Estate Planning & Probate in Prairie County, Montana
Most Prairie County estate questions come down to one fork: avoid probate before a death, or work through it after one. Start with your situation below; both paths use Prairie 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 Prairie County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Prairie County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Prairie County→The Probate Process in Prairie 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 Prairie County, probate runs through the District Court at 217 West Park Street, Terry. The court sits in the 7th Judicial District. The same 7th Judicial District also serves Dawson, McCone, Richland and Wibaux.
Full Prairie Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
District Court
Prairie County · 7th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Clerk and Recorder
Prairie County · Clerk and Recorder · Shari Robertson
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
$20 for the first page plus $10 for each additional page; a 2-page TOD deed records for $30; TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax.
Full recording details →Verified September 7, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the District Court
The District Court schedules probate hearings Law and Motion: first Thursday of each month at 2:00 PM in the Prairie County Courthouse courtroom.
Regular Law and Motion days are the first Thursday of each month at 2:00 PM before the presiding District Judge (who travels from Dawson County; Prairie County has no resident judge).
Montana Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Prairie County.
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