What Does Estate Planning Cost in Montana?

Major life events like marriage, divorce, or having a child often require updating your estate plan. Some providers require purchasing an entirely new plan, while others offer amendments. Attorney amendments in Montana typically cost $1,448 to $2,896 for major changes.

Online services have lower upfront costs ($30-$600) compared to attorneys in Montana (around $362/hour for trusts). However, total lifetime cost depends on subscription fees, amendment charges, and how often life events require updates. This calculator compares the full cost across providers.

Many online estate planning services charge annual subscription fees ranging from $0 to $240/year. These subscriptions may include document access, minor amendments, or attorney consultations depending on the provider and tier.

Trusts cost more upfront than wills but can save money long-term by avoiding probate. In Montana, an attorney-prepared trust typically costs $3,620 to $5,430, while a will costs $957 to $1,914. Wills require probate, which adds about $26,409 in costs for heirs on a $500,000 estate. See a detailed breakdown with the Montana trust cost calculator.

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Montana costs about $26,409 — roughly 5% of estate value — including attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and publication costs.MCA § 72-3-1101 (small estate: probate estate ≤ $100K, 30-day wait, personal property collection only; amended Ch. 453, L. 2023), § 72-3-1103 (formula-based summary administration), § 72-3-631 (reasonable PR compensation), § 72-3-634 (court review of reasonableness of attorney/agent compensation; former § 72-3-633 repealed 2019), § 72-3-513 (bond), § 72-3-201 (informal probate), § 72-3-801 (publication; 4-month creditor claim from first publication), § 72-3-803 (nonclaim; 1-year outer bar), § 25-1-201(1)(m) ($70 base probate filing fee), § 25-1-202 ($20 additional filing fee), § 3-1-317 ($10 IT surcharge), § 72-3-607 (inventory; optional appraiser). MCA 2025 via mca.legmt.gov; Montana Clerks of District Courts Fee Schedule via courts.mt.gov. Verified 2026-07-14.Verified Jul 14, 2026 Estates with a trust can bypass probate entirely, potentially saving heirs thousands of dollars. Estimate probate fees with the Montana probate calculator.