Montana vs South Dakota: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Montana and South Dakota — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Montana vs South Dakota
| Metric | Montana | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $35 | $150 | Montana |
| Annual Report | $35 | $50 | Montana |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $35 | $150 | 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
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.
South Dakota: South Dakota's foreign qualification fee ($750) is one of the highest in the US — 5× the domestic fee.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
South Dakota: No state income tax and no personal income tax.
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Small Claims Court: Montana vs South Dakota
| Metric | Montana | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $7,000 | $12,000 | South Dakota |
| Min Filing Fee | $20 | $24.84 | Montana |
| Contract SOL | 8 yrs | 6 yrs | Montana |
Max Claim Limit
South Dakota is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Montana is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Montana is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Montana vs South Dakota
| Metric | Montana | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $120 | $95 | South Dakota |
| Sheriff Service | $50 | $30 | South Dakota |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
South Dakota is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
South Dakota is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Montana vs South Dakota
| Metric | Montana | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $10 |
| Jurat | $10 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $10 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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