Estate Planning for Sweet Grass County, Montana Property Owners

For most Sweet Grass County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Sweet Grass County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the District Court. The two tools that keep a Sweet Grass County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Sweet Grass County property passes through the District Court — even simple Montana probates run 4+ months and start with $100 in filing fees. Montana also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Sweet Grass County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Sweet Grass County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Montana transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentMCA 72-6-401 to 72-6-418Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathMCA 72-6-401 to 72-6-418Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a MontanaTOD deed →Sweet Grass Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Sweet Grass County are recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder, led by Clerk and Recorder / Election Administrator Dawn Curry, at 115 W 5th Ave, Big Timber, MT 59011. Phone: 406-932-5152. Hours: 8-5 M-F.

Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 888, Big Timber, MT 59011.

The County Clerk and Recorder charges $20 for the first page plus $10 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Sweet Grass County comes to $30. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Sweet Grass County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk and Recorder

Sweet Grass County · Clerk and Recorder / Election Administrator · Dawn Curry

Address

115 W 5th AveBig Timber, MT 59011Mailing: PO Box 888, Big Timber, MT 59011

Fax

406-932-3026

Hours

8-5 M-F

E-recording

Available via SimplifileE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$20
Each additional page$10
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

MCA 7-4-2637 (fees for recording documents); MCA 7-4-2636 (standards for recorded documents); House Bill 192, 69th Legislature (2025) — Ch. 480, L. 2025 — fee increase effective October 1, 2025

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 7, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Sweet Grass County

FirmBillings, MT

Coleman, Monson & Small PLLC

Billings business-and-tax firm, formerly Billstein, Monson & Small, whose estate planning, probate, and trust administration group serves clients across Montana. Handles estate administration and will contests, and advises trustees, personal representatives, and court-appointed conservators. Work skews toward business owners and ranch families with tax or succession complexity.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
1555 Campus Way, Suite 201Billings, MT 59102

FirmLivingston, MT

Huppert, Swindlehurst & Woodruff, P.C.

Since 1954 · Serves 3 counties

Established in 1954, this Livingston firm provides estate planning, probate, trusts and estates, real estate, banking, business law, and agricultural law services to Park County and surrounding areas. Received the highest rating through Martindale-Hubbell.

PracticesEstate PlanningBusiness LawProbate AdministrationReal EstateWills Trusts

Office
420 South Second StreetLivingston, MT 59047

FirmBozeman, MT

Luebeck, Hammar, McCarty & Goldwarg

Serves 4 counties

Downtown Bozeman firm, formerly Angel, Coil & Bartlett, counseling clients on wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. Also handles estate administration and estate and trust litigation. Serves Southwest Montana including Bozeman, Big Sky, Big Timber, Ennis, Livingston, Gardiner, and Three Forks.

PracticesEstate PlanningAsset ProtectionProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
200 Highland Blvd, Suite 203Bozeman, MT 59715

FirmSidney, MT

Netzer Krautter Law Firm

Serves 6 counties

Handles estate planning and probate from offices in Sidney and Billings, serving families across eastern Montana and western North Dakota (formerly Netzer, Krautter & Brown, P.C.). Prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney and guides personal representatives through estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship. Mineral and oil-and-gas experience aids Bakken-region estates.

PracticesEstate PlanningGuardianshipBusiness FormationProbate AdministrationReal Estate

Office
1060 S Central Ave, Ste. 2Sidney, MT 59270

FirmMissoula, MT

BJM Law PLLC

Serves the whole state

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningBusiness SuccessionProbate Administration

Office
2809 Great Northern Loop, Suite 100Missoula, MT 59808

FirmHelena, MT

Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, P.C.

Serves the whole state

Statewide law firm providing estate planning, elder law, business succession planning, and probate administration services from offices in Helena, Bozeman, Great Falls, and Missoula.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawBusiness SuccessionProbate Administration

Office
800 N Last Chance Gulch, Suite 101Helena, MT 59601
See all 12 firms serving Sweet Grass County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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