{"data":{"id":"us-mt/72-3-502","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"72-3-502","heading":"Priorities for appointment.","body":"Whether the proceedings are formal or informal, persons who are not disqualified have priority for appointment in the following order:\n(1) the person with priority as determined by a probated will, including a person nominated by a power conferred in a will;\n(2) the surviving spouse of the decedent who is a devisee of the decedent;\n(3) the custodial parent of a minor decedent;\n(4) other devisees of the decedent;\n(5) the surviving spouse of the decedent;\n(6) the parent of an adult decedent who was survived by issue, none of whom is an adult;\n(7) other heirs of the decedent;\n(8) public administrator;\n(9) 45 days after the death of the decedent, any creditor.","path":["TITLE 72. ESTATES, TRUSTS, AND FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS","CHAPTER 3. UPC -- PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION","Part 5. Personal Representative Appointment Priorities, Bond, and Termination"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0720/chapter_0030/part_0050/section_0020/0720-0030-0050-0020.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:59:02Z","sha256":"62b8e63a8ddd32ed61cdade9c5557b2f9efdeb487c01cc2174101f95f155a40e","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/72-3-501","next":"us-mt/72-3-503"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}