Montana Probate Records

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United States

U.S. Probate Records

Montana

Probate Records

Online Resources

• 1831-1952 - Montana Wills and Probate Records 1831-1952 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
• 1880-2009 - Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1871-2007 - Montana, Flathead County Records, 1871-2007 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1865-2009 - Montana, Granite County Records, 1865-2009 at FamilySearch — index and imagess
• 1887-2012 - Montana, Judith Basin County Records, 1887-2012 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1857-2010 - Montana, Lake County Records, 1857-2010 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1866-2012 - Montana, Meagher County Records, 1866-2012 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1910-2012 - Montana, Pondera County Records, 1910-2012 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1878-2011 - Montana, Rosebud County Records, 1878-2011 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1866-2010 - Montana, Sanders County Records, 1866-2010 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1881-2012 - Montana, Teton County Records, 1881-2012 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1913-1960 - Montana, Toole County Records, 1913-1960 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1881-2011 - Montana, Yellowstone County Records, 1881-2011 at FamilySearch — index and images

Record Synopsis

Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.” Genealogists often refer to 'Probate Records' as "All records which relate to the disposition of an estate," whether the person died leaving a will (testate) or not (intestate).

Various types of records may be found in a probate file. These may include, wills, guardianships, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, depositions, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents.

For further information about the probate process, types of probate records, analyzing probate records, and to access a glossary of probate terms, see United States Probate Records.

Availability

Probate courts existed in the counties from 1864 to 1889. Their records and jurisdiction were then transferred to the district courts. Montana probate records include administrators' books, probate proceedings, registers, files, wills, bonds, and exhibits. The Family History Library does not have copies of Montana probate records. They are available at the various county courthouses.

Websites

Wiki articles describing online FamilySearch collections are found at:

• Montana, Cascade County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
• Montana, Flathead County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
• Montana, Lake County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
• Montana, Rosebud County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
• Montana, Yellowstone County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
  
• Montana, Granite County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

References

• Montana Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001. (NOTE: All of the information from the original research outline has been imported into this Wiki site and is being updated as time permits.)