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Washington County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Washington County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Washington County District Court |
| Facility | Washington County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | Tenth Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082 |
| Phone | Main line: (651) 413-8030. Probate questions: (651) 413-8131, the number the court publishes for probate matters. |
| Fax | (651) 430-1345 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First paper in an estate | $325, current as of August 2026, made up of the $310 fee set by Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Washington County's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. |
| Local forms | No local probate forms or local cover sheet are published. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO forms. |
| E-filing | Mandatory for attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem. Self-represented filers may choose eFile and eServe or file on paper by counter or mail. Once a self-represented filer uses eFile and eServe in a case, later filings in that case stay electronic. |
| Case search | Minnesota Court Records Online, with no-charge access to public documents in formal and informal probate cases filed on or after July 1, 2015. |
| Remote appearance | Probate hearings default to remote under Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525, effective February 3, 2025. The hearing notice controls. |
| Website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/washington |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Stillwater, identify the assets, debts and people who must be listed. Minnesota's informal application asks for approximate values for probate assets, non-probate assets and indebtedness, and it must specifically account for the heirs or devisees listed in the application (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 408(a)). That information drives the route choice, the notices and the estate settlement plan.
Washington County gives self-represented filers more than one way to file: at the courthouse counter, by mail to the court's P.O. Box, or electronically through eFile and eServe. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, so the estate settlement packet can be built around the actual account and title picture before the paperwork goes to the Washington County District Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Washington County estate with the Court Administrator's office at the Washington County Courthouse in Stillwater, or mail paper filings to P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082. The Washington County District Court is the county court location for estates from Stillwater, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Forest Lake, Hugo, Lake Elmo, Mahtomedi, Bayport, Afton, Newport, St. Paul Park and other Washington County communities.
Washington County is in the Tenth Judicial District, which also includes Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne and Wright Counties. The district has 45 judges, and Stillwater is one of the permanent chambers locations named in Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1. The judicial district is an administrative grouping, not a filing location; Washington County estate papers go to the district court in Stillwater.
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment 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). Later proceedings generally stay where the first proceeding was filed unless the case is transferred.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Washington County is the right venue. Use Washington County if the decedent was domiciled here at death, or if the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota and property was located here (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201).
- Inventory the facts before choosing forms. Minnesota asks for approximate probate assets, non-probate assets and debts on the opening application, and the application must account for the listed heirs or devisees (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 408(a)).
- Choose the Minnesota route. Informal probate starts with an application to the probate registrar for an administrative determination without prior notice and without a hearing. Formal probate starts with a petition to a district court judge for a judicial determination with notice and a hearing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(a), (b); Minn. Stat. § 524.1-307).
- Assemble the statewide forms. Washington County publishes no local probate forms and no local cover sheet. Common packets include PRO802 for an informal application with a will, PRO702 for an informal application without a will, PRO1202 for a formal petition with a will and PRO1102 for a formal petition without a will.
- Handle the original will correctly. A copy of a 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)).
- File with the Court Administrator's office. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem use eFile and eServe. A self-represented personal representative may use eFile and eServe, file at the Washington County Courthouse counter at 14949 62nd Street North in Stillwater, or mail paper filings to P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082 (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Pay the first-paper estate cost. In Washington County, the first paper filed in an estate costs $325, current as of August 2026: the $310 filing fee under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Washington County's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. Fees are payable in advance under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 3. A filer who cannot afford the cost may ask for a fee waiver or reduction under Minn. Stat. § 563.01.
- Give the required notices. Informal appointment is granted without prior notice, but mailing paperwork is still part of the packet. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons before the hearing, and formal testacy proceedings require proof of publication before the order issues (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 404(b)). Notice to creditors is published once a week for two successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county where the proceeding is pending (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801(a)); the court's probate resources point readers to the Minnesota Secretary of State's legal newspaper list.
- Watch the hearing notice. Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate as remote by default, effective February 3, 2025, but a judicial officer may change the format case by case. Your hearing notice controls. If you need a different appearance type, use OTH1002 to ask the judge.
- Take up letters after appointment. The authority document is letters testamentary if there is a will or letters of administration if there is no will. Certified copies cost $14 each, current as of August 2026, under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2). If the appointment was informal, 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)).
- Administer and close the estate. Use PRO912 for the inventory and PRO913 for the final account and proposal for distribution. An unsupervised estate commonly closes with PRO914, PRO915 and PRO916; a formal settlement uses PRO1302, with discharge requested on PRO1304 when appropriate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Washington County
Washington County publishes no local probate forms and no local probate cover sheet. The Washington County court page points readers to the Minnesota Judicial Branch's statewide probate forms, and the county's probate resources include a link to the Secretary of State's legal newspaper list for publication notices.
| Need | Common statewide forms |
|---|---|
| Probate information and duties | PRO101 and PRO908 |
| Informal probate with a will | PRO801, PRO802 and PRO803 |
| Informal probate without a will | PRO701, PRO702 and PRO703 |
| Formal probate with a will | PRO1201, PRO1202 and PRO1203 |
| Formal probate without a will | PRO1101, PRO1102 and PRO1103 |
| Qualification paperwork | PRO901 and PRO902 |
| Inventory and account | PRO912 and PRO913 |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911, PRO914, PRO915 and PRO916 |
| Ask for a different hearing format | OTH1001 and OTH1002 |
The Judicial Branch groups many of these into packets, which is usually easier than selecting single PDFs. It also states that it publishes some statewide probate forms, but not every probate form, so a contested or unusual estate may need attorney-drafted papers.
Local nuance
Washington County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Walk-in self-help in the courthouse | Washington County is one of the Minnesota counties with a 10th Judicial District Self-Help Center walk-in location. It is at the 1st Floor Court Administration Window, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater. Walk-ins are Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., first come first served and based on availability. Call (763) 760-6699 before going because staffing can change the schedule. |
| Published probate contact number | The court publishes (651) 413-8131 for probate matters. The same number also serves other civil case types through options, so ask for probate when calling. The main courthouse line is (651) 413-8030 and the fax is (651) 430-1345. |
| Mailing address | Paper filings by mail should use P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082. The street address remains 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082. |
| Law library in the same building | The Washington County Law Library is inside the Washington County Courthouse, on the west side of the main court entrance. It offers public computers, in-house laptops, free Wi-Fi, hotspots to check out, meeting rooms by reservation, legal reference help, court-form help, remote-hearing technology support and Minnesota probate reference material. Library staff cannot give legal advice, interpret the law or complete forms. |
| Volunteer-attorney clinics | The law library and the Washington County Bar Association offer free 30-minute consultations for eligible people who live in Washington County or have a Washington County case. The published clinics are family, civil and criminal, not estate administration clinics, so ask about your issue when booking at (651) 430-6330. |
| Public daily calendar | Washington County posts a weekly public court calendar as a searchable PDF at 7 a.m. each business day and updates it hourly. It is a hearing lookup tool, not a probate hearing schedule. Confidential matters and cases not remotely accessible under the public access rules are not posted, and a missing case does not mean the hearing was cancelled. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Open the estate with the Court Administrator's office at the Washington County Courthouse in Stillwater. If the file qualifies for informal probate, it starts with an application to the probate registrar and is decided administratively without prior notice or a hearing (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402(b)). The first paper costs $325, current as of August 2026, made up of the $310 fee under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Washington County's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. If a home must be transferred or sold after an informal appointment, plan for the thirty-day rule before unrestricted letters can be given to a purchaser or distributee of real property (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)). | Sunset traces accounts, titles and debts first, so the spouse knows what is in the estate and what passed outside probate before filing in Stillwater. |
| 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 choose eFile and eServe from outside Minnesota or mail paper filings to P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082 (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(5)(i)). The original will still has to reach the court in paper form, even if a copy is e-filed (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01(b)(2), 403(e)). MCRO lets the family follow the public register and download no-charge public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015. | Sunset builds the asset picture and the filing packet remotely, so an adult child is not traveling to Stillwater just to find out what the paperwork was missing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Open the estate in Washington County and expect letters testamentary or letters of administration to be the document a buyer, title company or lender asks to see. Certified copies cost $14 each, current as of August 2026, under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2). If the appointment was informal, thirty days must pass after letters are issued before unrestricted letters can be given to a purchaser or distributee of real property (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 410(a)(1), (b)(2)(i)). If heirs dispute the sale or the will, the registrar cannot resolve the conflict (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 415(a)(4)), so the case moves toward a formal proceeding before a judge. | Sunset assembles the account, debt and title picture the sale depends on, and connects the family to a vetted local probate attorney when the file stops being routine. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Judicial District Self-Help Center, Washington County walk-in location | Provides legal information, statewide forms and information about court procedures for self-represented litigants. Staff cannot give legal advice. Walk-ins are Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., first come first served and based on availability. Call before visiting. | Washington County Courthouse, 1st Floor Court Administration Window, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater. Phone (763) 760-6699, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Email [email protected]. |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Provides legal information and resources by phone and email for people representing themselves. | (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Washington County Law Library | Public law library inside the courthouse, with computers, Wi-Fi, hotspots, meeting rooms, legal reference help, court-form help, Minnesota probate reference material and limited technology support for remote hearings. Staff cannot give legal advice, interpret the law or complete forms. | Washington County Courthouse, Room 150, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater. Phone (651) 430-6330. Email [email protected]. |
