Court Filing Fees

All states

Court filing fees in Montana

What the court charges to start a divorce or an adult name change in Montana, as stated in the fee schedule or statute. Lawyer fees, service of papers and newspaper costs are extra.

$200to file for divorce

The details

Fee to file for divorce
Dissolution of Marriage Commencement of Action, For filing Petition (include Summary and Joint Dissolution) $200 (updated MAY 2024)1

Same fee statewide.

Fee to respond to a divorce
Appearance, For the appearance of each defendant or each respondent $701
Fee for an adult name change
Not listed1

Statewide clerk fee schedule has no name change entry.

Court that handles divorce
District Court1
If you cannot afford the fee
Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs and Fees: For people who cannot afford the fee. The judge reviews the form and decides.2 Get the form
Fees change, and some counties add local fees. Check the court's own fee page or call the clerk before you file.

Sources

  1. Fee Schedule, Civil, Montana Clerks of District Courts (May 2024), Montana Judicial Branch, checked 1 November 2026
  2. How to Ask the Court to Waive Your Filing Fees (FAQ), Montana Law Help (secondary), checked 1 November 2026

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.