The Ravalli County Public Administrator position is an elected position within Ravalli County. The Ravalli County Public Administrator position is currently being posted due to the resignation of the last Ravalli County Public Administrator. The new Ravalli County Public Administrator position shall remain in place until the next election.
The primary duties and responsibilities of this elected office are specified at Montana Code Annotated at Title 72, Chapter 15. In general terms, the Public Administrator is required to take charge of estates of persons dying within Ravalli County for which no administrators are appointed and that, due to a lack of administration, are being wasted, uncared for, or lost; estates of decedents who have no known heirs; estates ordered into the administrator's hands by the court; and estates upon which letters of administration have been issued to the administrator by the court.
In addition to responsibilities for decedent’s estates, the Public Administrator may also be appointed by the Court under MCA sec. 72-5-415 to serve as a conservator whenever a professional person has reason to believe that any person is in need of the appointment of a conservator for the effective management of the person's property or affairs and that the person has no relative, friend, or other appropriate person who is able and willing to serve as a conservator for the person.
Unlike other elected offices in Ravalli County, the Public Administrator collects no salary for the services performed. Only in those circumstances where a decedent’s estate or an incapacitated person has funds will the Public Administrator receive compensation for the services provided. In those instances, the Public Administrator may collect a statutory fee, which is accompanied with an accounting to the District Court and Court Order authorizing such fee. Because the Public Administrator does not have full-time duties, responsibilities, or a salary - serving in an “as needed” and “on call” capacity - the Public Administrator often has private full-time employment separate from Ravalli County government.
A person who is interested in applying for this appointed position, please submit your resume, along with a cover letter to: Ravalli County Board of Commissioners 215 S. 4th Street, Suite A Hamilton, MT 59840