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Slope County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Slope County details |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Slope County, at the Slope County Courthouse in Amidon. North Dakota district courts have the general jurisdiction described in N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06, and clerk duties are described in N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46. |
| Courthouse address | Slope County Courthouse, 206 Main St., Amidon, ND 58620. |
| Mailing | The Judiciary publishes no separate mailing address for Slope County. Use the courthouse address for mailed filings unless the clerk gives different current instructions. |
| Phone | (701) 879-6275. |
| Fax | (701) 879-6278, as a contact detail only. |
| Hours | The Judiciary page lists 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The county's own clerk of district court page lists regular hours as 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain time, Monday through Friday, with summer hours from June through September of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday. Call (701) 879-6275 before traveling because the two published schedules differ. |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing probate, guardianship, or any other testamentary case under Title 30.1 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). |
| Local forms | No Slope County probate forms are published. 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 may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by third party 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). |
| Case search | Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/, select Slope County, and choose Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| Remote appearance | For a hearing, the court may allow reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52 after a written motion. The rule is discretionary. |
| Website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/slope-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Slope County, make a working list of assets, debts, titled property, account balances, and possible creditor issues. The right estate settlement path depends on what exists, who is entitled to act, whether there is an original will, and whether the estate needs a personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07.
Sunset helps families start with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then turns what is found into an organized probate packet for the Slope County filing location. That preparation matters here because the original will still needs to reach the courthouse on paper 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 Slope 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 Slope County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Amidon. Slope 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).
An informal application must state the county and state of the decedent's domicile at the time of death, or state the basis for venue if the decedent was not domiciled in North Dakota (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01; N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the local filing place. For Slope County, file with the clerk of district court at the Slope County Courthouse, 206 Main St., Amidon, ND 58620. Clerk duties are described in N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
- Prepare the correct North Dakota papers. Informal probate uses an application under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14. Formal probate uses a petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials when they fit the situation, and get legal help when they do not.
- Get the original will to the courthouse if there is one. Original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed on paper even when other documents are filed through Odyssey (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- File the papers and pay the fee. The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing probate, guardianship, or any other testamentary case under Title 30.1 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). If you need a fee waiver, use the North Dakota court fee waiver materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
- Handle notice for the type of case you opened. If a personal representative chooses to publish notice to creditors, North Dakota law ties that notice and creditor claims process to N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-19-01 and 30.1-19-03.
- If a hearing is set, ask about remote participation correctly. A party seeking reliable electronic means must use the written-motion process in N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52, including service at least seven days before the proceeding and any response at least four days before the proceeding, unless the court shortens time for good cause.
- Wait for the court's authority documents. In 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).
- Administer the estate and finish the case under the applicable North Dakota closing procedure (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21). Keep certified copies in mind when banks, buyers, or title companies ask for proof of authority; certified copies are charged under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Slope County
There are no Slope County probate forms and no local cover sheet published for this courthouse. A Slope County filer uses the statewide materials published through the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1 says the court shall provide the necessary forms to an applicant who requests aid using the informal probate or appointment procedure, that the forms and explanatory materials are prepared by the state court administrator and provided at cost, and that assistance of an attorney is not required for that informal procedure. The online materials are available through ndcourts.gov, and a printed form set from the clerk is $5, effective July 1, 2025, under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03 and the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule.
The Center also warns that its forms are not official court forms, courts are not required to accept them, and there is no guarantee every judge and court will accept them. It also states that forms are not available for every informal situation and that a person bringing formal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 must create the documents or retain a lawyer to create them.
