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Adams County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Adams County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Adams County at the Adams County Courthouse (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | 602 Adams Avenue, Suite 202, Hettinger, ND 58639 |
| Mailing | Call before mailing an original will. A court staff listing identifies Adams County Courthouse, P.O. Box 469, Hettinger, ND 58639, but the Adams County Judiciary page does not list a mailing address. |
| Phone | (701) 567-2537, clerk of district court in Adams County (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46) |
| Hours | Hours are not listed on the Adams County Judiciary page. Call (701) 567-2537 before visiting. |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a Title 30.1 probate case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03) |
| Local forms | Adams County has not posted its own probate forms or cover sheet. Use the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. |
| E-filing | All civil, non-juvenile documents are filed electronically through Odyssey unless an exemption applies. Self-represented filers may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if they choose (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). |
| Case search | North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov. Choose Civil, Family & Probate Case Records and select Adams County. |
| Remote appearance | A court may allow reliable electronic means for a proceeding on its own motion or on a party's written motion under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. |
| Court website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/adams-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Adams County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account locations, real property, beneficiaries, and possible creditors. That estate settlement inventory helps you decide whether you need an informal application, a formal petition, or attorney help before sending papers to the courthouse in Hettinger.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and property that may otherwise be missed. Having that information first can prevent repeat filings, incomplete notices, and delays after the court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07.
Which court handles jurisdiction
North Dakota has no separate court for decedents' estates and no separate probate forum of any kind: estate settlement is a case class of the state's single district court, which sits in all 53 counties, and the papers are filed with the clerk of district court at the Adams County Courthouse (N.D. Const. art. VI, §§ 1, 8; N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06). The separate county-level forum that once heard these cases was abolished on January 1, 1995, and its files became district court files (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-00.1).
Probate for Adams County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Hettinger. Adams County is one of the 8 counties in the Southwest Judicial District, with Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark, and that district structure is how judges and district administration are organised; the case itself is filed at this county's own courthouse (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6; N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13).
The venue chapter is N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13, and the informal application asks for the decedent's county and state of domicile or, if the decedent was not domiciled in North Dakota, a statement showing venue (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01).
Adams County includes Hettinger, the county seat, plus Bucyrus, Haynes and Reeder.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct starting paper. An informal matter starts with an application under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14. A formal matter starts with a petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15.
- Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. Adams County has not posted its own probate forms or cover sheet.
- File with the clerk of district court at the Adams County Courthouse, 602 Adams Avenue, Suite 202, Hettinger, ND 58639 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). Call (701) 567-2537 before visiting because hours are not listed on the Adams County Judiciary page.
- Handle e-filing correctly. All civil, non-juvenile documents are filed electronically through Odyssey unless an exemption applies; self-represented filers may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier. Original wills, codicils and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- Pay the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025, or use the fee waiver materials available through ndcourts.gov if you qualify (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03).
- Let the court act on the filing. In an informal probate matter, the court reviews the application, makes the required findings, and may issue the written statement of informal probate after 120 hours have elapsed since death (N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-14-02, 30.1-14-03). Informal appointment and letters testamentary or letters of administration are governed by N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07.
- If a formal proceeding or contested issue requires a hearing, follow the court's scheduling instructions. For a remote appearance request, use a written motion under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52 and serve it at least seven days before the proceeding; any response is served at least four days before the proceeding.
- After appointment, the personal representative handles creditor issues under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19, prepares the inventory and appraisement within the statutory timing under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-06, administers the assets, and closes the estate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Adams County
Adams County has not posted its own probate forms or local cover sheet. Filers use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, including the informal probate guidebook and form set.
North Dakota law requires the court to provide the necessary forms to an applicant who requests aid in using the informal probate or appointment procedure, and the assistance of an attorney is not required for that informal procedure (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1). The North Dakota Legal Self Help Center also warns that forms are not available for every informal situation and that a person bringing a formal probate matter under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 must create the documents or retain a lawyer.
Local nuance
Adams County-specific considerations
Do not confuse Adams County with Hettinger County. Adams County's courthouse is in the city of Hettinger at 602 Adams Avenue, Suite 202. Hettinger County is a separate county in the same Southwest Judicial District under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6.
The Adams County Judiciary page is sparse. It lists the address and phone number, but it does not list public counter hours, an email address, a fax number, or courthouse entrance instructions. Call (701) 567-2537 before traveling to the Hettinger courthouse or mailing original documents.
The Supreme Court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without needing to travel to chamber cities, while judges travel within the district as scheduled by the presiding judge (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). Treat that as an intent statement, not a guarantee for every hearing.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Adams County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets pass outside the estate and which assets require a personal representative. If a court filing is needed, file with the clerk of district court at 602 Adams Avenue, Suite 202, Hettinger, and call (701) 567-2537 first because hours are not listed. Letters testamentary or letters of administration are issued under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07. | Sunset helps gather account and property information, organize beneficiary and debt details, and generate an estate settlement packet for attorney review or self-represented filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check the North Dakota options in N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 before opening a full case. If a court filing is needed, a self-represented filer may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier, or may use Odyssey (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). Call before mailing an original will because the Adams County Judiciary page does not list a mailing address. | Sunset helps identify accounts, prepare a document checklist, and flag when a North Dakota attorney should review the estate settlement path before originals are mailed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires an appointed personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07. File in Hettinger for Adams County, not in Hettinger County's courthouse. | Sunset helps locate financial accounts, collect property details, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with local attorney help when a sale or title issue needs legal review. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County Judiciary page | Use this for the courthouse address and clerk phone number before visiting the courthouse in Hettinger. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/adams-county |
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Provides statewide self-help information, the informal probate guidebook, and probate forms for informal cases. The Center does not provide legal advice. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| Filing fee waiver request | Use the fee waiver materials if paying the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025, would be a hardship (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Look up Civil, Family & Probate Case Records by selecting Adams County. The portal states that results are current through the end of the previous business day. | https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ |
| Attorney Search | Search for North Dakota lawyers through the Judiciary's lawyer search page. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Nothing on this page promises that it will take a decedent's estate matter. | https://lsnd.org, 1-800-634-5263, or 1-866-621-9886 for age 60 and over |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a North Dakota probate attorney if there is real estate to sell, a dispute about the will or heirs, missing beneficiaries, creditor conflict under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19, a formal petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, or uncertainty about whether Adams County is the correct venue under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a clearer estate settlement picture by locating accounts, organizing assets and debts, and keeping everything tied to the Adams County filing plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you collect into a structured packet for the Adams County courthouse, including the details needed for an informal application under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14 when that path fits.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a home sale, a formal petition, a creditor issue, or uncertainty about venue, Sunset can help connect you with North Dakota probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process, understand next steps, and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Adams County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Adams County Courthouse, 602 Adams Avenue, Suite 202, Hettinger, ND 58639 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). Call (701) 567-2537 before visiting because hours are not listed on the Adams County Judiciary page.
Is Adams County the same as Hettinger County?
No. Adams County's courthouse is in the city of Hettinger. Hettinger County is a separate county in the same Southwest Judicial District under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6.
What are the clerk's hours in Hettinger?
The Adams County Judiciary page does not list hours. Call the clerk of district court at (701) 567-2537 before visiting (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
Do I have to e-file in Adams County if I am self-represented?
No. Under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier. They may use Odyssey if they choose.
Can I mail the original will to Adams County?
Original wills may be filed as paper documents under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5. Because the Adams County Judiciary page does not list a mailing address, call (701) 567-2537 before mailing an original will.
How much does it cost to file probate in Adams County?
The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a Title 30.1 probate case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). Fee waiver materials are available through ndcourts.gov.
Are there Adams County probate forms?
Adams County has not posted its own probate forms or local cover sheet. Use the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. Informal probate is governed by N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14.
Can I look up an Adams County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov. Choose Civil, Family & Probate Case Records and select Adams County. The portal states that results are current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to another city for an Adams County probate hearing?
The Supreme Court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without needing to travel to chamber cities, while judges travel within the district as scheduled by the presiding judge (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). That does not guarantee where every hearing will occur.
How long until letters are issued in an informal Adams County case?
For informal appointment, the court must make its order of appointment and issue letters testamentary or letters of administration within ten working days after all requirements for informal proceedings have been met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07).
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.