# Is a lawyer needed for probate and how to find one.

**URL:** https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/is-a-lawyer-needed-for-probate-and-how-to-find-one/88757
**Category:** Ownership and Title
**Created:** [July 29, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/is-a-lawyer-needed-for-probate-and-how-to-find-one/88757 "2026-07-29T17:56:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![BigSkygal](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@BigSkygal](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/BigSkygal)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/is-a-lawyer-needed-for-probate-and-how-to-find-one/88757/1 "2026-07-29T17:56:29Z")

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Hi there. My mother recently passed away and left her oil and mineral rights in North Dakota to me and my sister. I am in touch with the company ( Morning Star and Murfin) and need to get the rights transfered. She was a resident of Montana but the property is in ND. I understand I need to open a probate in Montana and also ancillary proceedings in North Dakota? I’m still figuring it all out. The royalty checks were never large and at times as low as $1. Would it be worth it to contact a lawyer or can I do it myself? What type of lawyer should I look for? Should I contact a MT or ND lawyer? I’ve called laywers in Billings Montana ( my mothers residence) and none of them have returned my calls. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

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### Author: ![tim\_dowd](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/user_avatar/www.mineralrightsforum.com/tim_dowd/32/23580_2.png) [@tim\_dowd](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/tim_dowd)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/is-a-lawyer-needed-for-probate-and-how-to-find-one/88757/2 "2026-07-29T21:31:44Z")

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You may not need to do a Montana probate, but only an ND one. It kind of depends on whether your mother owned anything in Montana. You need a lawyer to make sure the probate is done correctly. Look for one near the county where your mother owned the interest and look for a lawyer who does probates.

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### Author: ![system](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/uploads/db5755/original/3X/6/c/6c7c56608c843272ad6e3662ce9562a5956f173e.png) [@system](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/is-a-lawyer-needed-for-probate-and-how-to-find-one/88757/3 "2026-10-27T17:56:34Z")

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