State Unclaimed Property in Montana

State Unclaimed Property in Montana: key facts

Administering office

Montana Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property, 125 N Roberts Street, 3rd Floor, Helena MT 59601-4558.

Official search

TransAction Portal (TAP) at tap.dor.mt.gov; nationwide search at missingmoney.com.

Heir claim documents

A copy of the death certificate; court-issued personal representative documents (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) for an open estate; a Decedent Family History form and an affidavit of successor/heirship where there is no estate.

Decision window

Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-815(2) gives the administrator 90 days after a claim is filed to allow or deny it; the Department states the 90 days run once all required documentation is received. Payment follows within 30 days after a claim is allowed.

Small estate option

If the total value of the decedent's property subject to administration is under $100,000, a court order is generally not required solely to distribute unclaimed property. Heirs claim without opening a full probate by submitting an Affidavit of Heirship and Decedent Family History form (provided by the Department), following the laws of intestate succession. This aligns with the Montana small estate affidavit threshold under Mont. Code Ann. 72-3-1101. Separately, 72-3-1101(2) lets the Department refund unclaimed property worth $5,000 or less to a successor regardless of the size of the estate.

Auto-pay without a claim

Under the Montana Auto Pay Program (Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-815(5), added by HB 88 in 2025), the Department can match property to its owner from tax records and mail a check of $1,000 or less without a claim being filed. If a MAPP letter arrives, the Department instructs the recipient not to file a claim for those funds.

Governing law: Mont. Code Ann. Title 70, Chapter 9, Part 8 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act); 70-9-815; 72-3-1101

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Search the TransAction Portal (tap.dor.mt.gov) for the deceased's name and prior addresses, and run a nationwide search at missingmoney.com.
2. File a claim through TAP as the estate representative or heir, with:
   • A copy of the death certificate
   • Court-issued personal representative documents if the estate was probated
   • A Decedent Family History form and affidavit of heirship where there is no estate
3. Respond to any Department request for additional documents within the stated deadline so the claim is not denied.
4. The Department reviews and completes the claim within 90 days of receiving all required documentation.

Frequently asked questions