Quick answer: generally no in informal probate — the clerk of court appoints the personal representative, and that appointment already carries the power to sell without a separate hearing. Run your own numbers in the Montana probate real estate sale calculator.
The clerk does what a judge does in other states
No separate approval for authorized actions
In Montana, formal approval by the court is not required for any action already authorized in the Uniform Probate Code — which includes selling estate real property, unlike states where an attorney and personal representative must appear before the court for approval of almost every step.
A judge steps in only when something's contested
Formal Probate involves an actual court proceeding before a judge and is used when an estate is contested, when there is uncertainty about the will's validity, or when a party specifically requests formal court supervision.
A middle-weight option for modest estates
For estates too large for the small estate affidavit but still modest, Montana's Summary Administration Procedure is available for estates valued at $100,000 or less — still involving the court, but a lighter-weight process than full informal or formal probate.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
Every Montana county's District Court processes informal probate the same clerk-driven way, under Title 72 of the Montana Code Annotated.