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Burke County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Burke County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Burke County at the Burke County Courthouse (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | 103 Main St. NE, Bowbells, ND 58721 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 219, Bowbells, ND 58721 |
| Clerk contact | Clerk of district court in Burke County, (701) 377-2718 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46) |
| Fax | (701) 377-2020, contact detail only |
| No general probate email is listed for Burke County. The email shown by the court is labeled for jury service, so call or mail for an estate filing. | |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day. 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Closed for lunch, with no exact lunch window posted. |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a probate, guardianship, or other testamentary case under Title 30.1 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03) |
| Local forms | Burke County does not publish county-specific probate forms or a local cover sheet. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. |
| E-filing | Represented parties file through Odyssey. Self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier, or may use Odyssey if they choose. Original wills may be filed on paper (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 Burke County. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| Remote appearance | A party may ask for a proceeding by reliable electronic means, but court approval is required. The written motion must be served at least seven days before the proceeding, and any response at least four days before (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52). |
| Court website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/burke-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Bowbells, make an asset and debt list. Separate probate property from jointly owned property, beneficiary-designated accounts, and property that may pass outside the court case. That first list of what exists will determine whether estate settlement needs a court filing, a paper original will, creditor steps, or sale authority.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets, loans, and other items before they choose a filing path. In Burke County, that preparation matters because the clerk's counter hours change by season and the office closes for lunch, so a complete packet can save a second trip.
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 Burke 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 Burke County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Bowbells. Burke County is one of 3 counties in the North Central Judicial District, which 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).
Venue is tied to the North Dakota venue chapter and the decedent's domicile information in the filing papers (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13; N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01). Burke County communities include Bowbells, Columbus, Flaxton, Lignite, Portal, and Powers Lake.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, will status, and the county tied to the decedent's domicile before choosing an application or petition (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13; N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01).
- Prepare the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials for an informal case, or prepare a petition for a formal case. The statewide informal materials are available through ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, and formal matters use documents you create or have a lawyer prepare.
- File with the clerk of district court in Burke County at 103 Main St. NE, Bowbells, ND 58721, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 219, Bowbells, ND 58721 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). Call (701) 377-2718 before visiting because counter hours change by season and the office closes for lunch.
- Pay the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025, unless a fee waiver request is granted through the ndcourts.gov fee waiver process (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03).
- If a will exists, deliver the original will on paper. Represented parties use Odyssey for electronic filing, while self-represented filers may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier, or may use Odyssey if they choose (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- The court reviews an informal probate application under Title 30.1, makes the required findings, issues a written statement of informal probate when applicable, and issues letters testamentary or letters of administration within ten working days after all informal requirements have been met (N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-14-02, 30.1-14-03, 30.1-14-07).
- If a hearing is set in a formal or contested matter, ask for reliable electronic means only by written motion. Serve the motion at least seven days before the proceeding, and expect the court to decide whether remote appearance is appropriate (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52).
- After appointment, administer the estate, handle creditor and distribution steps, keep required records, and complete the closing process under North Dakota law (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Burke County
Burke County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, local cover sheet, or local checklist. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help and the Guidebook for Informal Administration of an Estate.
The statewide materials include informal administration forms. The Center also warns that forms are not available for every informal situation, and that for a formal case you create the legal documents yourself or retain a lawyer to prepare them. A formal probate matter is governed by N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15.
