Dad died without a will. Can we still sell his house?
Yes. No will doesn't mean the state takes anything — it means Minnesota's intestacy law decides who inherits, and that list starts exactly where you'd expect: spouse, then children.
The path looks almost the same as with a will. Probate opens, the court appoints a personal representative — spouses and heirs have first priority to serve — and that person gets authority to manage and sell the house. The proceeds flow to the heirs the statute names. It's a little more paperwork and sometimes a little more time, but it's the same destination. The one thing intestacy can't supply is your dad's wishes about the small stuff, which is why the family conversations matter more, not less. An attorney should steer this; I'm not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice.
The house isn't stuck. When the legal side is moving, I'll handle the home itself — quietly, at the family's pace. Call when you're ready.
I wrote this answer, and I stand behind it. I'm Chris Deutsch, a Minneapolis Realtor (MN #20382264). Twenty-five years of walking these neighborhoods, checking basements, and sitting across kitchen tables from people making exactly this call. I re-check every answer and date it — this one was last verified .
If your situation is more specific than the market, that's the one worth talking through. Email me at chris@lakesarearealty.com.