Estate Planning Publications

The following estate planning publications were created at Montana State University by Marsha A. Goetting (Extension Family Economics Specialist).

The MontGuides have been reviewed by professionals from the appropriate organizations: Business, Estates, Trusts, Tax, and Real Property Law Section (State Bar of Montana); Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants, Office of Consumer Protection, and Alexander Blewett III School of Law, University of Montana.

How to Order

Estate Planning Publications can be ordered four different ways:

  1. Download publications FREE of charge by clicking on the title of the publication.
  2. Pick up publications at your local county Extension office FREE of charge.
  3. Order Publications/MontGuides/Bulletins from MSU Extension Distribution Center by clicking Order Online after the title of publication. Shipping costs will apply.
  4. Downloadable Forms are found after each publication listed below.
  5. Download the Family Financial Publicatons Flyer (Fillable Form) and email it to Keri Hayes at [email protected] ; or mail to address provided on brochure.

To search for a particular topic, hit Ctrl F on your keyboard. Type in the "search bar" the topic. The MontGuide/Bulletins with this title will be higlighted on the page. Or go to: https://store.msuextension.org/ and type in the "search" engine a particular topic.

  1. Accessing a Deceased Person's Financial Accounts. (MT200301HR) (2023) ( PDF Version ) ( HTML Version-ADA Accessible ) [Order Online]
    Describes how heirs of a deceased person can access his/her financial accounts, depending on whether the accounts were owned jointly with other individuals, had payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations, or had no designated beneficiary.