About the Probate Hearings Division

Use the following link to view notices of probate hearings that are currently scheduled:
 
COMBINED NOTICES
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Update on the status of Probate Hearings Division operations (12-14-20): OHA Probate Hearings Division offices are operating with limited numbers of onsite employees and may not immediately answer the phones. Voicemail messages will be retrieved and answered as soon as practicable. Until further notice, all probate hearings are being conducted telephonically.

The Probate Hearings Division serves as the Department's administrative trial court for Indian probate cases. Through formal hearings conducted by administrative law judges and Indian probate judges, and informal proceedings conducted by attorney decision makers, the Division determines the rightful heirs and devisees of decedents who owned trust or restricted property. The Division determines the validity of wills, decides what claims against the estate will be allowed, and orders distribution of the trust property to those entitled to receive it.

The Division is currently headed by a Chief Administrative Law Judge located in OHA's Sacramento, California office. Its other judges, attorneys, attorney decision maker, paralegals and legal assistants are located in five field offices throughout the West. Its decisions may be appealed to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals.

Key Personnel

  • John R. Payne, Chief Administrative Law Judge, PHD
    • Supervisory Administrative Law Judge, Sacramento Field Office
    • Acting Supervisory Administrative Law Judge, Albuquerque Field Office
  • Mary P. Thorstenson
    • Supervisory Indian Probate Judge, Rapid City Field Office
    • Acting Supervisory Indian Probate Judge, Billings and Twin Cities Field Offices
  • Courtney Allensworth Esposito, Indian Probate Judge
  • David Armstrong, Indian Probate Judge
  • Leah Harjo-Ware, Indian Probate Judge
  • Albert C. Jones, Indian Probate Judge
  • Paul M. Kienzle III, Indian Probate Judge
  • Thomas K. Pfister, Indian Probate Judge
  • Roderick Ventura, Indian Probate Judge
  • Daniel Vis, Indian Probate Judge
  • Janet A. Yazzie, Indian Probate Judge
  • James L. Yellowtail, Administrative Law Judge
  • Janette C. Elliott, Attorney Decision Maker
  • Christine Kelly, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist
  • Jessica Carstens, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist
  • Christine Athey, Lead Paralegal Specialist

Resources

Field Office Contact Information
Sacramento, California
Probate Hearings Division
Office of Hearings and Appeals
U.S. Department of the Interior
801 I Street, Room 121
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-498-6600 (voice)
916-498-6409 (facsimile)

Bloomington, Minnesota
Probate Hearings Division
Office of Hearings and Appeals
U.S. Department of the Interior
5600 W. American Blvd., Suite 540
Bloomington, MN 55437-1446
612-725-1849 (voice)
612-725-1855 (facsimile)

Billings, Montana
Probate Hearings Division
Office of Hearings and Appeals
U.S. Department of the Interior
2718 Montana Avenue, Suite 300
Billings, MT 59101-2346
406-657-6960 (voice)
406-657-6966 (facsimile)

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Probate Hearings Division
Office of Hearings and Appeals
U.S. Department of the Interior
1011 Indian School Road, NW, Room #322
Albuquerque, NM  87125
505-563-5330 (voice)
505-563-5341(facsimile)

Rapid City, South Dakota
Probate Hearings Division
Office of Hearings and Appeals
U.S. Department of the Interior
909 St. Joseph Street, Suite 201
Rapid City, SD 57701
605-342-2070 (voice)
605-342-9511(facsimile)

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