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Golden Valley County, MT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Golden Valley County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Golden Valley County District Court, Montana 14th Judicial District Court in Golden Valley County (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). |
| Courthouse address | 107 Kemp Street, Ryegate, MT 59074. |
| Mailing address | PO Box 10, Ryegate, MT 59074. |
| Phone | (406) 568-2231, clerk of district court. |
| Fax | No clerk fax number is published on the Golden Valley Clerk of Court page or the Judicial Branch CourtLocator page. Call before sending anything by fax. |
| [email protected]. | |
| Hours | Courthouse hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call the clerk before traveling. |
| Filing fee | $100.00 to commence a probate, formal or informal or ancillary, under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated. The total is the $70 probate fee, the $20 additional filing fee and the $10 court information technology user surcharge (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, § 25-1-202, § 3-1-317). |
| Local forms | No Golden Valley County probate packet is published. Use the Montana Judicial Branch probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. |
| E-filing | Golden Valley County District Court is enabled for attorney electronic filing for Probate (DP), but e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time according to courts.mt.gov. |
| Case search | Golden Valley County District Court converted to FullCourt Enterprise in October 2024. Montana publishes the District Court Public Access Portal through courts.mt.gov, and the clerk can also perform a record search for statutory fees (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201). |
| Remote appearance | The 14th Judicial District local rules conduct Law and Motion, including routine probate proceedings, by video-teleconference from the judge's home county of Musselshell, with Golden Valley County assigned a district video connection point. Witness testimony by telephone or video is different and requires leave of the court and stipulation under the local rules. |
| Website | courts.mt.gov/CourtLocator/14thJudicialDistrict and goldenvalleycountymt.org/clerk-of-court. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Ryegate, identify what assets are in the decedent's name, what passes outside probate, what debts are known, and whether anyone is likely to object. That first inventory of accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts and beneficiaries determines whether estate settlement can stay informal with the clerk of district court or needs a formal petition with notice.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can help look for accounts and benefits across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organize what you find into the information a Montana probate packet asks for. Bring the clerk complete captions, current addresses for interested persons, and the filing fee amount required by Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, § 25-1-202 and § 3-1-317.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Golden Valley County is filed with the clerk of district court at the county courthouse in Ryegate, 107 Kemp Street, PO Box 10, Ryegate, MT 59074. Venue for the first informal or formal proceeding is the county where the decedent had the decedent's domicile at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Montana, any county where the decedent's property was located (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-112).
Golden Valley County is one of four counties in Montana's 14th Judicial District, with Meagher, Musselshell and Wheatland Counties (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). The district's single judge is chambered in Roundup, in Musselshell County, but a Golden Valley County estate is filed and kept with the clerk of district court in Ryegate.
Montana uses the District Court for estates: the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all probate matters, and a will is proved and Letters are issued by the clerk of district court or the district judge (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-111, § 3-5-302). Montana's courts of limited jurisdiction, including the Justice Court and City Court that sit in Golden Valley County, have no probate jurisdiction (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-10-301, § 3-11-102).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Montana track before filing. An informal probate application goes to the clerk of district court, while formal probate starts with a petition and notice to interested persons. In an informal proceeding the clerk of district court makes the statutory findings, may deny an application that does not meet them, and issues the statement of informal probate and the Letters after the required time has passed (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-212, § 72-3-214, § 72-3-215, § 72-3-225).
- Prepare the statewide Montana probate forms from courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. Golden Valley County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, so complete the Montana Judicial Branch forms carefully and include the original will if one exists.
- File with the clerk of district court in Ryegate at 107 Kemp Street, or mail the packet to PO Box 10, Ryegate, MT 59074. A self-represented personal representative files on paper because e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time according to courts.mt.gov. Attorneys may use electronic filing for Golden Valley County Probate (DP) cases where enabled under the Montana Temporary Electronic Filing Rules.
- Pay the $100.00 commencement amount under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated. The amount is the $70 probate filing fee, plus the $20 additional filing fee, plus the $10 court information technology user surcharge (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, § 25-1-202, § 3-1-317).
- Wait for the clerk or the district judge to act. Informal probate and informal appointment cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death, and a nonresident decedent can require a 30-day appointment delay (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215, § 72-3-225).
- If the matter needs a judge, ask the Golden Valley clerk how the 14th Judicial District local rules schedule Law and Motion. The local rules treat probate proceedings as routine Law and Motion matters and conduct that calendar by video-teleconference from Musselshell County.
