Formerly Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC. Over fifty years of combined experience in transactional, business and corporate law, contracts, real estate law, estate planning and probate administration, finance, and tax law. Serves clients throughout Montana and Washington.
Probate in Silver Bow County
Probate Court Record
Silver Bow County District Court
Silver Bow County · 2nd Judicial District
Phone
Office
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Silver Bow County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Silver Bow County? →Settling an estate in Silver Bow County →
Trust Administration Firms Serving Silver Bow County
Statewide law firm providing estate planning, elder law, business succession planning, and probate administration services from offices in Helena, Bozeman, Great Falls, and Missoula.
Serves western and central Montana from Missoula (Missoula County, Fourth Judicial District), handling probate administration, will and trust drafting, and estate settlement alongside its insurance-litigation practice. Attorneys guide personal representatives through asset inventory, creditor notice, and distribution. Free consultations available; the firm also maintains an Arizona office.
Providing Montana probate services, estate planning, wills and trusts, and elder law since 1995. Serves all counties in Montana from Kalispell and Columbia Falls offices, including Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, and Miles City. Offers a free 30-minute consultation and remote handling with no need for face-to-face meetings.
All 6 Montana trust administration firms serving Silver Bow County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Montana
Free Montana forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Montana.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Pour-Over Will
In Montana, a pour-over will is signed before 2MCA § 72-2-522Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Montana
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Montana: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Montana.
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Montana happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeMCA 72-38-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysMCA §§ 72-38-813, 72-38-109, 72-38-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In Montana, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Mont. Code Ann. § 72-38-708Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Montana: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 270 daysMCA §§ 72-3-607, 72-3-609Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsMCA §§ 72-3-801, 72-3-803, 72-3-804, 72-3-805, 72-3-807Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Montana requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Mont. Code Ann. § 15-30-2103 (as amended by Ch. 227, L. 2025 — HB 337)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Montana take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces the state's preferential capital gains ratesMont. Code Ann. § 15-30-2103(2)(c)-(d) (Temporary; terminates Dec. 31, 2026)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source.
