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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our North Dakota probate pages.
North Dakota probate fees
| Item | North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Approximately $80 to open a probate case in district court. |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Attorneys typically charge a flat fee ($2,000–$4,000 for routine informal administration) or hourly. The fee must be reasonable and, if challenged, court-approved. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | N.D.C.C. §30.1-18-19 entitles the personal representative to 'reasonable compensation.' No percentage schedule applies, and family representatives often waive it. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. North Dakota does not appoint a state appraiser, though the personal representative must prepare an inventory (N.D.C.C. §30.1-18-06). |
Worked example
On a $400,000 North Dakota estate, a personal representative handling ordinary administration might reasonably be paid on the order of $8,000 to $16,000, but because there is no statutory formula the figure turns on the actual work done. The estate's attorney is compensated separately.
North Dakota thresholds and deadlines
| Item | North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates of $50,000 or less can be collected by affidavit 30 days after death under N.D.C.C. §30.1-23-01. |
| Creditor claim period | Three months after the first publication of the notice to creditors under N.D.C.C. §30.1-19-03; no final distribution is allowed before that period ends. |
| Typical duration | About 6 months to a year, since the estate must stay open through the 3-month creditor-claim period. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | North Dakota allows a Transfer on Death Deed under the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, N.D.C.C. Ch. 30.1-32.1. Owners can record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes to the beneficiary at death without probate. |
What passes outside North Dakota 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 — North Dakota allows a Transfer on Death Deed under the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, N.D.C.C. Ch. 30.1-32.1. Owners can record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes to the beneficiary at death without probate.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: N.D.C.C. §30.1-18-19; N.D.C.C. §30.1-19-03; N.D.C.C. §30.1-23-01; N.D.C.C. Ch. 30.1-32.1
- State authority: North Dakota Century Code, Title 30.1 (ndlegis.gov)
- Creditor claim period: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t30-1c19.pdf
- Transfer-on-death deed: https://codes.findlaw.com/nd/title-30-1-uniform-probate-code/nd-cent-code-sect-30-1-32-1-10/
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 North Dakota court before relying on it.
The full North Dakota guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in North Dakota? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in North Dakota? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in North Dakota? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in North Dakota — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in North Dakota — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in North Dakota? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
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This sheet sets out North Dakota 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 North Dakota courts or a licensed North Dakota attorney.