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Golden Valley County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Golden Valley County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Golden Valley County, at the Golden Valley County Courthouse in Beach (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | Golden Valley County Courthouse, 150 1st Avenue SE, Beach, ND 58621 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing line is posted on the court page. Call the clerk before mailing if you need a P.O. box. |
| Phone | (701) 872-3713 |
| Fax | (701) 872-4383 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday (Mountain Time) |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule) |
| Local forms | No Golden Valley County probate form or local cover sheet is posted. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. |
| E-filing | Represented parties file electronically through Odyssey. A self-represented filer may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by third party commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if preferred (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). |
| Case search | North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry, publicsearch.ndcourts.gov. Select Golden Valley County. Information is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| Remote appearance | A party may ask for a proceeding by reliable electronic means by written motion under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. The court decides. |
| Court website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/golden-valley-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Beach, make a practical list of the decedent's assets, debts, title documents, account statements, and real property. The right estate settlement path depends on what exists, who is entitled to receive it, whether there is a will, and whether someone needs letters testamentary or letters of administration to act for the estate (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07).
Sunset helps families start with asset discovery before paperwork. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so you can identify accounts, insurance, investments, and liabilities before deciding what to file with the clerk of district court in Golden Valley County (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
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 Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Beach. Golden Valley County is one of the 8 counties in the Southwest 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).
The statewide venue chapter is N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13. For an informal filing, the application must state the county and state of the decedent's domicile at the time of death, and if the decedent was not domiciled in North Dakota, it must state facts showing venue (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing path and forms. Informal probate uses an application under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14, while formal probate uses a petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. Golden Valley County has not posted a local probate packet, so use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
- Prepare the papers for the Golden Valley County filing. If there is a will, plan for the original will to reach the courthouse on paper because original wills and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5.
- File with the clerk of district court at the Golden Valley County Courthouse, 150 1st Avenue SE, Beach, ND 58621 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). The counter closes at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Mountain Time, so call ahead before a special trip near the end of the week.
- Pay the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025, unless the court grants a fee waiver (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver). Represented parties file through Odyssey; a self-represented filer may file on paper or may use Odyssey (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- After appointment, decide how to handle creditor notice. A personal representative may publish notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks and mail notice to known and reasonably ascertainable creditors, which affects the claims deadline under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19 and N.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-01.
- If the matter is formal, contested, or otherwise set for a hearing, ask the court how scheduling will work. A request to use reliable electronic means must be made by written motion, served at least seven days before the proceeding, with any response served at least four days before, unless the court shortens time for good cause (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52).
- For an informal appointment, the court issues 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). The papers are filed with the clerk of district court, but the court acts on the application.
- Administer the estate, prepare the inventory required by N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-06, handle claims under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19, distribute assets, and close using the statewide closing procedures under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Golden Valley County
Golden Valley County has not posted a local probate form, local checklist, or local cover sheet. Filers use the statewide materials published by the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
For informal probate and informal appointment, N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1 says the court shall provide the necessary forms to an applicant who requests aid, and that the assistance of an attorney is not required for the informal procedure. The online materials include the Guidebook and Forms for Informal Administration of an Estate, revised August 2025, at ndcourts.gov.
The Center warns that its forms are not official court forms and that courts are not required to accept every form available through the Center. It also states that forms are not available for proceedings under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, and that some informal situations require a filer to draft a document or work with a lawyer.
Local nuance
Golden Valley County-specific considerations
The local fact that matters most for Golden Valley County is timing. The Golden Valley County Courthouse in Beach is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Mountain Time. If you are traveling to file an original will or to pay the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025, build around the short Friday schedule (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
Golden Valley County is in the Southwest Judicial District, and the court system states that residents of counties within a judicial district should receive judicial services in their own county without the need to travel to the chamber cities. That is a statement of intent, not a guarantee for every hearing, so call the clerk if a hearing is set in your case (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Persona | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home and accounts are titled. If a Golden Valley County filing is needed, the application goes to the clerk of district court at the courthouse in Beach, and the original will goes there on paper under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5. Plan around the 1:00 p.m. Friday closing in Mountain Time. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and generate a probate packet for estate settlement before you file locally. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Review the statewide options under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 before opening a case. If a Golden Valley County case is needed, a self-represented filer may send paper documents by mail or commercial carrier, or may use Odyssey if preferred, but the original will still must reach the courthouse on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). | Sunset helps determine what assets exist, whether an account needs court authority, and which documents should be mailed or filed for estate settlement in Beach. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale commonly requires an appointed personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration. File the application with the clerk of district court in Beach, then the court issues letters within ten working days after all informal requirements have been met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). | Sunset helps assemble asset information, prepare the filing packet, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a real estate sale makes the case more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Statewide self-help pages for informal probate, formal probate information, the personal property affidavit page, the informal guidebook, and the fee waiver request. Use the Center's probate forms with its warnings about acceptance and missing situations. | ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| Golden Valley County courthouse page | Local courthouse address, phone, fax, hours, and court website for filings at the Golden Valley County Courthouse in Beach. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/golden-valley-county |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Case search for Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Select Golden Valley County. Information is current through the end of the previous business day. | publicsearch.ndcourts.gov |
| North Dakota Attorney Search | State court attorney search for finding a North Dakota lawyer. | ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid with listed practice areas of Government Benefits, Family, Health, Consumer, Housing, and Elderly Law. Call to ask whether your issue fits its services. | lsnd.org; under age 60: 1-800-634-5263; age 60 and over: 1-866-621-9886 |
When to hire an attorney
You may be able to use the statewide informal probate materials without a lawyer because N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1 says the assistance of an attorney is not required for informal probate or appointment procedure. Counsel makes sense when family members disagree, a proceeding under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 is needed, real estate must be sold, creditors are active, or you are unsure who has priority to serve under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-13-03. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, investments, and liabilities before you choose the right estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet for the Golden Valley County filing, including the local courthouse details and the statewide North Dakota form path.
Find a local probate attorney. When a case needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a probate attorney familiar with North Dakota district court practice and rural courthouse logistics.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, locate assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Golden Valley County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Golden Valley County Courthouse, 150 1st Avenue SE, Beach, ND 58621 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
What are the clerk's hours in Beach?
The courthouse is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Mountain Time. Call before a special trip near the Friday closing time.
Do I have to e-file in Golden Valley County if I am handling this myself?
No. Under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, represented parties use Odyssey for electronic filing, but a self-represented filer may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by third party commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if preferred.
Can I mail the original will to the Golden Valley County Courthouse?
N.D.R.Ct. 3.5 allows original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance to be filed as paper documents. Because no separate mailing line is posted on the court page, call (701) 872-3713 before mailing if you need specific mailing instructions.
How much does it cost to file probate in Golden Valley County?
The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). A fee waiver request is available through ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
Are there Golden Valley County probate forms?
Golden Valley County has not posted a local probate form or local cover sheet. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. Informal probate materials are tied to N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14, and the Center warns that not every situation has a form.
Can I look up a Golden Valley County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov and select Golden Valley County. The system includes Civil, Family & Probate Case Records, and information is current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to another city for a hearing?
Golden Valley County is in the Southwest Judicial District. The supreme court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without the need to travel to the chamber cities, but that is not a guarantee for every hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
Can I ask for a remote appearance in a Golden Valley County probate case?
Yes, you may ask the court to conduct a proceeding by reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. The request is made by written motion, served at least seven days before the proceeding, with any response served at least four days before, unless the court shortens time for good cause.
How long until letters are issued in an informal Golden Valley County case?
For an informal appointment, the court issues 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). That period does not necessarily start on the day you first submit papers.
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.