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Griggs County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Griggs County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Griggs County, at the Griggs County Courthouse in Cooperstown (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06). |
| Courthouse address | Griggs County Courthouse, 805 Odegard Ave SW, Cooperstown, ND 58425. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 326, Cooperstown, ND 58425. |
| Phone | Clerk of district court in Griggs County: (701) 797-2772 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). |
| [email protected]. | |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call before arriving around noon. |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a probate case under Title 30.1 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). |
| Local forms | No Griggs County probate forms or local cover sheet. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. |
| E-filing | Represented parties use Odyssey. Self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file on paper in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier; original wills may be filed as paper documents (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). |
| Case search | Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov, choose Griggs County, and use Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| Remote appearance | A party may ask for a reliable electronic means proceeding by written motion served at least seven days before the proceeding, with any response served at least four days before, subject to court approval (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52). |
| Court website | www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/griggs-county. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Cooperstown, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, bills, and named beneficiaries. Venue depends on domicile and other facts stated in the probate papers, and the filing belongs with the clerk of district court in the county courthouse when Griggs County is the proper county (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13; N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
Estate settlement is easier when the asset list is complete. Sunset can search across more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they prepare a Griggs County filing packet.
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 Griggs 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 Griggs County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Cooperstown (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). Griggs County is one of the 14 counties in the Southeast Judicial District, along with Barnes, Dickey, Eddy, Foster, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Stutsman and Wells; the district name explains judge and administration organization, but 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 county seat is Cooperstown. The local community references available for this page are Cooperstown, Binford and Hannaford.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Griggs County is the right place to file. The application asks for the decedent's domicile and other venue facts, so collect asset, debt, family, will, and address information before going to the courthouse (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13; N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01).
- Choose the correct statewide packet. An informal probate or informal appointment case uses an application under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14. A formal probate or formal testacy case uses a petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15.
- File with the clerk of district court at 805 Odegard Ave SW, Cooperstown, ND 58425, or mail the papers to P.O. Box 326, Cooperstown, ND 58425 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). The Griggs County counter hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Use the correct filing method. Represented parties file through Odyssey. Self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and 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, unless a fee waiver request is granted through the North Dakota court process at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03).
- For an informal case, the court reviews the application, makes the required findings, and issues the written statement of informal probate when the statutory requirements are met (N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-14-02, 30.1-14-03). If appointment is granted, the court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration within ten working days after all informal requirements have been met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07).
- After appointment, the personal representative decides whether to publish notice to creditors. If notice is used, creditor claim timing follows N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-19-01 and 30.1-19-03.
- Prepare the inventory and appraisement within six months after appointment, or nine months after the death of the decedent, whichever is later. The personal representative may file the original inventory with the court or mail copies as the statute allows (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-06).
- Administer assets, pay allowed expenses and claims, distribute property, and close the estate under North Dakota probate procedures (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Griggs County
There are no Griggs County probate forms and no local cover sheet. Filers use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
The statewide informal probate materials are prepared under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1, which says the court shall provide the necessary forms to an applicant who requests aid in using the informal probate or appointment procedure. The North Dakota Legal Self Help Center also warns that its forms do not cover every situation, and a person bringing a case under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 must create the needed papers or retain a lawyer to create them.
For a Griggs County filing, send or bring the papers to the clerk of district court at the Cooperstown courthouse, and remember that an original will may be filed as a paper document even when other documents are filed through Odyssey (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
Local nuance
Griggs County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Griggs County filing |
|---|---|
| Split courthouse day | The Griggs County courthouse lists hours as 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan filings, calls, and pickup of issued letters around the noon closure. |
| Travel question | The Southeast Judicial District page lists judges in Ellendale, Wahpeton, New Rockford, Jamestown and Valley City, not Cooperstown. The North Dakota 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, not a promise about any particular hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). |
| Hearing attendance rules | The Griggs County page says that, while attending court, electronic devices including cell phones must be turned off, and that purses, backpacks, food, hats and caps are not allowed. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Griggs County was transferred to the Southeast Judicial District from the Northeast Central Judicial District, according to the Southeast Judicial District history page (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). |
| July 1, 2025 | The filing fee for a probate case under Title 30.1 is $160, effective July 1, 2025, under the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by sorting which assets need a Griggs County probate filing and which do not. If appointment is needed, file the statewide application with the clerk of district court in Cooperstown, bring or mail the original will on paper, and plan around the noon closure (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D.R.Ct. 3.5; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare a filing packet for local review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the estate fits a small-estate path under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23, confirm the correct route before opening a case. If a Griggs County filing is needed, a self-represented filer may mail paper documents to P.O. Box 326, Cooperstown, ND 58425, use a commercial carrier, or use Odyssey by choice; an original will still goes to the courthouse on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). | Sunset helps gather institution information, create an asset list, and coordinate with a local attorney if the papers need legal review. |
| 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 Cooperstown. After the informal requirements are met, letters issue within ten working days under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07. Certified copies cost $20, effective July 1, 2025, and additional copies of the same document cost $10, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). | Sunset helps identify assets and debts, assemble the probate packet, and connect the family with a vetted attorney for sale-related questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Griggs County courthouse page | Use www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/griggs-county for the Cooperstown courthouse address, mailing address, phone, email, and local hours. |
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Use ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help for statewide probate forms, the informal probate guidebook, and the fee waiver request information. The Center provides legal information, not representation. |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Use publicsearch.ndcourts.gov, select Griggs County, and choose Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| North Dakota Attorney Search | Use the lawyer search at ndcourts.gov/lawyers if you need a North Dakota attorney. |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Legal Services of North Dakota is statewide civil legal aid at lsnd.org. Intake is 1-800-634-5263 for people under 60 and 1-866-621-9886 for people 60 and over. Call to ask whether your issue fits its services. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a lawyer if the family disagrees, a will may be challenged, a home must be sold, creditors are active, the estate needs formal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, or you are unsure whether Griggs County is the right 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 locate bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other accounts so the Griggs County estate settlement starts from a complete asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the North Dakota forms, including the local Cooperstown filing address, mailing address, and original-will paper filing point (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted attorney familiar with North Dakota district court probate practice (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06).
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools are free for families, including asset discovery, probate packet organization, and attorney matching.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Griggs County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Griggs County Courthouse, 805 Odegard Ave SW, Cooperstown, ND 58425, or mail the papers to P.O. Box 326, Cooperstown, ND 58425 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
What are the Griggs County clerk hours in Cooperstown?
The listed hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call (701) 797-2772 before planning a noon-hour visit.
Do I have to e-file in Griggs County if I am self-represented?
No. Self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier. If a self-represented filer chooses electronic filing, the system is Odyssey (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
Can I mail the original will to the Cooperstown courthouse?
Yes. Original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents, so the original will may be mailed or delivered to the Griggs County Courthouse even when other documents are filed through Odyssey (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
How much does it cost to file probate in Griggs County?
The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a probate case under Title 30.1 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule).
Are there Griggs County probate forms?
There are no Griggs County probate forms or local cover sheet. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center probate materials and guidebook at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. The informal packet is tied to N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1.
Can I look up a Griggs County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov. Select Griggs County and the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category. The system states that data is current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to another city for a Griggs County hearing?
The North Dakota 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 a particular hearing. Griggs County is in the Southeast Judicial District (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
Can I ask to attend a Griggs County hearing by video?
A party may ask for a proceeding by reliable electronic means. The request is a written motion, it must be served at least seven days before the proceeding, and any response must be served at least four days before the proceeding unless the court shortens the time for good cause (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52).
How long until letters are issued in an informal Griggs County case?
For 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).
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.