Montana Divorce Cost Calculator

Filing a divorce petition in Montana costs $200 in every county. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from Montana's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Montana fees checked against official court sources on October 24, 2026.

This runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent, saved or added to the page address.

Do you have children under 18 together?
Do you and your spouse agree on everything?
How will your spouse get the divorce papers?

Leave blank if you are filing on your own. If a lawyer gave you an estimate of hours, enter it here.

Leave blank to use the Montana average of $280 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in Montana

  • Filing fee for the divorce petition Source$200
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form)$0
  • Court costs you pay$200

Also note: The same $200 applies to summary and joint dissolutions. A $45 judgment fee is prepaid when a joint affidavit for entry of decree is filed.

An estimate from official fee schedules, not a bill. The fee your court clerk charges on the day you file is the one that counts. (October 24, 2026)

Montana divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in Montana costs $200 in every county. (source)

  • Petition for dissolution of marriage (MCA 25-1-201(1)(a)): $170
  • Additional civil filing fee (MCA 25-1-202(1)(a)): $20
  • Court information technology user surcharge (MCA 3-1-317(1)(b)): $10

A joint petition, filed by both spouses together, costs $200 to file and needs no service.

The same $200 applies to summary and joint dissolutions. A $45 judgment fee is prepaid when a joint affidavit for entry of decree is filed.

If your spouse files a response, they pay $70. (source)

The case is filed in the Montana District Court (Clerk of District Court).

Serving divorce papers in Montana

If your spouse is willing, ask the clerk about a form your spouse can sign to accept the papers, which avoids a service fee.

Sheriff and process-server fees are set locally in Montana; ask the sheriff's office in the county where your spouse lives.

Fee waiver in Montana

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Affidavit of Inability to Pay Filing Fee (Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs and Fees) (MCA 25-10-404). A person files an affidavit with a financial statement saying they have a good cause of action or defense and cannot pay the costs; people represented by a free legal services provider do not need the financial statement. (source)

The court or clerk decides whether to grant it and which fees it covers; filing the form does not guarantee a waiver.

Lawyer fees in Montana

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $280 an hour in Montana for 2025. (source) It is an average across lawyers, not a quote. Enter a lawyer's estimated hours above to price them, or enter the rate you were quoted.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Divorce cases are filed with the Montana District Court (Clerk of District Court).
  • It does not quote lawyer fees; it prices only the hours you enter.
  • It does not decide fee-waiver eligibility; the court does.
  • It is not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a divorce in Montana?

Filing a divorce petition in Montana costs $200 in every county. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in Montana is $280 an hour.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Montana?

$200, the same in every county. The same $200 applies to summary and joint dissolutions. A $45 judgment fee is prepaid when a joint affidavit for entry of decree is filed.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Montana?

You can ask. File the Affidavit of Inability to Pay Filing Fee (Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs and Fees). A person files an affidavit with a financial statement saying they have a good cause of action or defense and cannot pay the costs; people represented by a free legal services provider do not need the financial statement. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Does my spouse have to pay a fee in Montana?

Yes, if they file a response: $70.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

Know someone who could use this? Share this free tool:

Share: