Montana vs New York: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Montana and New York — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Montana vs New York
| Metric | Montana | New York | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $35 | $200 | Montana |
| Annual Report | $35 | $9 | New York |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $200 | Montana |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $25 | Montana |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $35 | $425 | Montana |
Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Annual Report
New York is cheaper here
Publication Cost
Montana is cheaper here
Franchise Tax
Montana is cheaper here
Est. Year-1 Total
Montana is cheaper here
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.
New York: New York's publication requirement forces new LLCs to publish in two newspapers for 6 weeks — costing $1,000–$2,000 in NYC, or $40–$150 upstate.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
New York: NYC access — unmatched for finance, media, fashion, and tech businesses.
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Small Claims Court: Montana vs New York
| Metric | Montana | New York | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $7,000 | $10,000 | New York |
| Min Filing Fee | $20 | $15 | New York |
| Contract SOL | 8 yrs | 6 yrs | Montana |
Max Claim Limit
New York is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
New York is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Montana is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Montana vs New York
| Metric | Montana | New York | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $120 | $335 | Montana |
| Sheriff Service | $50 | $60 | 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: Montana vs New York
| Metric | Montana | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $2 |
| Jurat | $10 | $2 |
| RON Fee | $10 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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