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Minnesota Probate Deadlines: What to File and When

Every hard date in a Minnesota probate — from the three-year filing window down to the surprisingly short one-month deadline for served creditors.

Minn. Stat. Ch. 524

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Quick answer: the deadline that anchors most of the schedule is the 4-month creditor window, running from the date of the published notice to creditors. See the full Minnesota probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.

The core deadlines, in order

DeadlineMinnesota ruleStatute
Ultimate time limit to open probate3 years from date of deathMinn. Stat. § 524.3-108
Notice to creditors publishedOnce/week for 2 successive weeksMinn. Stat. § 524.3-801(a)
Known creditors servedWithin 3 months of first publicationMinn. Stat. § 524.3-801(b)
Creditor claim deadline (published)4 months from date of the noticeMinn. Stat. § 524.3-803
Creditor claim deadline (served)Later of 4 months from publication, or 1 month after serviceMinn. Stat. § 524.3-803
Absolute claim bar (no notice given)1 year from date of deathMinn. Stat. § 524.3-803(a)(3)
Inventory due6 months after appointment, or 9 months after death, whichever laterMinn. Stat. § 524.3-706
Earliest closing statement4 months after appointmentMinn. Stat. § 524.3-1003

A notably short window for served creditors

Minn. Stat. § 524.3-803: a creditor who is only entitled to notice by publication gets the full 4-month window from the published notice. But a creditor who is actually served with direct written notice gets the later of that 4-month deadline or just 1 month after service — meaning a creditor served late in the process may have as little as 30 days to respond, considerably shorter than the "60 days" or "2 months" figures common in many other states.

An Inventory deadline with two anchors

Minnesota's Inventory rule under § 524.3-706 adjusts for cases opened well after death: it's due within six months of appointment, or nine months after death, whichever is later. For an estate opened promptly, the six-month clock from appointment usually controls; for one opened later, the nine-month-from-death anchor can extend the deadline further out.

Facing probate in Minnesota?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

Talk to a Minnesota attorney

Minnesota probate deadlines — frequently asked questions

How long does someone have to open probate in Minnesota?

Up to three years from the date of death, under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-108. After that, standard informal or formal probate is generally no longer available, and the family is pushed toward more limited alternate procedures.

When must a Minnesota personal representative serve known creditors?

Within three months after the date of first publication of the notice to creditors, under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801(b) — a separate, shorter deadline from the four-month publication window itself.

How short is the deadline for a served Minnesota creditor?

A creditor who receives direct written notice gets the later of the 4-month publication deadline or just 1 month after service, under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-803 — notably shorter than the service-based deadlines in many other states.

When is the Minnesota Inventory due?

Within six months after appointment, or nine months after the date of death, whichever is later, under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-706 — a dual-anchor rule that adjusts for estates opened well after death.

Keep going

Minnesota Probate Timeline CalculatorYour estimate, based on your answers What Delays Probate in MinnesotaBeyond the statutory floor Informal vs Formal ProbateWhich one applies to your estate Minnesota Probate vs Living TrustWould a trust have avoided this?

Estimate for general guidance only, not legal advice. Based on Minn. Stat. § 524.3-108, 706, 801, 803, 1003. Confirm current deadlines with the District Court or a licensed Minnesota attorney.