Probate is the legal process of transferring property after a person’s death. If that person left a will, we follow the instructions they left. If they died without a will, what is called intestate in Montana, we distribute their property according to Montana law, which provides very thorough instructions.

That legal description ignores the reality that these are real lives and real families trying to cope with tragedy. Probate is a foreign process forced on people at the worst possible time. As a probate attorney, I think my job is to make the process quick, affordable, and understandable.

Many people think of probate as a dirty word, a reputation that isn’t entirely deserved. Montana probate law has changed to correct many of the past problems and create a new system that strives to be efficient and understandable.

The cost of a Montana probate is capped by statute for both the Personal Representative (sometimes called the executor in other states) and the attorneys involved. This means that from the outset, you should have a good idea of what a probate will cost. At Measure Law Office, we administer probate estates for our clients without charging any upfront fee and wait until the estate is closed and the case is finished to receive our payment.

If you have questions about opening a Montana probate, or help with an estate that is already being administered, please call me today at (406) 752-6373.