Montana vs Virginia: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Montana and Virginia — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Montana vs Virginia
| Metric | Montana | Virginia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $35 | $100 | ✓ Montana |
| Annual Report | $15 | $50 | ✓ Montana |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $35 | $100 | ✓ 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: Montana has no sales tax — beneficial for product-based businesses.
Virginia: Virginia requires an annual fee even if your LLC had zero activity that year.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
Virginia: Northern Virginia is a major tech hub with proximity to federal contracts.
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Small Claims Court: Montana vs Virginia
| Metric | Montana | Virginia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $7,000 | $5,000 | ✓ Montana |
| Min Filing Fee | $30 | $30 | Tie |
| Contract SOL | 8 yrs | 5 yrs | ✓ Montana |
Max Claim Limit
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
It's a tie
Contract SOL
✓ Montana is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Montana vs Virginia
| Metric | Montana | Virginia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $120 | $86 | ✓ Virginia |
| Sheriff Service | $50 | $40 | ✓ Virginia |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
✓ Virginia is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
✓ Virginia is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Montana vs Virginia
| Metric | Montana | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $10 |
| Jurat | $10 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $10 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee