We strive to be highly knowledgeable, experienced and capable in our practice. We desire to develop strong relationships with clients. We take a genuine interest in their lives, goals and opportunities, as well as their fears, issues and concerns.
We work with our clients and their families in a helpful, productive manner to establish a plan the is well thought out and meets their unique needs and desires.
We offer comprehensive estate planning services that empower our clients and give them true Peace of Mind.
When a loved one passes away, we’re here to help our clients with considerate and comprehensive estate administration.
Our elders have unique concerns that require the specialized practice of Elder Law. We help our clients find dignified and comprehensive solutions.
We assist business owners in all areas from start-up and purchase to sale and succession planning.
“Keith reviewed what we previously had in place and did an excellent job of explaining available options to help us meet our estate planning needs and goals. After our initial plans were in place, we have used their “Peace of Mind Protector Program” to keep our estate planning current as our situation has changed over time and as laws and regulations have changed. Keith and his staff have all been super to work with, both personally and professionally. We highly recommend Montana Estate Lawyers if you are in need of estate planning services.”
“Jon McCarty and the good people at Scott, Tokerud & McCarty, P.C. truly exemplify Montana values. They believe in hard work (and they do work hard), doing the right thing, helping a neighbor out, and celebrating the blessings and good things that happen in life. They have been there for me and my family in our time of need, and I cannot imagine how we could have managed without them there to guide and support us. I feel certain that they will offer you the same wisdom, comfort, and support as well.”
“Jon McCarty was recommended to us by a lawyer friend when we were searching for a firm to help us with estate planning. In the ten years Jon has worked with us, we have found him to be highly professional, extremely knowledgeable and compassionate. You can trust Jon to help you plan this very important aspect of your life.”
“Jon McCarty was very helpful in resolving issues with the interpretation of a Last Will and Testament. He was thorough, professional, and communicated extremely well and in a timely manner. Jon’s advice was honest and reassuring. Additionally, the office staff was concerned, kind, and supportive. Jon and the staff were competent and knowledgeable – a most impressive team.”
The Value of Using Irrevocable Trusts in Medicaid Planning People often wonder about the value of using irrevocable trusts in Medicaid planning. Certainly, gifting of assets can be done outright, not involving an irrevocable trust. Outright gifts have the advantages of being simple to do with minimal costs involved, including the cost of preparing and…
Planning Checklist For Those Assisting Elderly Family Members I gave a presentation a few years ago at a local assisted living facility. The topic was powers of attorney and guardianships and conservatorships. Half of the attendees were children of residents at the assisted living facility. Based on the questions that they asked me; it was…
2023 Montana Legislation Changes – How will it Impact Estate Planning Going Forward The 2023 Montana Legislature enacted several bills relating to estate planning and administration. The bills make planning and estate administration easier and less costly. Use of Affidavits to Avoid Probate Montana law provides that probate is required when a person dies…
Our Charity Partner of the Year – 2023 This year, Montana Estate Lawyers has selected Family Promise or Great Falls as our 2023 Charity Partner of the Year. Family Promise was chosen because of their passion to help others and dedication to transforming the community. Family Promise is one of several organizations in Great Falls,…
Why Updating Beneficiary Designations is Important Beneficiaries are an important part of wills and trusts, but beneficiary designations can become a huge problem if they are not updated. Beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts, IRAs, annuities and life insurance policies override wills or trust provisions. This means that people you don’t intend to inherit your…
Our Story: New Name, Same Values The story of our law firm begins in 1946 when Bill Scott came back from the Navy and went into partnership with a law school mate, Ted James. Bill later practiced with Wayne Linnell and Norman Newhall. In 1980 Keith came back to Montana after working in Texas and…
New Year’s Resolutions We all make New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight, exercising, learning a new language . . . . Few of us think of our estate plan, but we should. Here are 8 things you can do to get your estate plan on track: 1. Will or Trust. Make sure you have an up…
Myth: A Will Avoids Probate Many people believe that once they have created a Will–whether drafted by an experienced attorney or using a do-it-yourself solution or online form–they have avoided probate. Unfortunately, they are wrong. What is a Will? A Will is a way to designate a person to wind up your affairs once you…
Giving to Charity Giving to Charity We are all blessed to live in a giving community. Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving on several non-profit boards in Great Falls, including Community Help Line, Children’s Museum of Montana, Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Foundation, Great Falls Public Schools Foundation, and…
Estate Tax Exemption and Annual Gift Tax Exclusion for 2023 Official Estate and Gift Tax Limits for 2023 The Internal Revenue Service has announced new inflation-adjusted estate and gift tax limits for 2023: The estate and gift tax exemption is $12,920,000 million per individual, up from $12,060,000 in 2022. That means an individual could leave…
Each year our firm selects a Charity Partner of the Year, and we dedicate the year to furthering the mission of that charity through sharing their message, volunteering with them, and making monetary donations. This year we have selected Family Promise.
Family Promise envisions a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. They deliver innovative solutions for family homelessness including prevention, shelter, and stabilization services. They have served more than 1 million family members since their founding more than 30 years ago, and they aspire to change the future for 1 million children by 2030 through their community-based programs.
For additional information and contact information for donations, please visit the link below.
Trevor will be assisting on our Estate Administration team as he learns under the guidance of Keith Tokerud and Jon McCarty.
Keith Tokerud focuses his practice on helping clients protect their families and their wealth and helping his business-owner clients plan for the most important financial event of their lives: the transition out of their business.
Jon has been serving clients and their families for 30 years. Since joining the firm in 1992, Jon’s practice has focused on estate planning, estate and trust administration and special needs planning.
Charlene serves the firm by acting as Keith Tokerud’s executive assistant and as the Trust Funding Coordinator.
Chris serves the firm by greeting clients at the front desk, providing general legal assistant services, and is part of the Funding Team.
Sammatha serves the firm by acting as Jon S. McCarty’s executive assistant, the firms Marketing and Peace of Mind Protector Program Coordinator.
Jeanne serves the firm by assisting with the Estate and Trust Administration processes and providing general legal assistant services.
Tally serves the firm by acting as the office manager and by providing general legal assistant services.
Monday to Thursday
8:30 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Friday
Closed
Closed for lunch hour
from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Montana Estate Lawyers, P.C.
8 3rd St. North, Suite 507
Great Falls, MT 59401
Phone: 406-727-2200
Fax: 406-727-2227
Email: Contact us using the form below.
