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Created May 2026 · Reviewed and verified October 2026 Side-by-Side

Colorado vs Montana: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)

Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Colorado and Montana — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.

Montana
Cheaper LLC
Montana
Cheaper Divorce
Colorado
Higher SC Limit

LLC Formation Costs: Colorado vs Montana

Colorado
Montana

Filing Fee

$50
$35 WIN

Montana is cheaper here

Annual Report

$10 WIN
$35

Colorado is cheaper here

Publication Cost

$0
$0

It's a tie

Franchise Tax

$0
$0

It's a tie

Est. Year-1 Total

$50
$35 WIN

Montana is cheaper here

Colorado: Colorado processes instantly online — but online filing is required.

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.

Colorado: Only $10/year annual report — 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: Colorado vs Montana

Colorado
Montana

Max Claim Limit

$7,500 WIN
$7,000

Colorado is cheaper here

Min Filing Fee

$31
$20 WIN

Montana is cheaper here

Contract SOL

3 yrs
8 yrs WIN

Montana is cheaper here

Divorce Filing Costs: Colorado vs Montana

Colorado
Montana

Filing Fee

$260
$120 WIN

Montana is cheaper here

Sheriff Service

$50
$50

It's a tie

Children Surcharge

$0
$0

It's a tie

Notary Fees: Colorado vs Montana

Colorado
Montana

Acknowledgment

$15
$10

Jurat

$15
$10

RON Fee

$25
$10

Which of These Fits Your Situation?

Self-serve templates and guides, instant download, no attorney needed.

Small Claims Demand Letter Template
Small Claims

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

LLC Operating Agreement Template
LLC Formation

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

Uncontested Divorce Checklist & Forms Guide
Divorce

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

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All Legal Costs in Colorado
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary
All Legal Costs in Montana
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colorado or Montana cheaper to form an LLC?
Montana is cheaper to form an LLC — $35 vs $50. However, consider the full first-year cost including annual report fees: Colorado year-1 total is $50 vs Montana at $35.
What is the LLC filing fee in Colorado vs Montana?
The LLC filing fee is $50 in Colorado vs $35 in Montana. In addition to the one-time filing fee, Colorado charges a $10 annual report fee and Montana charges a $35 annual report fee.
Which state is better for a small business — Colorado or Montana?
For most small businesses operating in one state, form your LLC in the state where you actually do business. If you operate in Colorado, form there — registering in Montana and then foreign-qualifying in Colorado means paying fees to both states. The "form in a cheaper state" strategy mainly benefits online businesses with no physical location.
How do divorce filing fees compare between Colorado and Montana?
Montana has lower divorce filing fees — $120 vs $260. Both states also charge for service of process ($50 in Colorado, $50 in Montana). You can only file divorce in a state where you or your spouse meets the residency requirement.
What is the small claims limit in Colorado vs Montana?
The small claims limit is $7,500 in Colorado vs $7,000 in Montana. Colorado allows you to sue for more money without going to regular civil court. Filing fees are $31 in Colorado and $20 in Montana.

Our mission is to educate. We give everyone the most accurate, complete legal cost information available online, free.

Keeping it accurate takes real work. Fees change across all 50 states and 530+ counties, so we check every official source monthly and review every state each quarter.

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