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Winona County, MN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Winona County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Winona County District Court |
| Facility | Winona County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | Third Judicial District |
| Courthouse address | 171 W. Third Street, Winona, MN 55987 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is listed for the court. |
| Court Administrator's office phone | (507) 615-5183 |
| Fax | (507) 452-5979 |
| Hours | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court also states: Beginning December 4: Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First paper in an estate | As of August 2026, $320 ($310 filing fee plus Winona County's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1) and Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10). |
| Local probate forms | Winona County publishes no local probate packet, cover sheet or county-specific probate form. Use Minnesota 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 paper filing, but once that filer uses eFS in the 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 search and free public probate document downloads for filings on or after July 1, 2015, subject to confidentiality limits. |
| Remote appearance | Statewide policy sets probate hearings as remote by default, but the hearing notice controls and the judge may change the appearance format. |
| Court website | https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/winona |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a probate path in Winona County, make a practical inventory of what the decedent owned, what was jointly owned, what had beneficiaries and what debts may need notice. Minnesota probate forms ask for asset categories and approximate values, so estate settlement goes more smoothly when bank accounts, investment accounts, real estate, vehicles, insurance, debts and possible medical-assistance issues are organized before filing.
Sunset helps families start that work by searching across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the results into a cleaner estate settlement plan. In Winona County, that means you can decide whether to file an application with the probate registrar, file a formal petition for a judge, or collect more information before paying the first-paper estate cost.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Winona County District Court serves probate filings for Winona County from the Winona County Courthouse at 171 W. Third Street in Winona. The court is part of Minnesota's Third Judicial District with Wabasha, Houston, Rice, Olmsted, Dodge, Steele, Waseca, Freeborn, Mower and Fillmore counties. The district has 23 judges, and Winona is one of the permanent-chambers cities named for the district (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1).
Venue for the first informal or formal probate proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Minnesota, venue may be in any Minnesota county where the decedent had property at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201). For a determination of descent, Minnesota also allows filing in the county of residence or a county where the property is located (Minn. Stat. § 525.31).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening track. Use an informal application when the matter can be handled by the probate registrar as an administrative determination, or a formal petition when a judge must make a judicial determination (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402).
- Prepare the statewide forms. Use Minnesota's PRO forms for the chosen path. Winona County does not publish a separate local probate packet or county cover sheet.
- Handle the original will correctly. If there is a will, a copy may be submitted electronically, 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)).
- File with the Court Administrator's office. File at the Winona County Courthouse or use eFile and eServe if you are required or choose to use it. Self-represented filers may choose eFS, but after using it in the case they must continue filing electronically in that case (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
- Pay the first-paper estate cost. As of August 2026, Winona County's first paper in an estate costs $320, made up of the $310 amount under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1) plus the county's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10.
- Complete required notice. Formal matters require notice to interested persons, and formal testacy proceedings require publication as directed by court administration. Informal matters do not begin with the same prior hearing notice requirement (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 402, 404).
- Watch the hearing notice. Minnesota's statewide default for probate hearings is remote, but the notice controls. If the notice gives an appearance method that will not work, use the statewide request process for a different format.
- Receive authority if appointed. When the court or probate registrar appoints a personal representative, the authority document is letters testamentary if there is a will or letters of administration if there is no will.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, gives required notices, addresses claims, distributes property and closes through the proper statewide form or court order for the chosen track.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Winona County
Winona County uses Minnesota's statewide PRO probate forms and does not publish a local probate packet, cover sheet or county-specific probate form for decedent estates. The statewide PRO forms are free, but the statewide set does not cover every possible probate step, so complicated estates may need attorney-drafted documents.
