Montana vs Wyoming: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Montana and Wyoming — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Montana vs Wyoming
| Metric | Montana | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $35 | $100 | Montana |
| Annual Report | $35 | $60 | 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: 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.
Wyoming: Wyoming's $60 annual report scales with assets. Also: if you operate in another state, you MUST foreign-qualify there too.
Montana: Lowest formation fee in the US at $35. No sales tax.
Wyoming: No state income tax, no franchise tax, strong privacy laws, low fees — top choice for anonymous and multi-state LLCs.
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Small Claims Court: Montana vs Wyoming
| Metric | Montana | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $7,000 | $6,000 | Montana |
| Min Filing Fee | $20 | $10 | Wyoming |
| Contract SOL | 8 yrs | 8 yrs | Tie |
Max Claim Limit
Montana is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Wyoming is cheaper here
Contract SOL
It's a tie
Divorce Filing Costs: Montana vs Wyoming
| Metric | Montana | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $120 | $100 | Wyoming |
| Sheriff Service | $50 | $30 | Wyoming |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Wyoming is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Wyoming is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Montana vs Wyoming
| Metric | Montana | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $10 |
| Jurat | $10 | $0 |
| RON Fee | $10 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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