A determination of descent is a court procedure in Minnesota that transfers ownership of a deceased person's assets to their heirs without a full probate process. This approach is available when the individual died more than three years ago and no administration has been opened. The process carries a clear legal meaning for anyone with an interest in the estate: it provides an easier alternative to a formal administration proceeding.
Before you proceed, verify your eligibility. You must be a relative of the person who died or hold a legal interest in their assets. A professional attorney can help confirm whether you qualify and ensure the entire filing is completed correctly.
The filing requires three documents: a Petition for Determination of Descent, a Notice and Order for Hearing, and a Decree of Descent. After filing, the court sets a hearing date and notifies all potential parties. If no objections arise, the court issues a Decree of Descent that formally transfers ownership to the rightful parties.
For related estate documents, you may also want to review our informal probate form or a small estate affidavit.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | Determination of Descent Form |
| Form Length | 16 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 4 min |
| Other names | petition for determination of descent, petition determination online, determination of descent mn, mn determination |