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Ward County, ND Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Ward County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Ward County District Court at the Ward County Courthouse. Filings go to the clerk of district court in Ward County (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). |
| Courthouse address | 315 3rd St SE, Minot, ND 58701 |
| Mailing address | Clerk of District Court, Ward County Courthouse, P.O. Box 5005, Minot, ND 58702-5005 |
| Phone | (701) 857-6600 |
| Fax | (701) 857-6623 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call before going if timing matters. |
| Filing fee | $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a Title 30.1 probate, guardianship or other testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). |
| Local forms | Ward County does not publish a separate probate form set or local cover sheet. Use 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 are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file on paper in person, by mail or by commercial carrier, or use Odyssey if they choose. Original wills may be filed on paper (N.D.R.Ct. 3.5). |
| Case search | Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov and select Ward County. The portal states that data is current through the end of the previous business day. |
| Remote appearance | A party may ask for a proceeding by reliable electronic means through the written motion process in N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. |
| Court website | www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/ward-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Ward County, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, recurring bills, tax issues and any property that passes outside the estate. The right estate settlement path depends on what exists and who has authority to act, so asset discovery should happen before forms are signed.
Sunset can help organize that first pass. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families identify accounts and assets before a Ward County filing is prepared for the clerk of district court in Minot.
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 Ward 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 Ward County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Minot. Ward County is one of the 3 counties in the North Central 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 Ward County Courthouse in Minot serves Ward County. For venue, North Dakota uses domicile: an informal application states the county and state of the decedent's domicile at the time of death, and if the decedent was not domiciled in North Dakota, the application must show venue (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01; N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-13).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing path before going to the courthouse. 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. If the case is informal, the application must include the domicile and venue information required by N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.
- Prepare the statewide North Dakota Legal Self Help Center materials that fit the situation. Ward County does not publish a separate local form set, so a Ward County filer uses the statewide materials from ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help and adds any documents the case requires.
- File with the clerk of district court at the Ward County Courthouse, 315 3rd St SE, Minot, ND 58701, or mail the papers to Clerk of District Court, Ward County Courthouse, P.O. Box 5005, Minot, ND 58702-5005. The clerk of district court receives filings and maintains the file under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
- Handle electronic filing correctly. Represented parties use Odyssey for electronic filing; self-represented filers are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and may file paper documents in person, by mail or by commercial carrier, or may use Odyssey if they choose. 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 ask about a waiver. The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for a Title 30.1 probate, guardianship or other testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). Fee waiver information is available through ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
- For informal probate, the court reviews the application and makes the required findings. If the statutory requirements are met, the court issues the written statement of informal probate under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-02 and issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07.
- If a formal proceeding or contested matter requires a hearing, ask the clerk how scheduling works in Ward County. A party who wants a proceeding by 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.
- After appointment, administer the estate. That can include identifying property, dealing with claims under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-19, preparing the inventory or mailing it as allowed by N.D.C.C. § 30.1-18-06, distributing property, and closing under the applicable North Dakota closing procedures (N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-21).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ward County
Ward County does not publish a separate probate form set or local cover sheet. A Ward County filer uses the statewide materials published through the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help.
The statewide informal materials are designed for the informal process under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14. The Legal Self Help Center warns that its forms are not official court forms and courts are not required to accept them. It also warns that Center forms are not available for every informal situation and that the formal case path under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15 does not have a Center form set.
If a case is already filed, the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center directs people to contact the clerk of court for the county. In Ward County, use the clerk of district court contact information for Minot.
Local nuance
Ward County-specific considerations
When you enter the main foyer of the Ward County Courthouse, the day's court schedule and courtroom assignment are shown on a television monitor. Public parking is available in the parking lot west of the courthouse entrance.
Ward County is in the North Central Judicial District with Burke and Mountrail (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). The supreme court's stated intent is that residents of counties within a judicial district receive judicial services in their own county without the need to travel to chamber cities, but that is an intent statement and not a guarantee for a particular hearing (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6).
