Back to Montana
Roosevelt County, MT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Roosevelt County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The Roosevelt County District Court, Montana 15th Judicial District Court |
| Courthouse address | 400 2nd Avenue South, Suite 210, Wolf Point, MT 59201, second floor, Room 210 |
| Mailing address | Clerk of District Court, 400 2nd Avenue South Suite 210, Wolf Point, MT 59201 |
| Phone | (406) 653-6266 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Filing fee | $100.00 to commence a probate, formal or informal or ancillary, paid to the clerk of district court. Current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated, the amount combines the $70 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). Roosevelt County's clerk fee list prints the same $100.00. |
| Local probate forms | Roosevelt County does not publish a county-specific probate packet. Use the Montana Judicial Branch statewide probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife. |
| E-filing status | Roosevelt County District Court is enabled for electronic filing in probate case type DP for attorney filings. E-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time, according to courts.mt.gov; self-represented filers use paper filing with the clerk of district court. |
| Case search | Montana publishes a District Court Public Access Portal at dcportal.pubcourts.mt.gov through courts.mt.gov. Roosevelt County District Court converted to FullCourt Enterprise in September 2022. Call the clerk to confirm what is available for a specific case. |
| Remote appearance | The 15th Judicial District local rules govern Zoom appearances. Counsel may appear by Zoom at routine matters without a motion, but matters involving witness testimony or documentary evidence are not routine under the local rules. |
| Website | rooseveltcountymt.gov/clerk-of-district-court/ and courts.mt.gov/CourtLocator/15thJudicialDistrict |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Roosevelt County, build a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, and documents. That first inventory helps you choose whether an estate settlement needs an informal application to the clerk, a formal petition with notice, or a nonprobate transfer tool that does not start a District Court case.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families find accounts before they prepare the probate packet. In Roosevelt County, that matters because the clerk can check filings for signatures, notarization, correct county name, and case number, but the clerk cannot correct forms or tell you what legal choices to make.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Roosevelt County is filed with the clerk of district court at the Roosevelt County Courthouse in Wolf Point, 400 2nd Avenue South, Suite 210, Wolf Point, MT 59201. Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is in 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).
Roosevelt County is one of three counties in Montana's 15th Judicial District, with Daniels and Sheridan Counties (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). The district judge is chambered in Scobey, in Daniels County; a Roosevelt County estate is filed and kept in Wolf Point.
Montana District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all probate matters, and it has original jurisdiction over all civil and probate matters (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-111, § 3-5-302). The Justice Court and City Court locations serving Roosevelt County communities are courts of limited jurisdiction and do not handle estate filings (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-10-301, § 3-11-102).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the probate assets, debts, heirs, devisees, and the original will if there is one. If you are using the statewide Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101, remember that it is presented to the property holder and is not an estate opening in the District Court.
- Choose the correct opening document. An informal probate or informal appointment begins with an application to the clerk of district court; a formal probate begins with a petition and notice under the formal testacy provisions (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-1-103, § 72-3-301).
- Prepare the Montana Judicial Branch statewide forms from courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife and any supporting documents. In an informal proceeding the clerk of district court makes the statutory findings and, if the requirements are met, issues the statement of informal probate and the Letters of Authority after the 120 hours required by Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215 and § 72-3-225.
- File the probate papers with the clerk of district court at 400 2nd Avenue South, Suite 210, Wolf Point. A self-represented filer files on paper because courts.mt.gov states that e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants; attorney electronic filing is enabled for Roosevelt County probate case type DP.
- Pay the $100.00 filing fee, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated, unless the court grants an allowed waiver. The amount includes 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).
- If the matter is formal, give notice as required for formal probate. If the personal representative is appointed, the personal representative gives notice to creditors by publication once a week for 3 successive weeks, and creditors generally have 4 months after the date of first publication to present claims, subject to the nonclaim statute (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801, § 72-3-803).
- Confirm hearing placement with the Roosevelt County clerk. Under the 15th Judicial District local rules, sessions in Roosevelt County are held on a monthly cadence that includes the second Wednesday, third Tuesday, fourth Tuesday, and additional settings as needed, but the clerk should confirm the date for a specific probate matter.
- Ask early about Zoom if a hearing is scheduled. The 15th Judicial District local rules allow counsel to appear by Zoom at routine matters without a motion, but matters involving witness testimony or documentary evidence are not routine; Montana also allows testimony by contemporaneous transmission only in the circumstances allowed by Mont. R. Civ. P. 43(a).
- After appointment, qualify before receiving letters by filing any required bond and a statement of acceptance of the duties of the office (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-512). The Letters of Authority from courts.mt.gov are the document used to show authority to administer the estate.
