Estate Planning & Probate in Lewis and Clark County, Montana
There are two reasons people look up Lewis and Clark County probate: to keep a family out of it, or to get a loved one's estate through it. Start with your situation below; both paths use Lewis and Clark County's actual court and recording details.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the District Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Lewis and Clark County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Lewis and Clark County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Lewis and Clark County→The Probate Process in Lewis and Clark County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Lewis and Clark County, probate runs through the District Court at 228 East Broadway Street, Helena. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.
Full Lewis and Clark Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
District Court
Lewis and Clark County · 1st Judicial District
Address
228 East Broadway StreetHelena, MT 59601
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneys
How to file probate in Lewis and Clark County→Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Clerk and Recorder
Lewis and Clark County
Address
316 North Park Avenue, Room 113Helena, MT 59601
Phone
E-recording
Available via SimplifileE-recording info →
$20 base recording fee; $10 per additional page; TOD deeds are generally transfer-tax exempt.
Full recording details →Verified March 22, 2026 · Source
Frequently Asked Questions
The District Court for Lewis and Clark County is located in Helena, Montana. Full address, phone, hours, and e-filing details are listed on this page.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in Lewis and Clark County, but families handling probate without an attorney are exempt. Self-represented filers can submit paper documents at the District Court in person or by mail.
No. Montana allows estates under $100,000 to use a Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit and skip formal probate. The waiting period is 30 days after death. Use the Montana probate decision tool to see if the estate qualifies.
When there is no will, Montana's intestate succession rules decide who inherits. Spouses, children, and parents are prioritized in that order. The Lewis and Clark County probate court applies the state rules without variation. See who inherits in Montana for the exact order.
A revocable living trust is the cleanest way for most families to skip probate entirely. Assets titled to the trust pass to beneficiaries without court involvement, filing fees, or the Lewis and Clark County probate docket. Create a revocable trust online to avoid putting your family through this process later.
Montana Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Lewis and Clark County.
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