Minnesota probate guides

Plain-English explainers. General information, not legal advice.

• How probate works in Minnesota: a plain-English guide

  The steps of a Minnesota probate case, who the personal representative is, how long it takes, and what happens to the house.

• Informal vs. formal probate in Minnesota

  The difference between informal, formal unsupervised and formal supervised probate in Minnesota, and what each means for a property sale.

• Decree of descent in Minnesota: inherited homes with no probate

  What a Minnesota decree of descent is, why it is filed years after a death, and why these homes are often still in the deceased owner’s name.

• How to contact a personal representative respectfully

  A respectful approach to reaching personal representatives and heirs about an estate property, with a sample letter.