Montana Demand Letter Generator

Montana rules for demand letters

Small claims court in Montana

The general small claims limit in Montana is $7,000. The Montana small claims sources we checked do not require a demand before filing, but a written demand is still useful evidence. No pre-suit demand requirement was found in the small claims statutes or the court's instructions.

The small claims court finder shows the filing fee for your amount, where to file and how to serve; our Montana small claims guide walks through the whole case.

Security deposits in Montana

Within 30 days after the tenancy ends or the premises are surrendered and accepted, whichever comes first, the landlord must give the departing tenant a written list of any rent due and damage and cleaning charges. When there is nothing to deduct, the deposit must be returned within 10 days. A landlord who fails to provide the list forfeits the right to withhold for damage or cleaning. A landlord who wrongfully withholds is liable for the amount wrongfully withheld (no multiplier), and the court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party. MCA 70-25-202(1)

You cannot sue for the deposit until one of these has happened: you received a written denial from the landlord or the landlord's agent, 30 days have passed since the tenancy ended or the premises were surrendered and accepted, or 10 days have passed after the landlord indicated there were no damages.

Consumer protection notice in Montana

The sources we checked show no general written-notice requirement before a consumer lawsuit under the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act. No pre-suit demand letter is required. A consumer may bring an individual action (not a class action) for any ascertainable loss or $500, whichever is greater, and an individual claim may be brought in justice's court.

What a demand letter should say

A demand letter is a short, factual request for payment. It names who owes whom, how much, and why; it sets a date to pay; and it says what you will do next if you are not paid. Keep it to what you could prove to a judge: the agreement, the dates, the amount, and any payments already made.

• Your name and mailing address, the date, and the other side's name and address.
• The amount you are asking for and how you got to it.
• A short account of what was agreed and what went wrong.
• A clear deadline and how to pay.
• Your next step if you are not paid, such as filing in small claims court.

Send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt, and keep a copy for the court file.

What this tool does not do

• It does not send the letter, store it, or put anything you type in the web address. Everything stays in your browser.
• It does not calculate interest, judge whether your claim is strong, or say what a court would award.
• It does not check your statute of limitations. Use the statute of limitations calculator.
• It is general information and a template, not legal advice.