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LaMoure County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | LaMoure County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in LaMoure County, at the LaMoure County Courthouse (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | LaMoure County Courthouse, 204 4th Ave NE, LaMoure, ND 58458 |
| Mailing address | LaMoure County Courthouse, PO Box 128, LaMoure, ND 58458 |
| Phone | Clerk of district court, LaMoure County: (701) 883-6050 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46) |
| Fax | Not listed on the LaMoure court location page |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing probate or another Title 30.1 testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule) |
| County probate forms | LaMoure County does not post county-specific probate forms. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. |
| E-filing | Represented parties file electronically 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, 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. Select LaMoure County and the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category. Case 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. The court decides the request (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52). |
| Court website | www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/lamoure-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or file anything in LaMoure County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account holders, real estate, and likely heirs. North Dakota filing choices depend on what property must pass through a court process, whether there is a will, and who has authority to act.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize the asset picture, and prepare for the LaMoure County filing conversation before paying the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03).
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 LaMoure County Courthouse (N.D. Const. art. VI, §§ 1, 8; N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). 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 LaMoure County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in LaMoure. LaMoure County is one of the 14 counties in the Southeast 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). An informal application must state the county and state of the decedent's domicile at death (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01).
The supreme court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without the need to travel to chamber cities, under the schedule and direction of the presiding judge of the district (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm the property picture first. Identify accounts, debts, real estate, the will if there is one, and who is asking to serve as personal representative. If the case is informal, use an application under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14. If the case is formal, use a petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15.
- Prepare the filing packet. For an informal will case, the statewide materials include the application, proposed statement, and Letters Testamentary. For an intestate informal case, they include the application, proposed statement, and Letters of Administration. The court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration after the statutory requirements are met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07).
- File with the clerk of district court at the LaMoure County Courthouse, 204 4th Ave NE, LaMoure, or mail the packet to PO Box 128, LaMoure, ND 58458 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). The counter is open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Handle electronic filing correctly. Represented parties use Odyssey. A self-represented filer may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier, or may use Odyssey. Original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- Pay the filing fee or request a waiver. The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing probate or another Title 30.1 testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). The Judiciary provides a fee waiver request at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
- Give required notices for the filing route you are using. If the personal representative uses the notice to creditors process, follow the publication and mailing rules in N.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-01, and read the claim consequences in N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19.
- Watch for hearing issues. Informal probate can proceed without a court appearance or court hearing when the statutory requirements are met (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14). Formal probate has hearings under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. A request to appear by reliable electronic means must follow N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52.
- Receive authority from the court. In informal proceedings, the court reviews the application, makes the statutory findings, issues the written statement of informal probate, and issues letters testamentary or letters of administration within ten working days after all requirements for informal proceedings have been met (N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-14-02, 30.1-14-03, 30.1-14-07).
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative handles estate assets, creditor issues, inventory and appraisement timing under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-06, claim issues under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19, and closing under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in LaMoure County
LaMoure County does not post county-specific probate forms or a county cover sheet for decedent estate filings. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, including the informal administration Guidebook and form set.
The statewide informal materials include Form 2, Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of a Personal Representative; Form 3, Statement of Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of a Personal Representative; Form 4, Letters Testamentary; Form 17, Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative in Intestacy; Form 18, Statement of Informal Appointment of Personal Representative; and Form 19, Letters of Administration. These materials are posted by the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help and are used with N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14.
The Center warns that its forms are not required to be accepted by every court. It also states that forms are not provided for formal proceedings and are not available for every situation that may arise in an informal proceeding.
If you want a printed probate forms set from the clerk, the listed charge is $5, effective July 1, 2025, under the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03).
Local nuance
LaMoure County-specific considerations
The LaMoure County Courthouse counter hours include a lunch closure. Plan filings for 8:30 a.m. to noon or 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The courthouse information for LaMoure County lists on-street parking, a parking lot on the east side, doors on the south, east, and west sides, an east door with handicapped entrance, an elevator on the west end of the hall, the clerk's office in the rotunda on the main floor, and the courtroom on the second floor.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely LaMoure County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets actually need court authority. If a probate filing is needed, the application goes to the clerk of district court at the LaMoure County Courthouse, the original will goes there on paper, and the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025, applies under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize property and debt information, and generate a probate packet for local review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If a court filing is needed, a self-represented filer may mail paper documents to PO Box 128, LaMoure, ND 58458, use a commercial carrier, or use Odyssey if preferred (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). Any use of the statewide personal property affidavit route is governed by N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23. | Sunset helps decide what assets exist, identify whether a court filing is likely, and prepare documents that reduce unnecessary travel. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires an appointed personal representative with letters. File the application with the clerk of district court in LaMoure County, then 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). Certified copies 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 assemble the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Statewide self-help pages, the informal probate Guidebook, informal forms, the personal property affidavit page, and fee waiver materials. | ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| LaMoure County clerk of district court | Contact the clerk for questions about a case already filed in LaMoure County. The clerk receives filings, collects fees, and keeps the court file (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). | (701) 883-6050; [email protected] |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Search the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category and select LaMoure County. Information is current through the end of the previous business day. | publicsearch.ndcourts.gov |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid intake. The available information does not say whether it accepts decedent estate matters. | lsnd.org; under 60: 1-800-634-5263; age 60 and over: 1-866-621-9886 |
| Attorney Search | The Judiciary links to attorney search resources for finding North Dakota lawyers. | ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if there is a dispute, a home must be sold, the will is unclear, a formal petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 is needed, creditor issues under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19 are difficult, or you are unsure which assets require estate settlement through the district court in LaMoure County (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06). Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps you build the asset list needed for estate settlement, including accounts that may not be obvious from paper statements.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a LaMoure County-ready probate packet for review, including the documents needed to start an informal filing under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14 when that path fits.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, a real estate sale, a formal petition, or help with creditor issues, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted North Dakota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement platform to organize assets, tasks, and probate documents without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in LaMoure County?
File with the clerk of district court at the LaMoure County Courthouse, 204 4th Ave NE, LaMoure, ND 58458, or mail the filing to PO Box 128, LaMoure, ND 58458 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
What are the clerk's hours in LaMoure, and is the office open at lunch?
The LaMoure County Courthouse hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Do I have to e-file in LaMoure County if I am self-represented?
No. Under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, represented parties file through Odyssey, but self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier. A self-represented filer may use Odyssey if preferred.
Can I mail the original will to the LaMoure County Courthouse?
Yes. N.D.R.Ct. 3.5 allows original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance to be filed as paper documents. Mail them to LaMoure County Courthouse, PO Box 128, LaMoure, ND 58458, or deliver them during counter hours.
How much does it cost to file probate in LaMoure County?
The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing probate or another Title 30.1 testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule).
Are there LaMoure County probate forms?
LaMoure County does not post county-specific probate forms. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. The Center warns that its forms are not required to be accepted by every court.
Can I look up a LaMoure County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov, select LaMoure County, and choose Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. The site states that information is current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel for a hearing in LaMoure County?
Informal probate can proceed without a court appearance or court hearing when the requirements of N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14 are met. Formal probate has hearings under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. The supreme court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without the need to travel to chamber cities, but that is not a guarantee for every hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
Can I appear by video or telephone?
A party may request a proceeding by reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. The motion must be written, 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 time for good cause.
How long until letters are issued in LaMoure County?
In an informal proceeding, 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.