Local nuance
Burke County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Seasonal clerk hours | The Bowbells office lists 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It also closes for lunch, but no exact lunch window is posted. Call (701) 377-2718 before traveling. |
| No general probate email listed | The only email shown for Burke County is labeled for jury service. For estate filing questions, use the phone number or mailing address instead of relying on email. |
| North Central Judicial District | Burke County is one of 3 counties in the North Central Judicial District with Mountrail and Ward (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). The district page lists its judges as chambered in Minot, but Burke County filings still go to Bowbells. |
| Travel intent | The supreme court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without needing to travel to chamber cities, but that is an intent statement and not a guarantee about every hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2014 | The North Central Judicial District was created in 2013 to be effective January 1, 2014, and Burke, Mountrail, and Ward Counties were transferred to that district from the Northwest Judicial District (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Burke County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by sorting which assets need estate settlement and which pass outside the estate. If a probate filing is needed, file with the clerk of district court in Bowbells, send any original will on paper, and plan around the seasonal hours and lunch closure (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5; N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06). | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, beneficiary designations, and property details before the spouse prepares a Burke County filing plan. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23) | A self-represented filer may mail papers to P.O. Box 219, Bowbells, ND 58721, use a commercial carrier, or use Odyssey if preferred. Do not rely on the jury-service email for an estate filing. Any original will still needs to reach the courthouse on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). | Sunset helps collect institution information, organize the asset list, and generate a packet checklist before the child mails or files papers. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires an appointed personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration. File in Bowbells, then the court issues letters within ten working days after informal requirements have been met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). Certified copy fees are $20, and additional copies of the same document are $10, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). | Sunset helps organize asset information, prepare the filing packet, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when sale authority or title work needs legal review. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Burke County courthouse page | Use this page for the Bowbells courthouse address, phone, fax, and current seasonal hours. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/burke-county |
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Statewide self-help materials, including the informal probate guidebook and form set (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1; ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help). | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| Informal Probate of an Estate | Statewide information and forms for informal probate and informal appointment (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14; ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help). | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/informal-probate |
| Filing Fee Waiver Request | Use this ndcourts.gov page if you need to ask the district court to waive the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Use Civil, Family & Probate Case Records, select Burke County, and remember that data is current through the end of the previous business day. | https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ |
| North Dakota Attorney Search | Find lawyers through the court system's lawyer search. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid. Call to ask whether your issue fits its services; nothing on this page promises probate representation. | https://lsnd.org, 1-800-634-5263, or 1-866-621-9886 for age 60 and over |
When to hire an attorney
State law says assistance of an attorney is not required for informal probate or appointment procedure (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1), but a lawyer often makes sense when there is a contested will, a formal case, real estate to sell, tax questions, creditor disputes, or disagreement among heirs. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets, loans, and other estate settlement items before filing in Burke County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized filing packet and checklist, so you know what goes to the Bowbells courthouse, what must be mailed, and what may need an original paper document.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a probate attorney who understands North Dakota district court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the next steps, and get connected to professional help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Burke County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Burke County Courthouse, 103 Main St. NE, Bowbells, ND 58721, or mail papers to P.O. Box 219, Bowbells, ND 58721 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
What are the clerk's hours in Bowbells?
The office lists 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It closes for lunch, but no exact lunch window is posted, so call (701) 377-2718 before visiting.
Can I email the Burke County clerk about a probate filing?
Use phone or mail for probate filing questions. The only email listed for Burke County is labeled for jury service, not general estate filing contact.
Do I have to e-file in Burke County if I am self-represented?
N.D.R.Ct. 3.5 exempts self-represented filers from the electronic filing requirement. You may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier, and you may use Odyssey if you choose.
Can I mail the original will to Burke County?
Yes. Original wills may be filed as paper documents, and the Burke County mailing address is P.O. Box 219, Bowbells, ND 58721 (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
How much does it cost to file probate in Burke County?
The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a probate, guardianship, or other testamentary case under Title 30.1 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). A fee waiver request is available through ndcourts.gov.
Are there Burke County probate forms?
Burke County does not publish county-specific probate forms. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, including the informal probate materials under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14.
Can I look up a Burke County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov, choose Civil, Family & Probate Case Records, and select Burke County. The system states that data is current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to Minot for a Burke County hearing?
Not automatically. Burke County is in the North Central Judicial District, and the supreme court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without needing to travel to chamber cities, but that is not a guarantee for every hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
How long until letters are issued in an informal Burke County case?
In an informal appointment, the court must 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.