About Goettel Law P.C.

Estate planning Helena families count on is delivered by Goettel Law P.C., a firm serving clients throughout Lewis and Clark County from Montana’s capital city. Helena is home to a substantial population of state government workers, retirees, and agricultural landowners — each group with distinct estate planning needs that go well beyond a generic will, from public employee pension beneficiary designations to agricultural land succession and mineral rights transfers.

Goettel Law P.C. approaches estate planning as a long-term relationship rather than a one-time document preparation service, helping Lewis and Clark County clients build plans that account for Montana’s specific probate process, homestead rules, and the state’s community property-adjacent treatment of marital assets. The firm serves clients at all stages of life — from young families establishing guardianship designations to retirees updating plans after major life changes.

Estate Planning Helena Practice Areas

Montana probate proceedings are handled at the Lewis and Clark County District Court in downtown Helena. Montana has adopted the Uniform Probate Code, which offers both formal and informal probate options — informal probate is faster and less expensive, and many Helena estates qualify if assets are properly titled and beneficiary designations are current. A well-drafted estate plan from Goettel Law P.C. is designed to minimize or entirely avoid the Lewis and Clark County probate process for the majority of a client’s assets.

• Wills and revocable living trusts
• Powers of attorney and healthcare directives
• Probate administration in Lewis and Clark County
• Agricultural land succession and mineral rights planning

What Helena Clients Say

Lewis and Clark County clients of estate planning attorneys consistently cite peace of mind as the primary benefit — knowing that a family home, retirement account, or agricultural property will transfer to the right people without court delay or family conflict. Helena clients in particular appreciate attorneys who understand Montana’s agricultural heritage and can address ranch and mineral rights succession without treating it as an unusual edge case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does probate work in Lewis and Clark County, Montana?

Montana uses the Uniform Probate Code, giving Helena-area families a choice between informal probate (faster, handled by the court’s probate registrar without formal hearings in most cases) and formal probate (required when there are disputes or complex asset issues). Informal probate in Lewis and Clark County typically takes four to six months for straightforward estates. Assets held in a revocable living trust, jointly owned property with right of survivorship, and accounts with named beneficiaries pass outside probate entirely — which is why estate planning Helena attorneys emphasize trust-based plans for clients with significant assets.

Does Montana have an estate or inheritance tax?

Montana does not impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Montana residents are only subject to the federal estate tax, which in 2024 applies to estates exceeding $13.61 million per individual (or $27.22 million for married couples using portability). For the vast majority of Lewis and Clark County families, state-level estate tax is not a concern — but federal tax planning through irrevocable trusts and annual gifting strategies can still protect larger estates from federal exposure.

What happens in Montana if someone dies without a will?

Dying intestate (without a valid will) in Montana means the state’s intestacy laws under Montana Code Annotated § 72-2-112 determine who inherits your assets. For married Montanans, a surviving spouse typically receives the entire estate if there are no descendants or if all descendants are also the spouse’s descendants. If you have children from a prior relationship, the distribution splits between spouse and children in ways that may not reflect your wishes. A will — or better, a trust — ensures your specific intentions are honored without a Lewis and Clark County court deciding for you.