Valley County District Court Guide

Note: Montana sets district court fees by statute and there is no per-county or value-based probate filing fee and no probate tax. The Clerks of District Courts Fee Schedule-Civil (Updated MAY 2024) row "Probate Commencement of Action - For filing formal/informal or ancillary petition" is $100: $70 under Mont. Code Ann. 25-1-201(1)(m), which includes filing a will for probate, plus $20 under 25-1-202(1)(a) and $10 under 3-1-317(1)(b), which names probate cases. "Foreign Probate - With certificate" is $85 ($55 under 25-1-201(1)(n) plus $20 plus $10). Certification with a seal is $2; copies are $1 a page for the first ten pages and $0.50 after. The 72-3-1101 small-estate affidavit is not filed with the court. The total to open a probate is $100. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before filing.