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Steele County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Steele County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Steele County, at the Steele County Courthouse in Finley (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | Steele County Courthouse, 201 Washington Ave. W., Finley, ND 58230 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 296, Finley, ND 58230. The North Dakota Courts page prints the street address and P.O. box together. |
| Clerk phone | (701) 524-2152 |
| [email protected] | |
| Fax | None published for Steele County |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, closed for lunch; 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Call before driving to Finley because the lunch period is not stated. |
| 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 Steele County probate forms or local cover sheet 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. Self-represented filers may file paper documents in person, by mail or by commercial carrier, and may use Odyssey if they choose. Original wills may be filed on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). |
| Case lookup | North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/. Select Steele County and the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| Remote appearance | A proceeding may be conducted by reliable electronic means only if the court allows it under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. |
| Court website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/steele-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Finley, identify the assets, debts, account holders, titled property and likely family decision-makers. That asset map determines whether Steele County estate settlement needs a court filing, which authority document to request, and whether a personal representative will need letters testamentary or letters of administration under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07.
Sunset can help organize that first pass by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions, surfacing accounts and giving the family a cleaner starting point before the filing is prepared. For Steele County families, that can reduce extra trips to the courthouse during short Friday hours and the daily lunch closure.
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 Steele 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 Steele County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Finley. Steele County is one of the 3 counties in the East Central Judicial District, with Cass and Traill; that is how judges and district administration are organised, 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 courthouse in Finley serves Steele County communities including Finley, Hope, Luverne and Sharon. An informal application must state the county and state of the decedent's domicile at death, or if the decedent was not domiciled in North Dakota, facts showing venue (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01; N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct statewide paperwork. Use an application for informal probate or informal appointment under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14, or get legal help if the matter needs a petition under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. Steele County does not publish its own probate forms, and the statewide Legal Self Help Center explains that its forms do not cover every situation at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
- Prepare the filing for the Steele County Courthouse. If there is an original will, plan to get it to Finley on paper because original wills and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- File with the clerk of district court in Steele County at 201 Washington Ave. W. or by mail to P.O. Box 296, Finley, ND 58230. The clerk of district court receives filings, fees and court papers for the district court record (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46; N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06). The office closes for lunch and closes at 1:00 p.m. on Fridays.
- Pay the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025, unless the court waives it under the fee-waiver process linked by the North Dakota Courts site (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule; https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver). Ask the clerk's office what payment methods it accepts at the counter.
- After filing, the court reviews the informal application, makes the statutory findings and issues the written statement of informal probate or appointment if the requirements are met (N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-14-02, 30.1-14-03, 30.1-14-07). State law and court rules determine who within the court performs those acts.
- If creditor notice is part of the estate plan, follow the North Dakota notice to creditors rules. Publication is addressed in N.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-01, and claims deadlines are addressed in N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19.
- If the case requires a hearing, watch for the court's scheduling order. 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 (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
- If a hearing is set and travel is difficult, ask about reliable electronic means by written motion. The motion process, timing and court discretion are governed by N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52.
- Once all informal requirements have been met, the court must make its order of appointment and issue letters testamentary or letters of administration within ten working days (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). Those letters are the authority document banks, buyers and title companies usually ask to see.
- Administer the estate, keep track of inventory requirements under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-06, creditor-claim requirements under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19 and closing requirements under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Steele County
Steele County does not publish county-specific probate forms or a local cover sheet. A Steele County filer uses the statewide materials published through the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help, including the informal-probate guidebook and forms used across the state.
North Dakota law requires the court to provide necessary forms to an applicant who asks for help using the informal probate or appointment procedure, and says the assistance of an attorney is not required for that informal procedure (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1). The printed probate form set from the clerk is $5, effective July 1, 2025, under the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03), while the online materials are available through the court system's website.
The Legal Self Help Center warns that its forms are not official court forms, courts are not required to accept them, and not every situation has a form. It also states that forms are not available for proceedings under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, so a family using that route should create the documents carefully or work with a lawyer.
