New York vs North Dakota: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in New York and North Dakota — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: New York vs North Dakota
| Metric | New York | North Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $200 | $135 | North Dakota |
| Annual Report | $9 | $50 | New York |
| Publication Cost | $200 | $0 | North Dakota |
| Franchise Tax | $25 | $0 | North Dakota |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $425 | $135 | North Dakota |
Filing Fee
North Dakota is cheaper here
Annual Report
New York is cheaper here
Publication Cost
North Dakota is cheaper here
Franchise Tax
North Dakota is cheaper here
Est. Year-1 Total
North Dakota is cheaper here
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.
North Dakota: North Dakota requires an annual report every year — don't miss the deadline.
New York: NYC access — unmatched for finance, media, fashion, and tech businesses.
North Dakota: Moderate fees and low business competition in many sectors.
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Small Claims Court: New York vs North Dakota
| Metric | New York | North Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $10,000 | $15,000 | North Dakota |
| Min Filing Fee | $15 | $20 | New York |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Tie |
Max Claim Limit
North Dakota is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
New York is cheaper here
Contract SOL
It's a tie
Divorce Filing Costs: New York vs North Dakota
| Metric | New York | North Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $335 | $80 | North Dakota |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $30 | North Dakota |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
North Dakota is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
North Dakota is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: New York vs North Dakota
| Metric | New York | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $2 | $5 |
| Jurat | $2 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $5 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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