In most states, the affidavit of heirship allows relatives or other successors to collect personal or real property, rather than go to probate court to distribute an estate that is small enough. Minnesota defines personal property in a small estate as valued at $20,000 or less – anything larger will go automatically to probate court. Successors must wait at least 30 days after their loved one’s passing before filing the affidavit of heirship, according to Minnesota statute Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201.
How to Write
Step 1 – Download in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word (.doc).
Step 2 – Fill-in the following blanks respectively:
- Identify all heirs of the estate
- Your legal name and address
- List your relationship with the decedent
- Timeline of relationship
- Name of any/all spouses including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all children including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all grandchildren including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all parents including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all brothers & sisters including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all nieces & nephews including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
Step 3 – Obtain a notarized copy of the death certificate, and sign the document with a notary public.