Local nuance
Slope County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Slope County filing |
|---|---|
| Published hours differ | The Judiciary page lists 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The county's own clerk of district court page lists 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain time, Monday through Friday, with June through September summer hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday. Call (701) 879-6275 before traveling. |
| No separate mailing address on the Judiciary page | Use the courthouse address, 206 Main St., Amidon, ND 58620, for the filing unless the clerk gives different current instructions. |
| Southwest Judicial District travel context | Slope County is in the Southwest Judicial District under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6. 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 an intent statement, not a guarantee for every hearing. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | 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. |
| Slope County hours | The Judiciary page and the county's own clerk of district court page publish different hours. Call (701) 879-6275 before traveling to Amidon. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Slope County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming what assets are probate property and whether a personal representative must be appointed. If an estate is opened, file at the Slope County Courthouse in Amidon and send the original will on paper if there is one (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). | Sunset identifies accounts and property leads, organizes the estate settlement file, and helps prepare a probate packet for the local filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check whether the statewide personal-property affidavit route under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 fits before opening a court case. If a case is needed, a self-represented filer may use paper filing by mail or commercial carrier and may use Odyssey if preferred (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). The original will still needs to reach the courthouse on paper. | Sunset helps determine what institutions hold assets, flags whether a court filing may be needed, and organizes papers so the child can work with the Amidon courthouse or a local attorney. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires a personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration. File the application in Amidon, then the court issues letters within ten working days after all informal requirements are met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). Certified copies are $20, with additional copies of the same document at $10, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). | Sunset helps assemble asset information for the lawyer or court filing, prepares a packet, and can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Statewide online probate self-help materials, including informal probate, formal probate overview, personal property affidavit information, the guidebook and forms, and the fee waiver request. Use ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| Slope County Judiciary page | Courthouse address, phone, fax, and the Judiciary's published hours for the Slope County filing location. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/slope-county |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Case search portal for Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Select Slope County. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. | https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ |
| North Dakota Attorney Search | Search for a North Dakota lawyer through the Judiciary's lawyer search page. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid organization. Its listed practice areas include government benefits, family, health, consumer, housing, and elderly law. Call to ask whether your situation fits its services. | Under age 60: 1-800-634-5263. Age 60 and over: 1-866-621-9886. https://lsnd.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel makes sense when there is real estate to sell, disagreement among heirs or devisees, uncertainty about who has priority under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-13-03, creditor issues, missing heirs, a formal probate petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, or any request for supervised administration under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-16. Sunset connects 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, balances, and asset leads before the Slope County estate settlement filing is prepared.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized packet for the district court in Slope County, including the local filing address, the $160 filing fee effective July 1, 2025 under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03, and reminders about sending the original will on paper under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, a home sale, a formal probate filing, or help with disputes, Sunset can help connect the family with a North Dakota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and get matched with legal help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Slope County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Slope County Courthouse, 206 Main St., Amidon, ND 58620. North Dakota district court jurisdiction is described in N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06, and clerk duties are described in N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
What are the clerk's hours in Amidon?
The Judiciary page lists 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The county's own clerk of district court page lists regular hours as 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain time, Monday through Friday, with summer hours from June through September when the office closes at noon on Friday. Call (701) 879-6275 before traveling because the two published schedules differ.
Do I have to e-file in Slope County if I am handling this myself?
No. Under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by third party commercial carrier. If a self-represented filer wants to file electronically, the filing must use Odyssey under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5.
Can I mail the original will to the Slope 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. Use the Slope County Courthouse address unless the clerk gives different current instructions.
How much does it cost to file probate in Slope County?
The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing probate, guardianship, or any other testamentary case under Title 30.1 (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 Slope County probate forms?
No Slope County probate forms are published. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1 addresses court-provided forms for informal probate or appointment proceedings under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14.
Can I look up a Slope County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/. Select Slope County and choose Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Data is current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to Dickinson for a hearing?
Slope County is in the Southwest Judicial District under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6. 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. Informal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14 does not use a hearing in the ordinary informal path, while formal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 includes hearings.
Can I appear by video in a Slope County probate hearing?
The court may conduct a civil proceeding by reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. A party must first try to contact the other parties about agreement or objection, then file a written motion stating the reasons and whether the parties agree. The motion must be served at least seven days before the proceeding, any response at least four days before, and the court decides.
How long until letters are issued in an informal Slope County probate?
For 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).
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.