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Morton County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Morton County details |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Morton County, at the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | Morton County Courthouse, 210 2nd Ave NW, Mandan, ND 58554 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for Morton County. Use the courthouse address for paper filings. |
| Phone | (701) 667-3358, ext. 1 for the clerk's office |
| Fax | (701) 667-3474 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing probate under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03 and the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule |
| Local forms | No Morton County probate forms are published. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at https://www.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 commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if preferred. Original wills may be filed as paper documents (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). |
| Case search | North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry, https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/. Select Morton County and the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| Remote appearance | A court may allow reliable electronic means for a proceeding on its own motion or on a party's motion. A written motion procedure applies (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52). |
| Court website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/morton-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or contact the clerk, list what the person owned, how each asset was titled, what debts exist, and whether an original will exists. Estate settlement in Morton County turns first on the asset picture, then on the correct North Dakota procedure.
Sunset can help assemble that picture with 2,300-institution asset discovery, then organize the information you need before filing at the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan or using Odyssey under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5.
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 Morton 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 Morton County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Mandan. Morton County is one of the 9 counties in the South Central Judicial District, which is how judges and district administration are organized; 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 Morton County Courthouse in Mandan serves all of Morton County. Venue in North Dakota probate is governed by N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13, and 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 jurisdiction process
- Identify the procedure and document type. Informal probate uses an application under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14. A formal proceeding uses a petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. If you are unsure which path fits, talk with a lawyer before filing.
- Prepare the statewide packet. Morton County does not publish a local probate form or local cover sheet. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, and remember that the Center says its forms are not official court forms and courts are not required to accept them.
- File with the clerk of district court in Morton County at the Morton County Courthouse, 210 2nd Ave NW, Mandan, ND 58554, during the published 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. courthouse hours. The clerk of district court receives filings and maintains the record under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
- Handle e-filing correctly. Represented parties file electronically through Odyssey. A self-represented filer may file paper documents in person, by mail or by commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if preferred. 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 probate filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03 and the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule. Fee waiver information is available through the North Dakota Courts at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
- Let the court act on the application. In an informal probate matter, the court reviews the application, makes the findings required by statute, issues a 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 any hearing issue. Informal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14 is designed to proceed without a court appearance or without a court hearing when the correct papers and procedures are used. If a formal proceeding under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 or a contested matter requires a hearing, a party who wants remote appearance by reliable electronic means must follow the written motion procedure in N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52.
- Administer the estate after appointment. The personal representative uses letters testamentary or letters of administration as authority (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07), handles claims under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19, and prepares the inventory and appraisement within six months after appointment or nine months after death, whichever is later (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-06).
- Complete the closing steps. When administration is ready to end, follow the applicable North Dakota closing procedure under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21 and keep copies of filings, letters and receipts for the estate file.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Morton County
There are no Morton County probate forms and no Morton County local cover sheet published for probate. Morton County filers use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, including the informal administration guidebook and related forms.
The statewide informal form set is tied to North Dakota's informal probate process under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14. The court must provide necessary forms to an applicant who requests help using the informal probate or appointment procedure, and the assistance of an attorney is not required for that informal process (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1).
Use the forms carefully. The North Dakota Legal Self Help Center says its forms are not official court forms and courts are not required to accept them. It also says forms are not available for formal proceedings under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, so a formal filing generally requires documents you prepare yourself or documents prepared by counsel.
Local nuance
Morton County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do in Morton County |
|---|---|
| Use the clerk's-office extension | The courthouse phone number has separate routing. For probate filing questions, call (701) 667-3358, ext. 1 for the clerk's office, not the jury-line extension. |
| Use the courthouse address for paper filing | No separate mailing address is published for Morton County. Use Morton County Courthouse, 210 2nd Ave NW, Mandan, ND 58554. |
| File in Mandan, not elsewhere in the district | Morton County is in the South Central Judicial District under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6, but the case is filed at this county's own courthouse. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Morton County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by sorting title, debt and whether any asset needs a personal representative. If probate is needed, file at the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan and call (701) 667-3358, ext. 1 for clerk's-office questions. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and property facts before you decide what needs to be filed. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Review the North Dakota personal property route under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 before opening a court case. If a court filing is needed, a self-represented filer may mail paper documents or use a commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if preferred (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). | Sunset organizes institution contacts and gives you a clearer asset list before you spend time preparing 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 Mandan; the court issues letters within ten working days after the informal-proceeding requirements are met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). | Sunset helps build the probate packet and can 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 | Publishes statewide probate information, the informal administration guidebook, and related form materials. The Center does not give legal advice. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| Morton County courthouse page | Lists the Mandan courthouse address, clerk's-office phone extension, fax, email and regular courthouse hours. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/morton-county |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Use the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category and select Morton County. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. | https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ |
| North Dakota attorney search | Search for North Dakota lawyers through the court system's lawyer directory. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid program. Call intake to ask whether your issue fits its services. | https://lsnd.org/; under age 60: 1-800-634-5263; age 60 and over: 1-866-621-9886 |
When to hire an attorney
Consider speaking with a probate attorney if the will is disputed, a formal proceeding under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 is needed, a home must be sold, heirs disagree, creditor issues are significant, or you are unsure which documents to file in Morton County. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify financial accounts, insurance, debts and other assets so estate settlement starts with a clearer inventory rather than guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized packet for the filing path you choose, with Morton County courthouse details included for local filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, formal proceeding or title issue needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process, understand next steps and decide when attorney help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Morton County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Morton County Courthouse, 210 2nd Ave NW, Mandan, ND 58554. The clerk of district court receives filings and maintains the record under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46, and the district court has jurisdiction under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06.
What are the clerk's hours in Mandan?
The published courthouse hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call (701) 667-3358, ext. 1 for the clerk's office before you travel if timing matters.
What phone number reaches the Morton County clerk's office?
Call (701) 667-3358, ext. 1 for the clerk's office. The same base number also has a jury-line extension, so use extension 1 for probate filing questions.
Do I have to e-file in Morton County if I am self-represented?
No. Under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, represented parties file electronically through Odyssey, but a self-represented filer may file paper documents in person, by mail or by commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if preferred.
Can I mail the original will to the Morton 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 are mailing an original will, use the Morton County Courthouse address because no separate mailing address is published for Morton County.
How much does it cost to file probate in Morton County?
The probate filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03 and the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule. Fee waiver information is available through the North Dakota Courts at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
Are there Morton County probate forms?
No Morton County probate forms are published. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. The Center says its forms are not official court forms and courts are not required to accept them.
Can I look up a Morton County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ and select Morton County under 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 for a hearing in Morton County?
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). If a hearing is set and you want to request remote appearance by reliable electronic means, follow the written motion procedure in N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52.
How long until letters are issued in an informal Morton County probate?
After all requirements for informal proceedings have been met, the court must issue letters testamentary or letters of administration within ten working days (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.