Illinois vs Montana: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Illinois and Montana — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Illinois vs Montana
| Metric | Illinois | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $150 | $35 | Montana |
| Annual Report | $75 | $35 | Montana |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $35 | Montana |
Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Annual Report
Montana is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Montana is cheaper here
Illinois: Illinois processing time can be slow — up to 10 business days for standard filing.
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.
Illinois: Chicago access — major market for B2B and professional services.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
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Small Claims Court: Illinois vs Montana
| Metric | Illinois | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $10,000 | $7,000 | Illinois |
| Min Filing Fee | $89 | $20 | Montana |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 8 yrs | Montana |
Max Claim Limit
Illinois is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Montana is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Illinois vs Montana
| Metric | Illinois | Montana | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $289 | $120 | Montana |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $50 | Montana |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Montana is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Illinois vs Montana
| Metric | Illinois | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $10 |
| Jurat | $5 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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