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Ward County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming what property needs estate settlement and what passes outside the estate. If a probate filing is needed, file with the clerk of district court at the Ward County Courthouse in Minot and plan for the $160 filing fee, effective July 1, 2025 (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). | Sunset helps identify accounts and property, organize liabilities, and generate a filing packet for the Ward County courthouse. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Review the North Dakota small estate rules under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-23 before opening a full case. If a Ward County filing is still needed, a self-represented filer may mail paper documents to P.O. Box 5005 in Minot, use a commercial carrier, or use Odyssey if preferred, while the original will remains a paper document under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5. | Sunset helps gather asset information, organize the mailing packet, and flag when a local attorney should review the plan. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale generally requires an appointed personal representative with letters testamentary or letters of administration. File in Minot; in an informal proceeding, the court issues letters within ten working days after all requirements are met (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-07). | Sunset helps prepare the asset list, generate the probate packet, and connect the family with counsel for sale authority and title questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ward County courthouse page | Local clerk of district court contact information, courthouse address, mailing address, hours, parking and schedule display details (N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06; N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46). | www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/ward-county |
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center | Statewide self-help materials for informal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14, personal property affidavit information under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-23-01, and fee waiver information through ndcourts.gov. | www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help |
| North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry | Case search for Civil, Family & Probate Case Records. Select Ward County. The portal states that data is current through the end of the previous business day. | publicsearch.ndcourts.gov |
| Attorney Search | North Dakota Judiciary attorney search for locating lawyers. | www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers |
| Legal Services of North Dakota | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Nothing here promises representation for a decedent's estate matter. | lsnd.org. Under age 60: 1-800-634-5263. Age 60 and over: 1-866-621-9886. |
When to hire an attorney
North Dakota law says the assistance of an attorney is not required for informal probate or appointment procedure under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-14-01.1, but counsel can make sense when family members disagree, a home must be sold, a business or mineral interest is involved, a creditor issue is unclear, the original will is disputed, or the case needs the formal path under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-15. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build the asset and liability picture before a Ward County estate settlement filing is prepared, so the personal representative is not starting with guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized packet for the Ward County courthouse in Minot, using the statewide North Dakota materials where they fit.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Ward County matter needs legal review, a sale, a formal filing, or help with conflict, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, find assets, and understand the next filing step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Ward County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Ward County Courthouse, 315 3rd St SE, Minot, ND 58701, or mail papers to Clerk of District Court, Ward County Courthouse, P.O. Box 5005, Minot, ND 58702-5005. Ward County probate is handled in the district court under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06, with clerk duties governed by N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 46.
What are the clerk's hours in Minot?
The published courthouse hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call (701) 857-6600 before going if you need to confirm timing for a filing.
Do I have to e-file in Ward County if I am self-represented?
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 commercial carrier. They may use Odyssey if they choose.
Can I mail the original will to Ward County?
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 Ward County mailing address and call the clerk before sending if you need handling instructions.
How much does it cost to file probate in Ward County?
The filing fee is $160, effective July 1, 2025, for filing a Title 30.1 probate, guardianship or other testamentary case (N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03). Fee waiver information is available at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/fee-waiver.
Are there Ward County probate forms?
Ward County does not publish a separate probate form set or local cover sheet. 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 Ward County probate case online?
Use the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry at publicsearch.ndcourts.gov. Select Ward County and then 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 for a Ward County hearing?
Ward County cases are filed at the courthouse in Minot. 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 any specific proceeding (N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 6). Informal probate under N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-14 is designed to proceed without a court appearance or without a court hearing if the proper papers and procedures are used.
Can I appear by video in a Ward County probate matter?
North Dakota uses the phrase reliable electronic means. A party may ask the court to conduct a proceeding that way by written motion under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 52. The motion must state the reasons, say whether the parties agree, 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 Ward County?
In an informal proceeding, 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 period runs from completion of the requirements, not necessarily from the day papers are first delivered.
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.