Local nuance
Steele County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Combined address line | The court lists Steele County Courthouse, 201 Washington Ave. W., P.O. Box 296, Finley, ND 58230. Use the street address for in-person delivery and the P.O. box for mail. |
| Short Friday hours | The clerk's office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, closed for lunch, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Call before driving to Finley because the lunch period is not stated. |
| Travel to chamber cities | Steele County is in the East Central Judicial District, and that district's judges are chambered in Fargo and Hillsboro. The supreme court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without needing to travel to chamber cities, but that does not guarantee the location or format of every hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | The court-published filing fee for probate, guardianship or any other testamentary case under Title 30.1 is $160, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). |
Scenarios
| Family situation | Likely Steele County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home and accounts are titled. If a court filing is needed, the application goes to the clerk of district court at the courthouse in Finley, and any original will should reach the courthouse on paper under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5. Plan around the daily lunch closure and the 1:00 p.m. Friday closing time. | Sunset helps locate accounts, organize ownership information and generate an estate settlement packet so the spouse is not starting from a blank page. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 | A self-represented filer may file paper documents by mail or commercial carrier, or may use Odyssey, under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5. The mailing address is P.O. Box 296, Finley, ND 58230. If an original will exists, it still needs to reach the courthouse on paper. | Sunset helps build the asset list, flag missing institutions and organize next steps before the child contacts the clerk of district court in Steele County. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires appointment of a personal representative and letters testamentary or letters of administration. After the informal requirements are met, the court must issue those letters within ten working days (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). Certified copies are $20, effective July 1, 2025, with additional copies of the same document at $10, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). | Sunset helps assemble the filing information, generate a probate packet and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale, title issue or family conflict makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Steele County courthouse page | Use it for the courthouse address, hours, phone and email for the clerk of district court in Steele County. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/steele-county |
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Publishes statewide informal-probate materials, the guidebook, the personal-property affidavit page, the overview for proceedings under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 and the fee-waiver request. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| Guidebook for informal administration | Explains the statewide informal process and forms for self-represented families. The guidebook is published by the North Dakota Courts system. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/Legal%20Resources/Legal%20Self%20Help/Probate/Guidebook-for-Informal-Admin-of-Estate.pdf |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Use the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category and select Steele County. Data is current through the end of the previous business day. | https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ |
| North Dakota attorney search | Search for licensed lawyers through the North Dakota Courts lawyer directory. | https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid for eligible North Dakotans. Its published practice areas do not state whether it accepts decedents' estate matters, so call intake to ask. | https://lsnd.org/; under age 60: 1-800-634-5263; age 60 and over: 1-866-621-9886 |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find bank, investment and other accounts that may belong in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet for review, so the Steele County filing is easier to prepare before papers go to Finley.
Find a local probate attorney. When a home must be sold, heirs disagree, creditors are active or a court hearing is likely, Sunset can help the family connect with a probate attorney who understands North Dakota practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process, reduce administrative burden and decide what help they need next without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Steele County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Steele County Courthouse in Finley. The address is 201 Washington Ave. W., and mail goes to P.O. Box 296, Finley, ND 58230. The clerk of district court keeps the district court filing record (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
What are the clerk's hours in Finley?
The office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, closed for lunch, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday. The length of the lunch closure is not stated, so call (701) 524-2152 before making a special trip.
Do I have to e-file in Steele County if I am handling probate myself?
No. A self-represented filer is exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail or by commercial carrier. A self-represented filer may also use Odyssey if they choose (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
Can I mail the original will to the Steele 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 P.O. box listed by the court and consider calling the clerk's office to confirm handling.
How much does it cost to file probate in Steele 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 the North Dakota Courts site at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
Are there Steele County probate forms?
Steele County does not publish separate county probate forms. Use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. The informal forms are tied to N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14, and the Center warns that its forms are not official court forms and do not cover every situation.
Can I look up a Steele County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/. Select Steele County and the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category. The portal states that data is current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to Fargo for a hearing?
Steele County is in the East Central Judicial District, whose chamber cities include Fargo and Hillsboro. The 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 every hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
Can I appear by video or phone for a Steele County probate hearing?
Possibly, if the court allows reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. A party must first try to contact the other parties, then file a written motion stating the reasons and whether others agree or object. The motion must be served at least seven days before the proceeding, and any response at least four days before, unless the court shortens the time for good cause.
How long until letters are issued in an informal Steele County case?
After all requirements for informal proceedings have been met, the court must make its order of appointment and 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.