Information About Probate In Minnesota

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Information About Probate In Minnesota is a commonly used form within Minnesota. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Information About Probate In Minnesota

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Information About Probate In Minnesota:

• This form pertains to the State of Minnesota

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Minnesota’s Form PRO101 - Information About Probate In Minnesota up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Minnesota form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Minnesota probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form PRO101, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in MN are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form PRO101 online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form PRO101 witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Information About Probate In Minnesota to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

Sponsored by Atticus App

Need help with Minnesota Probate?

Join all the other families who have trusted Atticus through probate, and experience the peace that comes from knowing you're taking the right steps, spending the least amount of money, and not wasting a single second.

Start for free

Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Minnesota.

5 reasons you should submit PRO101 as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Minnesota can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Minnesota. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Minnesota is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Minnesota probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Minnesota probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form PRO101, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Information About Probate In Minnesota is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Minnesota probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Minnesota.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form PRO101 - Information About Probate In Minnesota f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Minnesota probate court office.

Information About Probate In Minnesota is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Minnesota-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Minnesota Form PRO101 - Information About Probate In Minnesota. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROBATE PROCEEDINGS IN MINNESOTA • The information on probate proceedings that is contained on the Judicial Branch website is not intended to be a manual or a comprehensive instruction guide. Complete information about informal and formal probate may be found in Minnesota Chapters 524 and 525, the Trust and Probate Court Rules, or from an attorney experienced in probate practice. Court staff are not allowed to give legal advice or advise someone on how to handle a particular estate. If you need legal answers, you should seek an attorney to advise you. • Probate is the legal process of settling your estate in court after you die. Probating an estate begins by filing an application or petition with the Court Administrator’s Office. Types of probate proceedings include: formal, informal, determination of descent, summary, special administration, ancillary, and subsequent administrations. • Not all estates are required to be probated or brought before the court. The value of the estate and the type of assets will affect a decision on how to proceed. An example of a non-court probate procedure that may be used is an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property. • Most counties in Minnesota have a person who is able to provide some information to you regarding the informal probate proceeding and procedures for their county. This person is called the Probate Registrar and can be reached by contacting the Court Administrator’s Office. • Informal probate is designed for estates in which there is no need for court supervision nor a judicial decision or interpretation of a legal problem. To qualify for the informal probate process, an estate must be free of legal disputes, uncertainties or complex administrative requirements. The Probate Registrar may deny an application for informal probate and the estate then will proceed through formal court proceedings in which the judge will preside over the case. PRO101 State ENG Rev 9/06 www.mncourts.gov/forms Page 1 of 1