Estate Planning & Probate in Missoula County, Montana
There are two reasons people look up Missoula 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 Missoula 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 Missoula County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Missoula County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Missoula County→The Probate Process in Missoula 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 Missoula County, probate runs through the District Court at 200 West Broadway, Missoula. The court sits in the 4th Judicial District.
Full Missoula Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
District Court
Missoula County · 4th Judicial District
Address
200 West BroadwayMissoula, MT 59802
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Paper filing availableE-filing optional
How to file probate in Missoula County→Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Clerk and Recorder
Missoula County
Address
200 West BroadwayMissoula, MT 59802
Phone
E-recording
Available via CSC / ePN / Indecomm / 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 Missoula County is located in Missoula, Montana. Full address, phone, hours, and e-filing details are listed on this page.
Yes. E-filing is available but optional in Missoula County. Many families filing without an attorney prefer paper filing at the District Court; both are accepted.
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 Missoula 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 Missoula 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 Missoula County.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Named as Executor
Being named executor means navigating probate, managing assets, and distributing the estate. What's expected, what you can charge, and how to start.
Learn more
Death of a Parent
Losing a parent is overwhelming. What needs to happen next — settling the estate, navigating probate, and the steps to move forward.
Learn more
