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Walsh County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Walsh County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The district court in Walsh County, at the Walsh County Courthouse in Grafton (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) |
| Courthouse address | Walsh County Courthouse, 600 Cooper Ave, Grafton, ND 58237 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for Walsh County. Use the courthouse address. |
| Phone | (701) 352-0350 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in person, Monday through Friday. The office answers the phone until 5:00 p.m. |
| Filing cost | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a probate, guardianship, or other Title 30.1 testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule) |
| County-specific forms | Walsh County does not publish county-specific probate forms or a local probate cover sheet. Use the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. |
| E-filing | Represented parties file through Odyssey. Self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file on paper in person, by mail, or by third party commercial carrier. Original wills may be filed on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). |
| Case search | North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry, https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/. Choose Walsh County and the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category. The site states entries are 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. Court approval is required. |
| Court website | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/walsh-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Walsh County, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, real property, debts, vehicles, insurance, and digital assets. The right estate settlement path depends on what exists, who has authority to act, whether there is an original will, and whether any urgent sale or transfer is needed.
Sunset can help organize that first step by searching across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then using what is found to help prepare the local filing packet for the clerk of district court in Walsh County (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
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 Walsh 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 Walsh County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Grafton. Walsh County is one of the 11 counties in the Northeast 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).
The courthouse in Grafton serves all of Walsh County. 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 correct filing packet. 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. Walsh County does not publish county-specific probate forms, so start with the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
- File with the clerk of district court at the Walsh County Courthouse, 600 Cooper Ave, Grafton, ND 58237. The clerk of district court takes the filing, collects the fee, and maintains the case file under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
- Plan around local counter hours. In-person service ends at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, while the phone is answered until 5:00 p.m.
- Pay the $160 filing cost, effective July 1, 2025, for a Title 30.1 testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule). If payment is a hardship, review the fee waiver information at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
- Handle electronic filing correctly. Represented parties file through Odyssey. A self-represented filer is exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by third party commercial carrier. Original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
- For an informal application, the court reviews the filing, makes the findings required by statute, and issues the written statement of informal probate when the requirements are met (N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-14-02, 30.1-14-03). The state self-help page describes informal probate as a path without needing a court appearance or a court hearing when the proper papers are filed and procedures followed (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14).
- If the matter is formal, contested, or otherwise set for a proceeding, follow the court's scheduling instructions. A party who wants to ask for remote appearance must file a written motion for reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52, after first trying to contact the other parties about whether they agree or object.
- After appointment, use the correct authority document. The court issues letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not. In an informal appointment, the court must issue letters within ten working days after all requirements for informal proceedings have been met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07).
- Administer the estate after appointment. Prepare 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). Decide whether to publish notice to creditors under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-01, because creditor-claim periods are governed by N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19.
- Close the case using the required North Dakota closing procedure for the route you used. Closing procedures for personal representatives are addressed in N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Walsh County
Walsh County does not publish county-specific probate forms or a local probate cover sheet. The local rules index for the Northeast Judicial District lists case-assignment and reassignment rules, but not a Walsh County probate form or local probate rule. Use the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center probate materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
The informal probate materials are statewide. The Center also warns that its forms are not official court forms and courts are not required to accept them. For formal cases under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15, the Center says it does not provide forms, so a filer creates the documents or works with a lawyer.
| Need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Informal probate packet | North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/informal-probate |
| Fee waiver request | North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver |
| Walsh County filing location | Walsh County Courthouse, 600 Cooper Ave, Grafton, ND 58237 |
Local nuance
Walsh County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for Walsh County families |
|---|---|
| Late-afternoon service | The courthouse closes for in-person service at 4:30 p.m., but the clerk's phone is answered until 5:00 p.m. Call before making a late-afternoon trip to Grafton. |
| Northeast Judicial District chambering | The Judiciary's Northeast Judicial District page lists a district judge chambered in Grafton. That is useful for travel planning, but it is not a promise about where a particular hearing will be held or which judicial officer will handle a case (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). |
| No county-specific probate form set | Walsh County filers use the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. The Northeast Judicial District local rules do not add a local probate form. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Walsh County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets need court authority and whether an original will exists. If probate is needed, file the application with the clerk of district court at the Grafton courthouse, bring or send the original will on paper, and plan around the 4:30 p.m. in-person closing time (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). | Sunset helps find accounts, organize ownership details, and assemble an estate settlement packet for Walsh County. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Review the state small estate rules under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 before opening a case. If a Walsh County filing is needed, a self-represented filer may use paper filing by mail or commercial carrier, or use Odyssey if preferred. The original will still must reach the courthouse on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). | Sunset helps decide what property exists, whether a court filing appears necessary, and which Walsh County contact steps are next. |
| 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 Grafton. 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 build the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with a Walsh County probate attorney if a sale, title issue, or dispute needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Walsh local court page | Local courthouse address, phone, email, and hours for the district court in Walsh County (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06) | https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/walsh-county |
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Statewide informal probate materials, fee waiver information, and related self-help pages | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Case search for Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Select Walsh County. Entries are current through the end of the previous business day. | https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/ |
| Attorney Search | North Dakota Judiciary lawyer search | https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal services intake. Call to ask whether help is available for the situation. | 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 institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, property leads, and liabilities before choosing an estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to help assemble the Walsh County probate packet, including the details needed for filing with the clerk of district court in Grafton (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, a sale, a formal petition, or help with disputes, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Walsh County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Walsh County Courthouse, 600 Cooper Ave, Grafton, ND 58237. Probate is handled in the district court in Walsh County (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06), and the clerk of district court is the filing office for the case file (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46).
What are the clerk's hours in Grafton?
In-person service is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office answers the phone at (701) 352-0350 until 5:00 p.m.
Do I have to e-file in Walsh County if I am self-represented?
No. A self-represented filer is exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail, or by third party commercial carrier. Represented parties file through Odyssey (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5).
Can I mail the original will to the Walsh County courthouse?
Original wills, codicils, and other documents of independent legal significance may be filed as paper documents (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). If you plan to mail the original will, call the clerk's office first at (701) 352-0350 to confirm the mailing details.
How much does it cost to file probate in Walsh County?
The filing cost is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for a probate, guardianship, or other Title 30.1 testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03; North Dakota Court Fee Schedule).
Are there Walsh County probate forms?
Walsh County does not publish county-specific probate forms. Use the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help. The Center warns that its forms are not official court forms and that courts are not required to accept them.
Can I look up a Walsh County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/. Select Walsh County and the Civil, Family & Probate Case Records category. The site states entries are current through the end of the previous business day.
Will I have to travel to another city for a Walsh County hearing?
Walsh County is in the Northeast Judicial District (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). The supreme court's stated intent is that residents receive judicial services in their own county without needing to travel to chamber cities, and the Judiciary's Northeast Judicial District page lists a district judge chambered in Grafton. That does not guarantee where a particular hearing will be held.
Can I ask for a Walsh County proceeding by video or phone?
A party may ask for a proceeding by reliable electronic means under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. The request is made by written motion after trying to contact the other parties about whether they agree or object. The motion must be served at least seven days before the proceeding, and any response must be served at least four days before.
How long until letters are issued in Walsh County?
For 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).
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.