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Logan County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Logan County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Logan County, at the Logan County Courthouse in Napoleon (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | Logan County Courthouse, 301 Broadway, Napoleon, ND 58561 |
| Mailing address | Logan County Courthouse, 301 Broadway, Napoleon, ND 58561 |
| Clerk phone | (701) 754-2751 |
| Clerk email | [email protected] |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a probate case under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03 |
| Local forms | No county-specific form set is published. Logan County uses 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 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. Select Logan 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 by written motion under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. The court decides. |
| Court website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/logan-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Napoleon, list the assets, debts, account holders, real property, vehicles, taxes, and expected creditor issues. The right estate settlement path depends on what is in the estate and what documents the court needs, not just on whether there is a will.
Sunset can help you start with a fuller asset picture. Its 2,300-institution asset discovery looks for accounts and property clues before you generate a probate packet for Logan County.
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 Logan 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 Logan County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Napoleon. The clerk of district court takes filings, keeps the record, and handles money paid to that office under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
Logan 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 the time of death (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing packet. Use an application for informal probate or informal appointment under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14, or a petition if the case needs formal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. Logan County does not publish a county-specific probate form set.
- File with the clerk of district court at the Logan County Courthouse, 301 Broadway, Napoleon, ND 58561. The counter is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closes for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Handle electronic filing correctly. Represented parties file through Odyssey, while self-represented filers may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if they choose. Original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- Pay the filing fee. The probate filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03. If you cannot afford the fee, review the filing fee waiver information at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
- Let the court act on the application. In an informal proceeding, the court reviews the application, makes the findings required by statute, 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).
- Address notice and creditor issues. A personal representative may publish notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks and mail notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors; claim timing depends on that choice (N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-19-01, 30.1-19-03).
- Schedule hearings only if the case requires them. Informal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14 is designed to proceed without a court appearance or court hearing when the correct papers and procedures are used. Formal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 involves court hearings.
- If a hearing is set and travel is a problem, ask about reliable electronic means. A written motion under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52 must state why the remote procedure is appropriate, must say whether the parties agree, and must be served at least seven days before the proceeding unless the court shortens time for good cause.
- Use the letters to administer the estate. Letters testamentary or letters of administration are the authority documents used by the personal representative under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07.
- Administer and close the estate. Track assets, debts, notices, distributions, and any required filings, then complete closing steps under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21 when the estate is ready to close.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Logan County
Logan County does not publish its own county-specific probate forms or cover sheet. Use the statewide materials from the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, including the informal probate guidebook and the personal property affidavit information when that statewide procedure under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 fits the estate.
North Dakota law says the court shall provide necessary forms to an applicant who requests aid in using the informal probate or appointment procedure, and that the assistance of an attorney is not required for informal probate or appointment procedure (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1). The Center also warns that its forms are not official court forms, courts are not required to accept them in every situation, and forms are not provided for every informal situation or for formal proceedings.
Local nuance
Logan County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to know before you go |
|---|---|
| Lunch closure | The Logan County Courthouse hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a closure from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Plan filing trips around the midday closure. |
| Courtroom and elevator | The courtroom is on the second floor. The elevator is on the south end of the building by the clerk's office. |
| Parking | Parking is on the west side of the building on Broadway and on the south side of the building on Avenue B. |
| Security | The published courtroom rules prohibit cell phones, hats, cameras, and electronic recording devices. Visitors are scanned by the Sheriff's Department, and purses and backpacks are searched. |
Recent updates
| Date | Change | What it means for Logan County |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2014 | N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6 was amended to move Logan County from the South Central Judicial District to the Southeast Judicial District. | Logan County probate is filed in Napoleon, and the county is now administered as part of the Southeast Judicial District under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6. |
| July 1, 2025 | The North Dakota Court Fee Schedule lists the probate filing fee as $160, effective July 1, 2025, under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03. | Use $160 as the current filing fee for a Logan County probate case unless the court grants a fee waiver through ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Logan County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by sorting which assets pass outside the estate and which assets require court authority. If a Logan County filing is needed, the application goes to the clerk of district court at 301 Broadway in Napoleon, the original will goes to the courthouse on paper under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, and the $160 filing fee effective July 1, 2025 applies under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize property information, and generate an estate settlement packet tailored to the court in Napoleon. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Review whether a statewide low-asset transfer procedure under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 fits before opening a court case. If a Logan County case is needed, a self-represented filer may send paper filings by mail or use Odyssey by choice under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, but the original will still needs to reach the courthouse on paper. | Sunset helps compare the asset list against the available paths, prepare documents, and reduce unnecessary travel for estate settlement steps that can be handled from out of state. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often requires an appointed personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration. File the application in Napoleon, then the court issues letters within ten working days after all informal requirements are met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). | Sunset helps assemble the asset picture, create the probate packet, and connect the family with a local probate attorney if a sale, title issue, or dispute needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Publishes statewide probate materials, including the informal probate guidebook, personal property affidavit information under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23, formal probate overview under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, and fee waiver information. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| Logan courthouse location page | Lists the courthouse address, mailing address, phone, email, hours, courthouse directions, parking directions, and courtroom rules for the Logan County Courthouse. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/logan-county |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Lets you search Civil, Family & Probate Case Records by selecting Logan County. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. | https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ |
| Attorney Search | Provides a North Dakota courts lawyer search when you need to locate counsel. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid with intake lines. Its listed practice areas are Government Benefits, Family, Health, Consumer, Housing, and Elderly Law. | https://lsnd.org/; under age 60: 1-800-634-5263; age 60 and over: 1-866-621-9886 |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, real property must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, a formal proceeding under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 is needed, or you are unsure whether the Logan County filing packet is complete. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families build the asset picture before they choose an estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a Logan County probate packet, including the local courthouse details and filing steps for Napoleon.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted North Dakota probate attorney who understands district court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, discover assets, and understand the next step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Logan County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Logan County Courthouse, 301 Broadway, Napoleon, ND 58561. Probate is handled in the district court in Logan County under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06, and clerk duties are governed by N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
What are the clerk's hours in Napoleon, and is the office open at lunch?
The courthouse is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closes for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Call (701) 754-2751 before driving in if timing is close.
Do I have to e-file in Logan County if I am handling probate myself?
Represented parties file through Odyssey. 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).
Can I mail the original will to the Logan County Courthouse?
Original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5. If you plan to mail the original will, call the clerk of district court in Logan County first at (701) 754-2751.
How much does it cost to file probate in Logan County?
The probate filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03. If you cannot afford the filing fee, review the fee waiver materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
Are there Logan County probate forms?
Logan County does not publish county-specific probate forms. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. The informal form set is addressed by N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1, and the Center says its forms are not official court forms and are not available for every situation.
Can I look up a Logan County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov and select Logan County. The search category includes Civil, Family & Probate Case Records, and the data is current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to another city for a hearing?
Logan County is in the Southeast Judicial District under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6. The supreme court states an intent that residents receive judicial services in their own county without needing to travel to chamber cities, but that is not a guarantee for every setting. Ask the clerk what has been scheduled in your case.
Can I appear by video for a Logan County probate hearing?
For a proceeding that has a hearing, a party may ask for reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. The request is made by written motion, generally served at least seven days before the proceeding, with any response served at least four days before. The court decides whether to allow it.
How long until letters are issued in an informal 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). That timing starts when the requirements are met, not simply when papers first arrive.
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.