Otter Tail County, Minnesota Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Otter Tail County, Minnesota are collected by the Otter Tail County District Court in Fergus Falls according to Minnesota's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. Minnesota's court structure — District Court (all divisions — unified trial court) / Conciliation Court (small claims) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Otter Tail County District Court operates as a moderate-volume court. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full Minnesota court filing fee schedule, see our Minnesota Court Filing Fees.

The Otter Tail County District Court is located at 121 W Junius Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537. The court clerk can be reached at (218) 998-8420.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

• Filing fees in Otter Tail County are based on Minnesota's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $280–$320 (District Court — Probate)
• civil complaints and appearances — $310–$390 (District Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $310–$390 (District Court — Family Division)
• small claims filings — $75–$100 (Conciliation Court). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Otter Tail County District Court in Fergus Falls may include additional local charges.

The clerk's office at the Otter Tail County District Court in Fergus Falls can confirm whether any local assessments apply beyond the state statutory base fee.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Otter Tail County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Minnesota), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Otter Tail County, request the full fee schedule from the Otter Tail County District Court clerk in Fergus Falls before initiating the proceeding.

Minnesota is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Otter Tail County District Court in Fergus Falls may still accept or require paper filings for some case types.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our Minnesota Court Filing Fees.

• Otter Tail County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Minn.
• Stat. § 563.01.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Otter Tail County District Court clerk's office in Fergus Falls at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Otter Tail County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in Minn.
• Stat. § 563.01 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Otter Tail County District Court clerk in Fergus Falls for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Otter Tail County District Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Otter Tail County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.