Quick answer: the deadline that shapes the whole schedule is the creditor claim bar under § 72-3-803 — barred at whichever comes earlier between 1 year after death or the notice-based deadline. See the full Montana probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.
The core deadlines, in order
| Deadline | Montana rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Notice to creditors published | Once a week, 3 successive weeks | § 72-3-801(1) |
| Known creditor, mailed notice | Later of the publication deadline or 60 days from mailing | § 72-3-801(2) |
| Inventory filed | Within a reasonable time, commonly around 3 months | UPC probate practice |
| Creditor claim bar | Earlier of 1 year after death, or the notice-based deadline | § 72-3-803(1) |
| Out-of-state claim already barred | Stays barred in Montana too | § 72-3-803(2) |
A three-week run, not two
Worth noting: Montana requires notice to creditors published once a week for 3 successive weeks under § 72-3-801(1) — one week longer than the 2-week run required in several neighboring Uniform Probate Code states. The 4-month claim window still runs from the date of first publication, not the third, but the extra week of required publication adds a small amount of upfront administrative time.
Cross-state nonclaim recognition
If a creditor's claim was already time-barred under the nonclaim statute of the decedent's home state before notice to creditors was ever given in Montana, § 72-3-803(2) keeps that claim barred here as well — a coordination rule that matters for decedents who moved to Montana late in life or held assets across state lines.
Facing probate in Montana?
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