You need a good set of reference materials if you are going to practice probate law in Minnesota. Here’s my top 5 must-have resources that you should have at your office:
1. Minnesota Estate Administration Deskbook: This is the manual for all phases of the probate process. I refer to it at least weekly. If you buy only one resources, this is it. This book doesn’t leave my sight. I’ve even taken parts of it on vacation to “study up.”
2. Minnesota Probate and Trust Law Statutory Deskbook: This deskbook contains relevant statutes and court rules for probate and trust law issues. Granted, you can get these online too, but I still like the feel of the statutes in my hand and all in one place. Mine sits on a bookshelf in my office by itself at chest height so that I can easily fling it open and get to the statutes fast.
3. Probate By the Numbers: It is best to get this manual by going to the CLE by the same name. It contains in-depth coverage of number-oriented probate issues, such as the inventory, final account, and various tax returns common for estates.
4. Minnesota Probate Court Directory: Every county in Minnesota handles probate procedures differently. For example, some counties allow you to proceed informally under certain situations, where others require a formal proceeding. This directory gives you information you need to know for each county with relevant phone numbers. I keep this within arm’s reach from my phone and computer.
5. MSBA’s mndocs or Minnesota CLE’s CLEPro probate document systems: This really deserves a separate review for the pros and cons of each. I have both systems. Regardless, you should use at least one of these systems if you do probates. It saves you time and cuts down on mistakes. Why reinvent the wheel?
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