- Administer and close the estate settlement. The personal representative gathers assets, addresses claims, prepares the inventory within 9 months after appointment, and completes closing steps under Montana law (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-607).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Roosevelt County
Roosevelt County does not publish a county-specific probate packet for District Court estate filings. Use the Montana Judicial Branch statewide probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife, including the small estate packet, the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101, the Affidavit of Death, and the Fiduciary Statement.
The Roosevelt County clerk's office can give forms and instructions and can check for signatures, notarization, correct county name, and case number. The clerk cannot fill out forms for a party, except for persons with disabilities, and cannot correct forms or tell you what corrections to make.
Fees
| Fee item | Amount and context |
|---|---|
| Probate commencement | $100.00 for formal or informal probate, guardianship, conservatorship, or ancillary probate, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and printed on Roosevelt County's clerk fee list (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201, § 25-1-202, § 3-1-317). |
| Foreign personal representative with certificate | $85, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and printed on Roosevelt County's clerk fee list (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201). |
| Certification with seal | $2, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and printed on Roosevelt County's clerk fee list (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201). |
| Searching court files | $2 per name per year for up to seven years, then $1 per name for each additional year, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and printed on Roosevelt County's clerk fee list (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201). |
| General copies | $1 per page for the first ten pages and $0.50 per page for each additional page, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and printed on Roosevelt County's clerk fee list (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201). |
| Authenticated or exemplified copies | $6, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and printed on Roosevelt County's clerk fee list (Mont. Code Ann. § 25-1-201). |
| Card payment processing | Roosevelt County states that credit or debit card payments add a 1.995 percent plus $0.25 processing charge at this office. |
Timeline
- File in Wolf Point with the Roosevelt County clerk of district court. Informal probate or informal appointment cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death, with the nonresident decedent timing addressed in Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-215 and § 72-3-225.
- Use the 15th Judicial District local rules for hearing expectations. For Roosevelt County, court is held on the second Wednesday, third Tuesday, fourth Tuesday, and as needed, counting from the Monday of the first full week of the month.
- Confirm the setting with the clerk because the 15th Judicial District local rules state that court orders, not the clerk's courtesy calendar, control whether and when a matter will be heard.
- After appointment, publish notice to creditors once a week for 3 successive weeks, with the 4 months claim period measured from the date of first publication under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801 and the outside bar addressed by Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-803.
- Prepare the inventory within 9 months after appointment, listing probate property with reasonable detail and fair market value as required by Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-607.
Local nuance
Roosevelt County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Roosevelt County estate |
|---|---|
| Judge chambered outside Wolf Point | Roosevelt County is in the 15th Judicial District with Daniels and Sheridan Counties (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). The district judge is chambered in Scobey, but Roosevelt County estate filings are made and kept with the clerk of district court in Wolf Point. |
| 15th Judicial District local rules for Zoom | The 15th Judicial District local rules allow counsel to appear by Zoom at routine matters without a motion. A matter involving witness testimony or documentary evidence is not routine under those local rules, so ask the clerk how the judge wants the appearance handled. |
| Local payment practice | Roosevelt County accepts credit or debit card payments at this office and states that a 1.995 percent plus $0.25 processing charge is added to the transaction. |
| Clerk's form boundary | The Roosevelt County clerk's page states that the office can provide forms and instructions and check for signatures, notarization, correct county name, and case number, but cannot fill out or correct forms for a party except for persons with disabilities. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed for Roosevelt County users |
|---|---|
| 15th Judicial District local rules dated July 1, 2026 | The current local rules provide Roosevelt County's monthly law and motion cadence and Rule 2 for Zoom appearances. |
| Electronic filing policy as of July 30, 2026 | Roosevelt County District Court is listed as enabled for probate case type DP for attorney electronic filing through courts.mt.gov, while courts.mt.gov states that e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants. |
| FullCourt Enterprise conversion | Roosevelt County District Court is listed as converted to FullCourt Enterprise in September 2022 on courts.mt.gov. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Roosevelt County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home passes outside the probate estate or whether a Roosevelt County District Court filing is needed. If a probate is needed, file with the clerk of district court in Wolf Point, and use the District Court because probate venue turns on domicile or Montana property location (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-112). | Sunset helps identify accounts, title clues, debts, and documents so the spouse can see whether the estate settlement needs a court filing or a transfer outside probate. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate qualifies for the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101, the successor presents the affidavit to the holder of the personal property after the required 30-day period. If a probate is needed, a self-represented filer uses paper filing with the Roosevelt County clerk because courts.mt.gov states that e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants. | Sunset helps collect institution details, generate the packet, and identify when a Roosevelt County filing is still needed for the estate settlement. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority. If authority is needed, file the appropriate probate application or petition with the clerk of district court in Wolf Point; after appointment and qualification, the personal representative uses the Letters of Authority from courts.mt.gov to show authority to act. | Sunset helps organize assets and liabilities, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale, title issue, or disagreement makes counsel useful. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Supreme Court Court Help Program | Free statewide help for civil, noncriminal legal problems. The program can provide legal information and direct you to resources, but it cannot give legal advice or represent you in court. | courts.mt.gov/SelfHelp/; (406) 841-2975 |
| State Law Library Self-Help Law Center | A staffed statewide self-help location in Helena for people who do not have a Roosevelt County center nearby. The Court Help Program boundary still applies: legal information, not legal advice or representation. | 215 N Sanders, Helena; (406) 444-9300; [email protected] |
| Montana Legal Services Association | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Do not assume it will take a probate matter; use it as an intake resource and check current availability. | HelpLine 1-800-666-6899, Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; 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 Montana Judicial Branch forms page. | montanalawhelp.org |
| Roosevelt County clerk of district court | The clerk can provide forms and instructions and check for signatures, notarization, correct county name, and case number, but cannot fill out or correct forms for you except for persons with disabilities. | 400 2nd Avenue South, Suite 210, Wolf Point; (406) 653-6266; [email protected] |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer often makes sense in a Roosevelt County estate settlement when family members disagree, the will may be contested, real property must be sold, creditors are unclear, a formal petition with notice is needed, or the family needs advice about how state probate law interacts with facts the court forms do not resolve. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps organize what the family finds into an estate settlement plan for Roosevelt County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the asset list and family information into a probate packet using Montana forms and the local filing details for the clerk of district court in Wolf Point.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, a home sale, a contested filing, or formal probate with notice, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted attorney familiar with Montana probate.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the next steps, organize documents, and decide whether to file themselves or work with counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Roosevelt County?
File with the clerk of district court for the Roosevelt County District Court at 400 2nd Avenue South, Suite 210, Wolf Point, MT 59201. Venue is based on the decedent's domicile at death, or, for a person not domiciled in Montana, a Montana county where the decedent had property (Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-112).
Is Roosevelt County in the 15th Judicial District?
Yes. Roosevelt County is in Montana's 15th Judicial District with Daniels and Sheridan Counties (Mont. Code Ann. § 3-5-101). The judge is chambered in Scobey, but Roosevelt County probate papers are filed with the clerk in Wolf Point.
Can I e-file a Roosevelt County probate case?
Attorney electronic filing is enabled for Roosevelt County District Court probate case type DP through courts.mt.gov. E-filing is not available to self-represented litigants at this time, according to courts.mt.gov, so a self-represented personal representative files on paper with the clerk of district court.
What is the Roosevelt County probate filing fee?
The probate commencement filing fee is $100.00, current under the 2025 Montana Code Annotated and printed on Roosevelt County's clerk fee list. It combines 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).
Does Roosevelt County have its own probate forms?
Roosevelt County does not publish a county-specific probate packet. Use the Montana Judicial Branch statewide probate forms at courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife, including the forms for informal probate, Letters of Authority, and the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property under Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-1101.
When are Roosevelt County probate hearings scheduled?
The 15th Judicial District local rules set sessions in Roosevelt County on a monthly cadence that includes the second Wednesday, third Tuesday, fourth Tuesday, and additional settings as needed. The rule does not label every probate setting, so call the clerk of district court to confirm the date for your case.
Can I appear by Zoom in a Roosevelt County probate matter?
Remote appearance is controlled by the 15th Judicial District local rules, not a statewide automatic right. The local rules allow counsel to appear by Zoom at routine matters without a motion, but a matter involving witness testimony or documentary evidence is not routine. Montana also permits testimony by contemporaneous transmission only when the rule's good-cause standard is met (Mont. R. Civ. P. 43(a)).
How do I look up a Roosevelt County probate case?
Montana publishes a District Court Public Access Portal at dcportal.pubcourts.mt.gov through courts.mt.gov, and Roosevelt County District Court converted to FullCourt Enterprise in September 2022. The portal is described by the Judicial Branch as a courtesy, so call the clerk to confirm what is available for a specific case.
Do I have to travel to Scobey because the judge is there?
Not to file the estate. Roosevelt County estate papers are filed with the clerk of district court in Wolf Point. If a hearing is set, ask the clerk how the 15th Judicial District local rules and the judge's setting apply to your appearance.
Does Montana collect inheritance tax or estate tax for a Roosevelt County estate?
Montana has no inheritance tax and Montana has no estate tax for a current death. The Department of Revenue states at revenue.mt.gov that the inheritance tax reaches no death after January 1, 2001, the estate tax reaches no death after December 31, 2004, and the department no longer issues a certificate or consent to close probate. An estate may still owe federal tax or a Montana income tax return for the estate.
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.