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Probate Court has jurisdiction over cases concerning the disposition of property belonging to deceased persons, administration of court-supervised trusts, and proceedings to create guardianships and conservatorships for minor children, incapacitated or incompetent adults. Probate Court operates under and modification of the Uniform Probate Code, specifically Minnesota Statutes 524 and 525, and the Rules of Civil Procedure.
Mental Health Court is governed by Minnesota Statutes 253B. It has the obligation of committing persons to treatment centers with the allegation of mental illness, mental retardation, chemical dependency, psychopathic personality and referrals from Criminal Court.
Bill of Rights for Wards and Protected Persons
Probate/Mental Health Court is located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Courts Tower in the Hennepin County Government Center. Please allow extra time for weapons screening at the Hennepin County Government Center.
More information is available by using the the right navigation bar.
PROBATE / MENTAL HEALTH COURT NEWS and NOTICES
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NOTICE: Process Change for Formal Estate Letters
Effective February 8, 2010, all Formal Estate Letters (supervised and unsupervised) will issue from the Registrar's Office.
New! Beginning January 4, 2010, the presiding judge over Probate / Mental Health Court is Hon. Jay M. Quam.
New! Effective immediately, the Probate/Mental Health Division of the Fourth Judicial District Court will be uniformly enforcing Minnesota Statute 481.02, Subd. 5. This statute requires corporations appearing before the Court to be represented by an attorney. "It shall be unlawful for any corporation, appearing as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, or other representative, to do the legal work in any action, probate proceeding or other proceeding in any court in this state, except through a licensed attorney at law of Minnesota maintaining the attorney's own place of business and not an officer or employee of such executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, or representative."
Annual reporting requirement for guardians and conservators effective August 1, 2009
All guardians and conservators are required to file an Informational Statement prior to appointment and annually within 30 days of the anniversary date of the appointment. This is in addition to other annual reporting requirements as a result of recent legislative changes to Minnesota Statutes 524.5-304(g) and 524.5-406(g). For Guardians, the new Informational Statement is submitted with a Personal Well Being Report/Annual Notice of Rights form. For Conservators, the new Informational Statement is submitted with the Annual/Final Account and Annual Notice of Rights forms.
July 1, 2009 claims review policy changes. It is the responsibility of the attorney or pro se party to monitor the court file for claims and to review the claim for statutory compliance. The Court will accept claims "as received" for filing, and will check only for an existing file. Minn. Stat. 424.3-804 Manner of Presentation of Claims provides that a claimant "...may file a wrritten statement of claim, in the form prescribed by rule, with the court administrator." Check online for filings at www.mncourts.gov/publicaccess.
November 1, 2008 Probate Mental Health Court process changes. The attorney/pro se applicant is responsible for preparing and arranging the publication of the informal probate notice. Publication of estate, trust and guardianship/conservatorship matters are the responsiblity of the attorney/Pro Se petitioner according to statutory requirements, including accuracy content and language of published notices. More information
Walk-in counter and telephone services are closed to the public on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30-4:30 p.m. All court appearances and trials will continue as scheduled on Wednesday afternoons. (more)
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The Probate In Common Form newsletter (pdf) is written by Probate/Mental Health Division staff for internal and external customers. The following editions provide articles and tips on procedures.
2009 July - September
2009 April - June
2009 January - March
2008 December - special edition
2008 October - December
2008 August - special edition
2008 July - September
2008 April - June
2008 February - special edition
2008 January - March
2007 July - September
2007 April - June
2007 January - March
PROBATE / MENTAL HEALTH COURT JUDICIAL OFFICERS
| Judges: |
| -- Hon. Jay M. Quam* |
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| * Denotes Presiding Judge. The Probate/Mental Health Judge is on a three-year rotation schedule. |
Probate/Mental Health Contact Information
Phone (612)348-3244
Address: Hennepin County Courthouse
300 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0340