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Meagher County, MT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Meagher County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Meagher County District Court, Montana 14th Judicial District Court |
| Courthouse address | 15 W. Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 443, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645 |
| Probate filing office | The clerk of district court in Meagher County |
| Phone | (406) 547-3030 |
| [email protected] | |
| Fax | No fax number is published for the Meagher County clerk of district court. Ask the clerk before sending anything by fax. |
| Hours | No public counter hours are published for this office. Call (406) 547-3030 before traveling to confirm hours, payment methods and any filing cutoff. Meagher County is on Mountain Time. |
| Filing fee | $100.00 to commence a probate, formal or informal or ancillary, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated. The amount is the sum of the $70 statutory probate fee, a $20 additional filing fee and a $10 court information technology user surcharge (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, § 25-1-202, § 3-1-317). |
| Local forms | Meagher County publishes no county-specific probate form or cover sheet. Use the Montana Judicial Branch probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. |
| E-filing | E-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time, according to courts.mt.gov. An attorney may use electronic filing for Meagher County District Court probate case type DP because the court and case type are enabled under the Judicial Branch policy dated July 30, 2026. |
| Case search | Montana publishes a District Court Public Access Portal through courts.mt.gov for courts converted to FullCourt Enterprise. Meagher County District Court converted in September 2024. Call the clerk to confirm what is available for a specific case. |
| Remote appearance | The 14th Judicial District local rules provide for routine Law and Motion proceedings, including probate proceedings, by video-teleconference from Musselshell County, with a Meagher County dial-in. Trial testimony by contemporaneous transmission remains discretionary under Mont. R. Civ. P. 43(a). |
| Court websites | courts.mt.gov/CourtLocator/14thJudicialDistrict and meagherco.com/district-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in White Sulphur Springs, identify what is actually in the probate estate, who holds each account or title, and whether any asset passes outside probate. This front-end inventory keeps the estate settlement from starting in the wrong place and helps you decide whether you need an application, a petition, or a noncourt collection tool under Montana law.
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets and debts before they build a probate packet. In Meagher County, that means you can arrive at the clerk of district court with a clearer asset list and fewer surprises.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Meagher County is filed with the clerk of district court at the Meagher County Courthouse, 15 W. Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645. Mail goes to PO Box 443, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645.
Meagher County is one of four counties in Montana's 14th Judicial District, along with Golden Valley, Musselshell and Wheatland Counties (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). The district judge for the 14th Judicial District is chambered in Roundup, in Musselshell County, but a Meagher County estate is filed and maintained with the Meagher County clerk of district court.
The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all probate matters and original jurisdiction over all civil and probate matters (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-111, § 3-5-302). Montana probate is not handled by the Justice Court or City Court in Meagher County. Those courts of limited jurisdiction have no probate authority (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-10-301, § 3-11-102).
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent had 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).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the right opening document. Use an application for informal probate or informal appointment with the clerk, or a petition for formal probate with notice when a court ruling is needed (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-1-103, § 72-3-301). In an informal proceeding the clerk of district court makes the required findings, may deny an application that does not meet them, and issues the statement of informal probate and Letters of Authority when the requirements are met (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-212, § 72-3-214, § 72-3-215, § 72-3-225; courts.mt.gov).
- Prepare the Montana Judicial Branch probate forms and any supporting documents. Meagher County does not publish a county-specific probate cover sheet, so use the statewide forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife and call the clerk at (406) 547-3030 if you are unsure what the office wants with the original filing.
- File with the clerk of district court in White Sulphur Springs. 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 Meagher County District Court probate case type DP when the court's enabled case-type policy applies.
- Pay the filing fee. The probate commencement fee is $100.00, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated: $70 under Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, plus $20 under Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-202, plus the $10 court information technology user surcharge under Mont. Code Ann. § 3-1-317.
- Account for timing before authority issues. Informal probate and informal appointment generally cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death, and the nonresident-decedent appointment rule can require a 30-day delay (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215, § 72-3-225).
- Handle notice. Formal probate proceeds before the district judge with notice, and Montana has a distinct route for hearings and proof in uncontested formal cases (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-301, § 72-3-307). After appointment, the personal representative handles notice to creditors by publication once a week for 3 successive weeks, with creditor claim timing tied to the first publication and actual notice rules (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801).
- Schedule any routine hearing through the 14th Judicial District process. The local rules place routine probate proceedings on Law and Motion and require counsel or parties to notify the Court Administrator by noon on the preceding business day. The rules call for at least two Law and Motion dates monthly, with more added as needed.
