The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Minnesota with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Minnesota reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Minnesota probate pages.
Minnesota probate fees
| Item | Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Approximately $310 to file the first paper in district court, plus a small county law library surcharge — total court filing costs generally land in the $300 to $400 range depending on the county. |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Minnesota follows a 'reasonable compensation' standard, not a fixed percentage. Attorneys typically bill hourly or a flat fee; for a straightforward informal probate, fees commonly run about $2,000 to $7,000, scaling up for complex or contested estates. Fees are subject to court review for reasonableness. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | The personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation under Minn. Stat. §524.3-719, not a statutory percentage. In practice this often works out to roughly 2% to 4% of the estate, and family representatives frequently waive the fee. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Minnesota estate there is no fixed commission. Using the customary 2%–4% guideline, reasonable compensation might run about $10,000–$20,000 for an ordinary estate, but the personal representative must petition and the probate court reviews the amount before it is paid.
Minnesota thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates of $75,000 or less in total probate value qualify for collection of personal property by affidavit, available 30 days after death, under Minn. Stat. §524.3-1201. |
| Creditor claim period | Four months after the date of the first published notice to creditors, under Minn. Stat. §524.3-801 (with an outer limit of one year after death). Known creditors served personally have the later of four months from first publication or one month after service. |
| Typical duration | Roughly 6 to 12 months for a routine informal probate; simple estates can close in about 4 to 6 months. The four-month creditor period is the main timing constraint. |
| Simplified real-property transfer | Minnesota offers summary assignment for small estates and a streamlined informal probate; real estate generally cannot pass by the small-estate affidavit alone, so a Transfer on Death Deed is the common way to keep a home out of probate. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Minnesota allows a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) for real estate under Minn. Stat. §507.071. The owner records a deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes automatically at death without probate. (Note: a TODD does not defeat a Medical Assistance estate-recovery claim.) |
What passes outside Minnesota probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Minnesota allows a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) for real estate under Minn. Stat. §507.071. The owner records a deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes automatically at death without probate. (Note: a TODD does not defeat a Medical Assistance estate-recovery claim.)
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: Minn. Stat. §524.3-1201 (collection of personal property by affidavit); Minn. Stat. §524.3-719 (compensation of personal representative); Minn. Stat. §524.3-801 (notice to creditors); Minn. Stat. §507.071 (transfer on death deeds)
- State authority: Minnesota Revisor of Statutes (revisor.mn.gov)
- Small-estate procedure: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.3-1201
- Creditor claim period: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.3-801
- Transfer-on-death deed: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/507.071
- Court filing fees: https://www.mncourts.gov/Help-Topics/Court-Fees/District-Court-Fees.aspx
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Minnesota court before relying on it.
The full Minnesota guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in Minnesota? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Minnesota? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in Minnesota? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in Minnesota — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in Minnesota — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in Minnesota? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
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This sheet sets out Minnesota probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Minnesota courts or a licensed Minnesota attorney.