method. | Sunset helps identify debts, liens and accounts before the sale is priced, so the parent is not discovering estate settlement problems at the closing table. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Help Center workstation | Self-Help Center workstations are available in Minnesota county courthouses outside Hennepin. Each has a computer, phone and printer for legal information, forms and calling Self-Help staff. The St. Louis County courthouse listings also publish remote self-help service availability on weekdays. | At the Duluth, Hibbing and Virginia courthouses; Statewide Self-Help Center phone (651) 435-6535 |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Provides legal information and resources to people representing themselves by phone and email. Staff give legal information, not legal advice. | (651) 435-6535, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| St. Louis County Law Library | The county publishes three law libraries, all with the same online Westlaw service, WiFi and copying or printing for legal research. The Duluth library has the largest print collection and a staff person available to help with legal resources. | 218-726-2611 |
| Justice North | Civil legal aid organisation serving St. Louis County, with offices in Duluth and Virginia. It is the right first call to ask whether free help is available, but settling a decedent's estate is not among the civil matters it describes itself as handling. | 877-MY-MN-LAW, 877-696-6529 |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Searches St. Louis County estate cases and provides free downloads of public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
| Judicial Branch probate help | Statewide probate overview and statewide PRO probate forms for St. Louis County filers. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Minnesota probate attorney for a St. Louis County estate with contested heirs, an ambiguous or damaged will, an insolvent estate, mineral or timber interests, a business, a lawyer serving as personal representative, or lake or cabin property that must be sold. The probate registrar cannot resolve disputes in administration (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 415(a)(4)), so a real disagreement usually means a formal proceeding before a judge. Sunset connects the family to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps identify real estate, debts and non-probate transfers before the opening paperwork is prepared. That matters in Minnesota because the application asks for the asset and liability picture on the front end.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the family's answers to assemble the statewide PRO forms needed for a St. Louis County estate settlement, organized for eFile and eServe or for a paper filing at the Duluth, Hibbing or Virginia courthouse.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate has a dispute, real estate sale, insolvency issue, business interest or other complication, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney familiar with Sixth Judicial District practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to find assets, organize next steps and understand the probate path without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in St. Louis County?
File with the Court Administrator's office of the St. Louis County District Court. St. Louis County has three full service courthouses: Duluth at 100 N. Fifth Avenue W., (218) 221-7560; Hibbing at 1810 E. 12th Avenue, (218) 274-6007; and Virginia at 300 South Fifth Avenue, (218) 305-7021. The court does not publish a rule assigning probate filings to one building by geography, so call the courthouse you plan to use before a paper filing. If you use eFile and eServe, the filing goes electronically to the St. Louis County District Court.
Which St. Louis County courthouse should I go to for a probate case?
Call before you drive. Duluth, Hibbing and Virginia all publish full service court administration, and none is published as the single probate location. All three are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
How much does it cost to file in a St. Louis County estate?
The first paper costs $325 as published in August 2026: $310 under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus St. Louis County's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. The amount is the same for an informal application and a formal petition, the same at all three courthouses, and charged once on the first paper. A filer who cannot afford the amount may ask the court to reduce or waive it (Minn. Stat. § 563.01).
Can I e-file a probate case in St. Louis County?
Yes. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe, and a self-represented personal representative may choose to use the same system (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). A self-represented filer may also file on paper at the counter or by mail. Once a self-represented filer uses eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case must also be electronic.
Can the original will be submitted electronically?
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)). In St. Louis County, call the Court Administrator's office at the courthouse handling the case and ask how they want the original delivered.
Does St. Louis County have its own probate forms?
No. St. Louis County publishes no local probate forms or local cover sheet. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms. Informal probate with a will starts with PRO802 and PRO801 instructions; informal probate without a will starts with PRO702 and PRO701 instructions; formal petitions use PRO1202 or PRO1102.
Will my St. Louis County probate hearing be remote or in person?
Judicial Council Policy 525 sets the statewide default appearance type for probate hearings at remote, and remote hearings run by Zoom or telephone. That is not a guarantee. A judicial officer may set a different appearance type, and the hearing notice controls. Use OTH1002 to ask for a different appearance type. The Sixth Judicial District runs a Zoom test session every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
How do I look up a St. Louis County probate case?
Use Minnesota Court Records Online. It searches by name, case number, business, attorney or other listed search options and shows the register of actions. Public documents in probate cases filed on or after July 1, 2015 are downloadable at no charge, while older filings are limited and confidential material is not shown. Each St. Louis County courthouse also has a public access to court records computer.
Do I have to travel to Duluth to settle a St. Louis County estate?
Not necessarily. St. Louis County also has full service court administration in Hibbing and Virginia, a nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)), filings can be electronic or mailed, and probate hearings have a statewide remote default under Judicial Council Policy 525. The original will still has to reach the court on paper, so ask the courthouse handling the case how to deliver it.
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.