California vs Montana: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in California and Montana — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: California vs Montana
| Metric | California | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $70 | $35 | Montana |
| Annual Report | $820 | $35 | Montana |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $800 | $0 | Montana |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $870 | $35 | Montana |
Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Annual Report
Montana is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
Montana is cheaper here
Est. Year-1 Total
Montana is cheaper here
California: California charges $800/year minimum franchise tax regardless of income. This makes CA one of the most expensive states to maintain an LLC.
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.
California: World's 5th largest economy — unbeatable market access if you operate here.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
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Small Claims Court: California vs Montana
| Metric | California | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $12,500 | $7,000 | California |
| Min Filing Fee | $30 | $20 | Montana |
| Contract SOL | 4 yrs | 8 yrs | Montana |
Max Claim Limit
California is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Montana is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: California vs Montana
| Metric | California | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $435 | $120 | Montana |
| Sheriff Service | $40 | $50 | California |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
California is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: California vs Montana
| Metric | California | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $15 | $10 |
| Jurat | $15 | $10 |
| RON Fee | — | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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