- Use the 14th Judicial District local rules for remote appearance questions. Routine Law and Motion matters are conducted by video-teleconference from the judge's home county of Musselshell, with a Meagher County meeting room and dial-in. Trial testimony by video or telephone is a separate issue and requires court permission under the local rules and Mont. R. Civ. P. 43(a).
- Qualify and receive authority. Before receiving letters, the personal representative files any required bond and a statement of acceptance of the duties of the office (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-512). The statewide packet calls the authority document Letters of Authority (courts.mt.gov).
- Administer and close the estate. Prepare the inventory within 9 months after appointment (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-607), handle creditor claims under the Montana claim statutes (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801, § 72-3-803), distribute property when authorized, and file closing papers when the estate is ready. In the 14th Judicial District, the clerk notifies the judge of estate matters still pending two years after appointment, and the court may require an appearance to explain why the estate remains open.
Executor duties
Meagher County has one local addition to the usual personal representative duties: the 14th Judicial District local rules require the clerk to notify the judge of estate matters still pending two years after appointment. The court may then require the personal representative and attorney to appear and explain why the estate has not been closed. Treat that two-year mark as a practical estate settlement checkpoint, not as a statewide deadline that every estate must finish by that date.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Meagher County
Meagher County does not publish a county-specific probate form or cover sheet. The county's District Court page directs people to the Montana Judicial Branch forms, and the statewide probate forms are posted at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife.
| Form or packet | Use in Meagher County |
|---|---|
| How to Administer a Small Estate Packet | Use this courts.mt.gov packet for informal probate materials, including the application, the statement of informal probate and Letters of Authority. If you use the small estate route, keep Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101 in view. |
| Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent | Used for collection of personal property by affidavit under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101. It is presented to the holder of the property, not filed to open a Meagher County District Court case. |
| Affidavit of Death | Statewide probate-related form posted by the Montana Judicial Branch at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. |
| Fiduciary Statement | Statewide probate-related form posted by the Montana Judicial Branch at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. |
Timeline
- Before filing, call the clerk of district court at (406) 547-3030 to confirm public counter hours and payment method. No public hours are published for the Meagher County clerk of district court.
- After death, informal probate or informal appointment cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed, and the clerk applies the informal-proceeding findings before issuing the statement of informal probate or appointment (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215, § 72-3-225).
- If a routine probate matter needs court time, the 14th Judicial District local rules place routine probate proceedings on Law and Motion. The rules call for at least two Law and Motion dates monthly, with more added as needed.
- To place a routine matter on Law and Motion, the 14th Judicial District local rules require counsel or parties to notify the Court Administrator by noon on the preceding business day.
- Routine Law and Motion matters are conducted by video-teleconference from Musselshell County under the 14th Judicial District local rules, with a Meagher County meeting room and dial-in.
- After appointment, the personal representative prepares the inventory within 9 months after appointment (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-607) and manages notice to creditors and claims under the 4 months publication framework (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801).
- If the estate is still pending two years after appointment, the 14th Judicial District local rules require the clerk to notify the judge, and the court may require an appearance about why the estate remains open.
Local nuance
Meagher County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Meagher County estate |
|---|---|
| Judge chambered outside the county | The 14th Judicial District judge is chambered in Roundup, in Musselshell County, but a Meagher County probate case is filed with the clerk of district court in White Sulphur Springs (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). |
| Law and Motion by video-teleconference | The 14th Judicial District local rules say routine Law and Motion matters, including probate proceedings, are conducted from the judge's home county of Musselshell with video-teleconferencing installed throughout the district. |
| Two-year pending-estate notice | The 14th Judicial District local rules direct the clerk to notify the judge of estate matters still pending two years after appointment, which can lead to a show-cause setting about closure. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | Meagher County District Court converted to FullCourt Enterprise, according to courts.mt.gov, which affects availability through Montana's District Court Public Access Portal. |
