Arizona vs Montana: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Arizona and Montana — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Arizona vs Montana
| Metric | Arizona | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $50 | $35 | Montana |
| Annual Report | $0 | $35 | Arizona |
| Publication Cost | $100 | $0 | Montana |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $35 | Montana |
Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Annual Report
Arizona is cheaper here
Publication Cost
Montana is cheaper here
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Montana is cheaper here
Arizona: Arizona requires three consecutive newspaper publications within 60 days of approval if your statutory agent is outside Maricopa or Pima county (A.R.S. § 29-3201).
Montana: The annual report fee is $35 on the state fee schedule, but it is waived for reports filed by April 15 in 2026 and 2027.
Arizona: No annual report fee — one of the lowest ongoing costs in the US.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
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Small Claims Court: Arizona vs Montana
| Metric | Arizona | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $5,000 | $7,000 | Montana |
| Min Filing Fee | $30 | $20 | Montana |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 8 yrs | Montana |
Max Claim Limit
Montana is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Montana is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Arizona vs Montana
| Metric | Arizona | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $349 | $120 | Montana |
| Sheriff Service | $25 | $50 | Arizona |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Arizona is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Arizona vs Montana
| Metric | Arizona | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $10 |
| Jurat | $10 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $10 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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