Find Probate Records in St. Louis County

St. Louis County probate court records are filed through the Sixth Judicial District, with full-service court locations in Duluth, Hibbing, and Virginia. This page covers how to search estate cases, will filings, guardianship records, and conservatorship documents maintained by the St. Louis County District Court. Use Minnesota Court Records Online to search current cases or contact one of the three courthouse locations for older records and certified copies.

St. Louis County District Court Locations

St. Louis County is the only county in Minnesota with chambered judges in three separate courthouse locations. All three are full-service courts that can handle probate filings. The Duluth office is the main location and is the county seat. You can file probate court records at any of the three sites.

The Duluth courthouse is at 100 N. Fifth Avenue W., Duluth, MN 55802. Phone: (218) 221-7560. The Hibbing location is at 1810 12th Avenue E., Hibbing, MN 55746. Phone: (218) 231-8200. The Virginia office is at 300 S. 5th Street, Virginia, MN 55792. Phone: (218) 471-7300. All three locations are part of the Sixth Judicial District.

For most estate and probate matters in the Duluth area, the main courthouse on Fifth Avenue West is the primary contact point. If you live in the Iron Range or the Virginia area, the Hibbing or Virginia offices may be more convenient. Call ahead to confirm which location handles the specific type of filing you need.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch probate help page provides guidance on estate filings and the steps involved in opening a probate case in any Minnesota county.

Use this page to understand what forms to file and what to expect from the probate process before you contact the St. Louis County clerk.

Probate Filing Fees for St. Louis County Records

The first paper filed in a St. Louis County estate, trust, guardianship, or conservatorship case costs $325. This breaks down as a $310 base court fee plus a $15 law library surcharge. St. Louis County carries one of the higher law library fees among Minnesota counties. Depositing a will for safekeeping before death is a flat $27 fee.

Certified copies of any probate document cost $14 each. Standard uncertified copies are free. If you need a certified copy for legal use, request that specifically when you place your order with the clerk. Payment is typically accepted by cash, check, or money order at the courthouse.

The St. Louis County court fee schedule lists all probate filing fees, including certified copy costs and will deposit fees.

Review this fee page before you file to make sure you have the right amount ready when you submit your petition.

Searching St. Louis County Probate Court Records Online

The Minnesota Court Records Online system, known as MCRO, is the best starting point when searching St. Louis County probate court records. The portal is at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search by name or case number. Results show the case type, parties involved, filing date, and hearing schedule. Some documents are available to view or download directly.

Not all probate records appear in MCRO, especially older case files. For records predating online access, contact one of the three St. Louis County court locations directly. Clerks can pull files and arrange for copies. Older records may be stored off-site and may take a few days to retrieve.

MCRO is a public-access system. You do not need to create an account to search. Some documents may require in-person review at the courthouse even if the case appears in the online system.

Historical Probate Records and Will Books

One important note about St. Louis County: Will Books for this county are not available at the Minnesota Historical Society. Most other Minnesota counties have their older probate will transcriptions held by MNHS, but St. Louis County is an exception. If you are looking for historical wills or older estate records from St. Louis County, you must contact the county court directly.

The MNHS probate records guide lists which counties have Will Books in their collection. St. Louis County is explicitly noted as unavailable through that system. This matters for genealogical research or any historical estate inquiries going back to the 1800s or early 1900s. Your only path for those records is the St. Louis County District Court.

Contact the Duluth courthouse at (218) 221-7560 to ask about historical record availability and what you need to provide to request older probate files.

Minnesota Probate Law and St. Louis County Cases

All probate cases in St. Louis County follow Minnesota Statutes Chapter 524, which is the Minnesota Uniform Probate Code. This law governs how estates are opened, administered, and closed. It sets timelines, defines who qualifies to serve as a personal representative, and outlines how creditors can make claims.

Creditor claims in a St. Louis County estate are subject to the deadline in section 524.3-803. Creditors typically have one year from the date of death to file a claim. The statute at section 524.3-108 sets the three-year limit on when a formal probate proceeding can be started. For small estates where total assets fall under the statutory threshold, a simplified affidavit process may apply instead of full probate. See the small estate affidavit form for details.

The Minnesota State Law Library can help if you need to read statutes or find legal references. The library is a free public resource open to anyone.

Probate Forms and Filing in St. Louis County

Minnesota uses standardized probate forms across all counties. Download them from the probate forms page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. These cover estate petitions, inventory forms, creditor notice forms, final distribution orders, and forms for guardianship and conservatorship cases. All forms must be filed at the appropriate St. Louis County courthouse location.

The Duluth courthouse handles the largest share of filings. If you are unsure which office to use, call (218) 221-7560 and the clerk can direct you. For self-represented parties, the probate help topic page on the court website offers step-by-step guidance on what to file and when.

Note: St. Louis County's three-location structure means processing times and procedures may vary slightly between offices. Confirm with the specific office handling your case for the most accurate guidance.

Cities in St. Louis County

St. Louis County includes the city of Duluth, which has its own page on this site with more detail on accessing probate records from there.

Nearby Counties

St. Louis County borders several northeastern Minnesota counties, each with its own probate court.