| July 30, 2026 | Meagher County District Court appears on the Judicial Branch electronic filing court policy for enabled district courts, and the district-court case-type table includes Probate DP. E-filing remains unavailable to self-represented litigants at this time, according to courts.mt.gov. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Meagher County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First identify how the home is titled and which assets are actually in the probate estate. If a Meagher County probate estate must be opened, file with the clerk of district court in White Sulphur Springs, not with the Justice Court or City Court (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-111, § 3-10-301, § 3-11-102). | Sunset helps find accounts, debts and beneficiary-designated assets so the spouse can separate probate property from assets that may pass another way during estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check whether the personal property can be collected under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101 or whether an informal application is needed in Meagher County. If a court filing is needed, a self-represented filer uses paper because e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time, according to courts.mt.gov. | Sunset helps build the asset list, generate the probate packet and connect the child with a Montana probate attorney if travel, signing or local practice becomes hard to manage. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If authority is needed to sell a Meagher County home, the estate will usually need a personal representative appointed through the Meagher County District Court. Routine probate proceedings may be handled through the 14th Judicial District Law and Motion video-teleconference process under the local rules. | Sunset helps organize account discovery, debts, property information and attorney matching so the parent is not trying to manage estate settlement from scattered paperwork. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Supreme Court Court Help Program | Free statewide information for civil, non-criminal problems. The program can provide legal information and direct you to resources, but it cannot give legal advice or represent you in court, according to courts.mt.gov. | courts.mt.gov/SelfHelp/; (406) 841-2975 |
| State Law Library self-help location | One of Montana's staffed Self-Help Law Center locations, useful for statewide court information when Meagher County does not have a staffed local center. | 215 N Sanders, Helena; (406) 444-9300; [email protected]; courts.mt.gov |
| Montana Legal Services Association | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Do not assume it will take a probate matter. Its HelpLine hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, according to mtlsa.org. | 1-800-666-6899; mtlsa.org/apply-for-services/ |
| MontanaLawHelp.org | Public self-help library connected with Montana Legal Services Association, including life and estate planning materials linked from the Judicial Branch forms page. | montanalawhelp.org |
When to hire an attorney
Montana does not make every personal representative hire counsel, but a lawyer is often important when heirs disagree, a home must be sold, creditor claims are disputed, a formal petition with notice is needed, or a remote appearance under the 14th Judicial District local rules needs to be handled correctly. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and debts before the Meagher County filing starts.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family and asset information into a court-ready probate packet for Montana estate settlement, using the Meagher County filing office and the statewide Montana forms as the starting point.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal probate, a home sale, a contested issue, or help with the 14th Judicial District local rules, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Montana probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Meagher County?
File with the clerk of district court at the Meagher County Courthouse, 15 W. Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645. Mail goes to PO Box 443, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645. The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all probate matters (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-111).
Is Meagher County in its own judicial district?
No. Meagher County is part of Montana's 14th Judicial District with Golden Valley, Musselshell and Wheatland Counties (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). The district judge is chambered in Roundup, but Meagher County filings stay with the clerk of district court in White Sulphur Springs.
Can I use e-filing for a Meagher County probate case?
E-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time, according to courts.mt.gov. A self-represented personal representative files on paper with the Meagher County clerk of district court. An attorney may use electronic filing for Meagher County District Court probate case type DP because the court and case type are enabled under the Judicial Branch policy dated July 30, 2026.
How are Meagher County probate hearings scheduled?
Routine probate proceedings are part of Law and Motion under the 14th Judicial District local rules. The rules provide at least two Law and Motion dates monthly, with more added as needed, and require counsel or parties to notify the Court Administrator by noon on the preceding business day.
Do I have to travel to Roundup for a Meagher County probate matter?
Not always. The 14th Judicial District local rules say routine Law and Motion matters are conducted by video-teleconference from the judge's home county of Musselshell, with a Meagher County meeting room and dial-in. For trial testimony by contemporaneous transmission, the court applies the local rules and Mont. R. Civ. P. 43(a).
Can I look up a Meagher County probate case online?
Montana publishes a District Court Public Access Portal through courts.mt.gov for courts converted to FullCourt Enterprise. Meagher County District Court converted in September 2024. The Judicial Branch describes the portal as a courtesy, so call the clerk to confirm what is available for a specific case. The clerk can also perform a record search for $2 per name per year for up to 7 years and $1 per name for each additional year, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201).
Does Meagher County have its own probate forms?
Meagher County publishes no county-specific probate form or cover sheet. Use the Montana Judicial Branch probate forms posted at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife, including the statewide informal probate packet and the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101.
What is the Meagher County probate filing fee?
The probate commencement fee is $100.00, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated. It includes $70 under Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, $20 under Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-202 and the $10 court information technology user surcharge under Mont. Code Ann. § 3-1-317. Confirm the current amount and payment method with the clerk before filing.
Does Montana have an inheritance tax or estate tax for a Meagher County estate?
Montana has no inheritance tax and Montana has no estate tax on a current death, according to revenue.mt.gov. The inheritance tax reaches no death after January 1, 2001, and the estate tax reaches no death after December 31, 2004. An estate may still owe federal tax or need a Montana fiduciary income tax return.
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.