Quick answer: Minnesota probate has two layers. Administration is moderate — reasonable (not percentage) PR and attorney fees plus a ~$310 filing fee, often $15,000–$26,000 on a $500,000 estate. But large estates face the Minnesota estate tax above a $3,000,000 exemption (13–16%), which can dwarf the administration cost. Get your own figure with the Minnesota probate cost calculator.
The administration costs, line by line
1. Personal representative fee — reasonable, no %
Under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-719, the PR gets "reasonable compensation" — no fixed percentage — judged on time, complexity and responsibility. In practice about 2.2%–3.8% of the estate.
2. Attorney fees — just and reasonable
Under Minn. Stat. § 525.515, fees must be just and reasonable, and the estate's value is not the controlling factor. Usually hourly. See Minnesota probate attorney fees.
3. Court filing fee — about $310
The district court first-paper fee is $310 (Minn. Stat. § 357.021), plus a small county law library fee. Details in our Minnesota filing fees guide.
The Minnesota estate tax — the big variable
The state exemption ($3M) is far below the federal ($15M in 2026), so a Minnesota estate between roughly $3M and $15M can owe state estate tax while owing no federal tax.
| Gross estate | MN estate tax (approx.) |
|---|---|
| $2,000,000 | $0 (below exemption) |
| $3,000,000 | $0 (at exemption) |
| $4,000,000 | ~$130,000 |
| $5,000,000 | ~$260,000 |
Estate tax on the amount above $3,000,000, 13% for the common bracket (rising to 16% on large estates). Figures approximate; use Form M706. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
Worked examples (administration only)
| Estate value | PR fee (2.5%) | Attorney (informal) | Filing + notice | Admin total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $2,500 | $3,500 | $560 | ≈ $6,560 |
| $500,000 | $12,500 | $5,000 | $560 | ≈ $18,060 |
| $1,000,000 | $25,000 | $7,000 | $560 | ≈ $32,560 |
Filing + notice = $310 + $100 + $150 misc. Administration only — add Minnesota estate tax separately for estates above $3M. If the PR waives the fee, subtract that column. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
How to reduce Minnesota probate costs
- Use the small estate affidavit for personal property up to $75,000 (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201) — no court filing.
- Use informal, unsupervised administration — Minnesota's low-cost track.
- PR waives the fee if a family member and heir.
- Plan for the estate tax — since the $3M exemption isn't portable, married couples often use credit-shelter trusts.