Accessing a Deceased Person's Financial Accounts

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1. Accessing a Deceased Person's Financial Accounts. (MSU Extension MontGuide) 
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   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.
   
   
   • Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property Form (PDF) Revised March 2020
     
     
2. Designating Beneficiaries through Contractual Arrangements. (MSU Extension MontGuide) 
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   Focuses on transferring assets through contractual arrangements, such as those commonly found with insurance policies, individual retirement accounts and employee benefit plans. 
   
   
3. Personal Representative Responsibilities. (MSU Extension MontGuide) 
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   Explains Montana law covering personal representatives in settling estates (often called "executor" in other states). 
   
   
   • Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Relationship and Obligations Personal Representative, Guardian, or Conservator (PDF)
   • How to Administer a Small Estate (Montana Judicial Branch) (PDF)
     
     
4. Probate in Montana. (MSU Extension MontGuide) 
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   Provides guidelines and costs for the process of settling the estate of a deceased person.