| 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 |
| Qualify as personal representative | PRO901 nomination, renunciation and bond; PRO902 acceptance and oath |
| Close an informal estate | PRO911 instructions, PRO914 closing statement, PRO915 affidavit of service, PRO916 receipt |
| Ask for remote or in-person appearance | OTH1001 instructions and OTH1002 request |
Local nuance
Winona County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wednesday hours change | The Winona County District Court lists regular hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and states: Beginning December 4: Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan counter visits around the later Wednesday opening. |
| Permanent chambers in Winona | Winona is one of the Third Judicial District's permanent-chambers cities under Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1. That means judges of the district are chambered locally, but it does not create a separate probate division or a promised hearing schedule. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday courthouse hours | The Winona County District Court states: Beginning December 4: Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court does not list a year with that date, so check the court before planning a Wednesday morning counter visit. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Winona County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating jointly owned property and beneficiary assets from probate assets. If a court appointment is still needed, file the proper statewide application or petition with the Winona County District Court, deposit any original will on paper and plan around the Wednesday 9:00 a.m. opening beginning December 4. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title patterns and possible non-probate transfers before the spouse pays the first-paper estate cost. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | A nonresident may serve as personal representative (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 407(b)). If the estate fits Minnesota's personal-property affidavit route, use PRO202 under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201. If a court appointment is needed, the child can use eFile and eServe voluntarily or file on paper, and the hearing notice will control appearance. | Sunset helps locate accounts and generate an organized probate packet so an out-of-state child can reduce avoidable trips to Winona. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires a court appointment and careful review of title, heirs and creditor notice. File the appropriate formal or informal paperwork in Winona County, deposit any original will on paper and follow the court's direction on notices and letters. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list, prepare the filing packet and connect the parent with a Minnesota probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes legal help important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Winona County District Court | Courthouse address, Court Administrator's office phone, fax, hours, court calendar and county fee information. | 171 W. Third Street, Winona, MN 55987; (507) 615-5183; https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/winona |
| Self-Help Center workstation | Winona County courthouse users can access the statewide courthouse workstation model, with a computer, phone and printer for legal information and forms. Self-help staff provide legal information, not legal advice. | Available through Minnesota Judicial Branch Self-Help Center locations. |
| Statewide Self-Help Center | Phone help and email resources for people representing themselves. | (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | Civil legal aid organization serving Winona County, with a Winona office listed in its office locations. Its published casework does not include settling a decedent's estate, but it is the local first call to ask whether any civil legal help is available. | Statewide intake 1-877-696-6529; existing cases (651) 222-5863; court-listed local legal services number (888) 575-2954; https://www.smrls.org/ |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help | Statewide overview of probate, wills and estates. | https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates |
| Minnesota statewide probate forms | Free statewide PRO forms for common probate steps. | https://mncourts.gov/getforms/probate |
| Minnesota Court Records Online | Free case search, register of actions and free public probate document downloads for filings on or after July 1, 2015. | https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney for a Winona County estate if heirs disagree, the original will has problems, the estate may be insolvent, real estate must be sold, a minor or special-needs beneficiary is involved, or you are unsure whether informal probate is appropriate. Court and self-help staff can provide legal information, but they cannot give legal advice or choose a strategy for the estate. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property that may affect estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you know about the family, assets, debts and will into an organized packet for the Winona County District Court and the statewide Minnesota probate forms.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Winona County estate has real estate, disputes, missing heirs, tax questions or complicated notices, Sunset helps connect the family with a vetted Minnesota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Winona County?
File with the Court Administrator's office for the Winona County District Court at the Winona County Courthouse, 171 W. Third Street, Winona, MN 55987. Venue is usually Winona County if the decedent was domiciled there at death (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-201).
What does it cost to open an estate in Winona County?
As of August 2026, the first paper in an estate costs $320 in Winona County. That is the $310 amount under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(1) plus Winona County's $10 law library fee under Minn. Stat. §§ 134A.09, 134A.10.
Can I file probate papers on paper in Winona County, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys, government agencies and guardians ad litem must use eFile and eServe. A self-represented filer may choose eFS or paper filing, but once that filer uses eFS in the case, later filings in that case must also be electronic (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01).
Can the original will be e-filed in Winona 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 Winona County have its own probate forms?
Winona County publishes no local probate packet, cover sheet or county-specific probate form for decedent estates. Use Minnesota's statewide PRO probate forms, and get legal help if the statewide forms do not cover the step you need.
Is there a judge chambered in Winona?
Winona is one of the Third Judicial District's permanent-chambers cities, along with Faribault, Albert Lea, Austin and Rochester (Minn. Stat. § 2.722, subd. 1). That is a local court-structure fact, not a promise about hearing timing.
Can I appear remotely for a Winona County probate hearing?
Minnesota Judicial Council Policy 525 sets probate as remote by default, but that default is not a guarantee. The hearing notice controls, and a judge may change the appearance format for a particular case.
Can I look up a Winona County estate case online?
Yes. Use Minnesota Court Records Online to search by party name, case number or other available search terms. Public probate documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are downloadable at no charge, but confidential documents are not shown and older filings are limited.
When is the Winona County courthouse open?
The court lists hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It also states: Beginning December 4: Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call before a Wednesday morning visit if timing matters.
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.