| Volunteer-attorney clinics at the law library | Free 30-minute consultations for people who live in Washington County or have a Washington County case. Published clinic topics are family, civil and criminal, so ask about an estate question when booking. | Call (651) 430-6330 or email [email protected]. |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | Civil legal aid organization serving Washington County. It is the right first call to ask whether free help is available, but do not assume estate administration is covered. | Intake 1-877-696-6529. Existing cases (651) 222-5863. |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help | Statewide overview of Minnesota probate, wills and estates. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates |
| Minnesota probate forms | Statewide PRO form packets used in Washington County. | https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Search Washington County estate cases and download no-charge public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the Washington County estate has contested heirs, an ambiguous or damaged will, an insolvent estate, a business interest, a lawyer serving as personal representative, or a home that must be sold under time pressure. The probate registrar cannot resolve disputes over administration (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 415(a)(4)), so a disagreement moves the matter toward 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 families identify accounts, property and debts before the Minnesota asset schedule has to be completed for the Washington County filing.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information into the statewide PRO forms a Washington County estate is likely to need, ready for eFile and eServe, the Stillwater counter or the court's P.O. Box.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate settlement turns contested, involves real estate under time pressure or needs a formal hearing, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney familiar with Washington County and the Tenth Judicial District.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate, prepare for the next step and decide whether a lawyer is needed without paying Sunset for the estate settlement support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Washington County, Minnesota?
File with the Court Administrator's office at the Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082, or mail paper filings to P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082. There is one court location for Washington County estates.
What is the phone number for probate in Washington County?
The court publishes (651) 413-8131 for probate matters. The courthouse main line is (651) 413-8030, the fax is (651) 430-1345, and court records can be reached through (651) 413-8030, option #6.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Washington County?
The first paper filed in an estate costs $325, current as of August 2026: the $310 fee set by Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1), plus Washington County's $15 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10. The amount applies to both informal applications and formal petitions, and it is charged once on the first paper. Certified copies cost $14 each, current as of August 2026, under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2).
What are the Washington County courthouse hours?
The Washington County Courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The walk-in Self-Help Center in the courthouse uses a different schedule: Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., first come first served and based on availability. Call (763) 760-6699 before going.
Can I e-file a probate case in Washington County?
Yes. Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem file through eFile and eServe in Minnesota. A self-represented personal representative may choose eFile and eServe or file on paper instead (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01). If a self-represented filer chooses electronic filing in a case, later filings in that case stay electronic. 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)).
Are Washington County probate hearings remote?
Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate hearings as remote by default, effective February 3, 2025, and remote hearings use Zoom or telephone. That is a default, not a promise. A judicial officer may change the format case by case, and the hearing notice controls. If you need a different appearance type, use OTH1002 to ask the judge.
Does Washington County have local probate forms?
No. Washington County publishes no local probate forms and no local cover sheet. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch statewide PRO forms, such as PRO802 or PRO702 for informal probate, PRO1202 or PRO1102 for formal probate, PRO912 and PRO913 for inventory and account work, and PRO914 for an informal closing. The Judicial Branch publishes some, but not every, probate form.
How do I look up a Washington County probate case?
Use Minnesota Court Records Online. It searches by party name, business name, attorney, case number or citation and shows the register of actions. Public documents in formal and informal probate cases filed on or after July 1, 2015 can be downloaded at no charge. Older documents are limited, confidential documents are not shown, and the courthouse public access terminals provide the most complete access.
Is there in-person help with probate paperwork in Washington County?
Yes. The 10th Judicial District Self-Help Center takes walk-ins at the 1st Floor Court Administration Window of the Washington County Courthouse on Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., first come first served and based on availability. Staff provide legal information and help with statewide forms, but they cannot give legal advice. Call (763) 760-6699 before visiting.
Do I have to travel to Stillwater to handle a Washington County estate?
Not always. A nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)), a self-represented filer may choose electronic filing or mail paper filings to P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082, and the statewide default for probate hearings is remote. The original will still has to be deposited with the court in paper form if there is one.
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.