- After appointment, qualify before using the authority. A personal representative files any required bond and a statement of acceptance before receiving letters, and the statewide packet uses the title Letters of Authority (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-512, courts.mt.gov).
- Administer the estate. The personal representative gives notice to creditors by publication once a week for 3 successive weeks, with creditors generally having 4 months after the first publication to present claims, and prepares the inventory within 9 months after appointment (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801, § 72-3-607).
- Close the estate using the Montana procedure that fits the case. If disputes, land sales, creditor issues or tax questions remain, get legal advice before asking the court to close or before making final distributions.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Golden Valley County
Golden Valley County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or local probate cover sheet. Use the Montana Judicial Branch probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife, and call the clerk of district court in Ryegate if you need to confirm filing format, copies, signatures or notarization before submitting the packet.
| Form or packet | Where it comes from | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Application materials for informal probate | Montana Judicial Branch probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. | File with the clerk of district court in Golden Valley County if venue is proper under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-112. |
| Statement of Informal Probate and Letters of Authority | Montana Judicial Branch probate packet at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. | The clerk of district court or the district judge signs the statement and Letters when the application is approved (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215, courts.mt.gov). |
| Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent | Montana Judicial Branch probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. | This is tied to the $100,000 personal-property collection procedure under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101 and is presented to the property holder, not opened as a District Court probate case. |
| Fiduciary Statement | Montana Judicial Branch probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. | Use the statewide form unless the clerk tells you a different local format is required. |
Timeline
- Filing starts in Ryegate with the clerk of district court. The judge for Montana's 14th Judicial District is chambered in Roundup, but the Golden Valley filing remains with the local clerk in Ryegate (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101).
- Informal probate is often handled by the clerk of district court on the papers, but no statement of informal probate can issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215).
- For matters placed on a judge's calendar, the 14th Judicial District local rules set a minimum of two Law and Motion dates monthly. The local rules list probate proceedings as routine matters and conduct Law and Motion by video-teleconference from Musselshell County.
- After appointment, the personal representative publishes notice to creditors once a week for 3 successive weeks, and creditors generally have 4 months after the first publication to present claims (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801).
- The inventory is prepared within 9 months after appointment, not 9 months after death (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-607).
Local nuance
Golden Valley County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an estate |
|---|---|
| The judge sits in Roundup | Golden Valley County belongs to Montana's 14th Judicial District, and the district judge is chambered in Musselshell County. File in Ryegate with the clerk of district court, but expect judge calendar questions to follow the 14th District local rules (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). |
| Routine probate matters use the district video system | The 14th District local rules conduct Law and Motion by video-teleconference from Musselshell County and list probate proceedings as routine matters. Golden Valley County has a listed connection point for that system under the local rules. |
| Land records are a different office | The clerk and recorder is listed separately from the Clerk of Court on the Golden Valley County site. Probate filings go to the clerk of district court, not the clerk and recorder. |
| Limited courts sit locally | Golden Valley County has local limited courts, including a Justice Court and City Court, but those courts do not handle estates under Mont. Code Ann. § 3-10-301 and § 3-11-102. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update | What changed for filers |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | Golden Valley County District Court converted to FullCourt Enterprise according to courts.mt.gov. | Golden Valley records are part of the statewide district court case-management transition, and the District Court Public Access Portal is the online route Montana publishes through courts.mt.gov. |
| As of July 30, 2026 | Golden Valley County District Court is listed by courts.mt.gov as enabled for attorney electronic filing, with Probate (DP) included. | Self-represented litigants still cannot use e-filing according to courts.mt.gov, so paper filing with the clerk of district court remains the route for a self-represented personal representative. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Golden Valley County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating probate assets from property that passes outside the estate. If a District Court filing is needed, file in Ryegate if venue is proper under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-112. If a judge calendar is needed, ask how the 14th District local rules place routine probate matters on the video Law and Motion calendar. | Sunset helps collect deeds, account information, beneficiary details and debt information so the spouse can decide whether estate settlement requires a filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If only personal property is involved and the statutory conditions are met, the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent may fit the $100,000 procedure under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101. If a personal representative must be appointed, file paper documents with the clerk in Ryegate unless an attorney handles electronic filing through courts.mt.gov. | Sunset helps locate accounts, estimate what is in the probate estate under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101, and assemble the forms and contact list before the child mails or delivers papers to the clerk. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means a District Court estate filing rather than a personal-property affidavit. File with the Golden Valley clerk of district court, then use the 14th District local rules for any routine probate calendar setting. | Sunset helps organize real estate information, debts, heirs and asset details, then connects the family with local counsel when a sale, title issue or family dispute makes estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it for Golden Valley County | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley clerk of district court | The clerk can provide court forms and general procedure information, but court staff cannot give legal advice or choose your forms for you. | 107 Kemp Street, PO Box 10, Ryegate, MT 59074. Phone: (406) 568-2231. Email: [email protected]. |
| Montana Supreme Court Court Help Program | Use the statewide civil self-help program for legal information and referrals. The Court Help Program states that it cannot give legal advice or represent you in court, but can provide legal information and direct you to resources that help you help yourself. | courts.mt.gov/SelfHelp/. Phone: (406) 841-2975. |
| State Law Library Self-Help Law Center | Golden Valley County does not have one of the six staffed centers. The State Law Library center in Helena is the statewide self-help location listed by courts.mt.gov. | 215 N Sanders, Helena. Phone: (406) 444-9300. Email: [email protected]. |
| Montana Legal Services Association | MLSA is the statewide civil legal aid intake. Do not assume it will take an estate matter, especially during reduced staffing periods. | mtlsa.org and mtlsa.org/apply-for-services/. HelpLine: 1-800-666-6899, Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. |
| MontanaLawHelp.org | Use MLSA's public self-help library for Montana legal information, including life and estate planning topics linked by the Judicial Branch. | montanalawhelp.org, provided by Montana Legal Services Association. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for accounts, benefits, policies and other assets across more than 2,300 institutions so estate settlement starts with a clearer picture of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you gather into an organized probate packet for the Golden Valley County District Court, using the Montana Judicial Branch forms and the local filing details for the clerk of district court in Ryegate.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate has a home sale, creditor issue, family conflict or formal probate question, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Montana attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps and decide when professional help is needed without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Golden Valley County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Golden Valley County District Court in Ryegate. The courthouse address is 107 Kemp Street, Ryegate, MT 59074, and the mailing address is PO Box 10, Ryegate, MT 59074. Venue depends on the decedent's domicile or Montana property location (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-112).
Is Golden Valley County in the 14th Judicial District?
Yes. Golden Valley County is in Montana's 14th Judicial District with Meagher, Musselshell and Wheatland Counties (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). The judge is chambered in Roundup, but a Golden Valley County estate filing stays with the clerk of district court in Ryegate.
Can I use e-filing for a Golden Valley County probate?
If you are representing yourself, use paper filing with the clerk because e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time according to courts.mt.gov. An attorney may use electronic filing for Golden Valley County Probate (DP) cases because the court is listed as enabled by courts.mt.gov.
How much is the Golden Valley County probate filing fee?
The commencement amount is $100.00 under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated. It combines the $70 probate filing fee, the $20 additional filing fee and the $10 court information technology user surcharge (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, § 25-1-202, § 3-1-317). Confirm payment methods with the clerk before filing.
Does Golden Valley County have local probate forms?
No Golden Valley County probate packet is published. Use the Montana Judicial Branch probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife, including the forms for informal probate, the statement of informal probate and Letters of Authority (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215, courts.mt.gov).
Will I have to travel to Roundup for a probate matter?
Routine probate matters on the 14th Judicial District Law and Motion calendar are conducted by video-teleconference from Musselshell County under the local rules, and Golden Valley County has a listed connection point for that system. Ask the clerk how your specific matter will be handled because contested testimony by telephone or video is treated separately under the local rules.
Can I look up a Golden Valley County probate case online?
Montana publishes a District Court Public Access Portal through courts.mt.gov for district courts that have converted to FullCourt Enterprise, and Golden Valley County District Court converted in October 2024. The Judicial Branch describes the portal as a courtesy, and the clerk can also perform a record search for the statutory charge in Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201.
How long do creditors have in a Golden Valley County estate?
After appointment, the personal representative publishes notice once a week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Creditors generally have 4 months after the first publication to present claims, with additional rules for mailed notice and the outer bar (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801, § 72-3-803).
Does an inheritance tax apply to a Golden Valley County estate?
Montana has no inheritance tax and Montana has no estate tax for a current death. The Department of Revenue says the inheritance tax applies to no death after January 1, 2001, the estate tax applies to no death after December 31, 2004, and no Department of Revenue certificate or consent is required to close probate. An estate may still need federal filings or a Montana income tax return for the estate through revenue.mt.gov.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.